Foothill Flyers Mountain Trail Runs
Last update March 26, 2023
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The road up to Chantry Flat is closed due to the Bobcat fire.
It has been restored and the expected re-opening is April 2023.

Sturtevant Falls, Lower and Upper Trail 5 Mile Loop From Chantry Flat

This is a nice out and back from Chantry Flat with a loop along the stream in Big Santa Anita Canyon. You have the option of doing the whole 5 mile course or about 3 if you turn right and cross the stream at the Fern Lodge junction and go to the base of Sturtevant Falls and then retrace your steps. Also if you want to increase the distance a little, you can take the First Water trail just off the 2nd hairpin turn as you go down the paved road and rejoin at Roberts Camp.

Click on the map to download and print it out to take with you on the trail

Start out by turning left and going past the gate down from the south end of the lower Chantry Flat parking lot on the paved single lane road. This paved section is .6 miles long and ends at crossing the Winter Creek at Roberts Camp. Keep going on the dirt jeep road 2N40 that goes east. This will pass many cabins that are situated on both sides of Big Santa Anita Canyon.

Roberts Camp Trail Sign

Mules delivering supplies to cabin owners

The dirt road goes for about a mile and ends at Fern Lodge Junction. There you will find trail signs on the right and the left. If you just want to go to the base of Sturtevant Falls follow the Fern Lodge sign on the right and turn right to follow the stream for .2 miles. If you want to do the Lower to Upper Falls loop, turn left to the Gabrielino Trail sign and take the trail to the right of the sign.

Fern Lodge Junction sign

Gabrielino Trail sign

The trail climbs up and goes along the west side of the canyon and at one point you will start to hear the sound of the falls. You will be just above the falls in a carved out rock section of the trail and you will see a steep slide area. Above the falls there are a few pools that hikers like to take a cooling dip in in the mid summer months or slide down into. After a few stream crossings you will climb up the west side of the canyon to meet the Gabrielino Trail. Make a left turn at the Falling Sign sign to return via the upper trail to the Fern Lodge Junction and back the way you came through Roberts Camp and climb back up the steep paved road to Chantry Flat.

Falling Sign sign - doesnt look like it has fallen yet

After the run on one of the last Wednesdays of the month, the club circles their folding chairs and has their picnic dinners in the Chantry Flat parking lot.


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