Arroyo Canyon Day Hike
Saturday March 28th 8:30 AM
Contact: Doug at dccable2@verizon.net or 949-922-1452
Just above the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, there is a wild part of the Arroyo Seco Canyon. The Pasadena Freeway runs up the lower part of the Arroyo Seco, and the Gabrielino Trail (a “National Recreation Trail”) runs up the upper part of Arroyo Seco.
The upper part of the canyon is as different from the lower part as the Earth is from Mars. As soon as we reach the trail, we will be free of the city. The first part of the trail is a dirt road, As we go further up the canyon, we will see fewer and fewer people.
The higher we go, the walls gradually close in. Most of the time we will be in the shady bottom of the canyon. In a normal year, there is water in the arroyo. About 3.5 miles in, we will come to Oakwilde Picnic Area, which is the ruins of an old resort.
Past that is the mostly beautiful part of the trip, with the canyon flanked by steep walls and shaded by alders and big leaf maples. Depending on time and stamina, we can go all the way to Switzer Trail Camp another 3.5 miles, before turning around.
We will have lunch at Oakwilde, and then re-trace our steps back down the canyon. This is an easy day hike to Oakwilde, except for the bypass around large Brown Canyon Debris Dam and the 500 feet back up to the Angeles Crest Highway. (To go on to Switzer Trail Camp, this becomes a moderate and long day hike. Total gain/loss to Switzer Trail Camp is 1,500 feet and about 15 miles.)
We will meet at the parking lot at mile 26.47 on Angeles Crest Highway (2 miles north of I-210) at 8:30 AM on March 28, 2020. Click here for your ten essentials. Bring food, cool weather clothing and at least two liters of water. Carpooling is suggested to help reduce gas cost and parking. There is no fee for this trip. Hiking boots and long pants are recommended. (There is poison oak in many places along the trail.)
