OCLB - Sycamore Canyon To Water Tower - Puente Hills Preserve

The previous email had different dates in the description of the hike.  The correct date is Saturday, January 24th, 2026 at 9:00 AM.  Sorry for the confusion.

Distance: 6.3 miles | Elevation gain: 1,132 Ft

Time:  Allow about 3 -3.5 hours depending on  our pace and water/snack/lunch breaks.

This one is ideal for our Long Beach members as the trailhead is 3 minutes off the 605 freeway near Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. It’s an easy 30 minute drive from Long Beach.

This in and out hike starts in Sycamore Canyon, located in the Puente Hills Preserve.

From the website of the Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority:  

Located in the westernmost portion of the Preserve, just south of Rose Hills Memorial Park, Sycamore Canyon boasts a perennial creek and large riparian trees along the meandering Sycamore Canyon Trail.  

Due to the varied topography and presence of water, the canyon is home to a variety of plant communities and wildlife such as mule deer, bobcats, several species of bats, and California toads.

It is an especially good birdwatching area, with regular sightings of the regionally significant coastal cactus wren and federally threatened coastal California gnatcatcher, as well as seasonally migrating bird species.

Because of the presence of ecologically sensitive resources, Sycamore Canyon Trail is only open to hiking (dogs, horseback riding, and bicycles are not allowed).

Along the way there are great views of Rose Hills (the largest cemetery in North America) and its Buddhist Columbarium (the largest Buddhist pagoda in the United States).

Big THANKS to GO members and Whittier residents Joe Huckeba and Jim VanCampen for suggesting this hike.

Where Do We Begin?

The trailhead is 3 minutes off the 605 freeway just before Rose Hills Memorial park at:

5040 Workman Mill Road in Whittier, CA

Link to Trailhead in Google Maps

There is a porta potty at the trailhead.

The Hike

The hike is pretty flat for the first mile and we will go past a small oil field at the beginning of the hike. There is a small creek with pretty lush vegetation including the namesake sycamore trees. We will cross the creek and then there is a series of switchbacks that takes us up to Rattlesnake Ridge. This is the hardest section of the hike.

Once on the ridge the view is 360 degrees and is impressive one a clear day. From there we continue on the ridge and have one more hill to climb (the second hardest section) to get to our destination, the water tower.

After a short break we will continue back the way we came. There is not much shade on the entire hike.

What to Bring:

You should bring your ten essentials, a day pack, water (2 to 3 liters), trekking poles, sunscreen, hat and trail snacks. 

Option:

If there is any interest, we can have lunch after the hike at:

Rodeo 72 Public Market

7012 Walnut Grove Dr, Whittier CA 

Any Questions:

If you have any questions about this hike, please do not hesitate to reach out to your trip leader. 

Email:  [email protected] 

If there are any last-minute day-of cancellations,

please let me know via text:

626-319- 4740.

Click here for the list of ten essentials.

Wear shoes with good tread, as parts of the trail are steep with loose gravel.

Carpooling is recommended to help reduce gas, cost and the environment.

If you cannot attend, please cancel your registration, so the next person on the waiting list can have a chance to register.