Pleasures of Santa Anita Canyon, Mount Zion, and Sturtevant Falls

Join us for an enjoyable loop hike in our local mountains that has it all: shady canyons, streams and cascades, 3 historic camps from the early 1900s “Great Hiking Era” on trails built by Wilbur Sturtevant, and a Lower Peaks List peak to bag.

From Chantry Flat we ascend gently up the shady canyon of lower Winter Creek, with a stop at Hoegees Camp for a break. We then leave the shade for a while for a steep climb to top Mount Zion, continuing on to historic Sturtevant Camp for lunch, then descending back into the shade of the main Santa Anita Canyon, with a break before a little uphill back to historic Adam’s Pack Station for refreshments and the cars.

Total for the day is 8.6 miles with 2300’ gain at a moderate pace. Bring suitable footwear, at least 2 liters of water, more if warm, and lunch. Poles are helpful for the multiple stream crossings.

The trails and camps in this area date back to the early 1900s, the so called Great Hiking Era in Los Angeles and around the country. During this period Thaddeus Lowe built the famed White City atop Echo Mountain and the Mount Lowe Railroad to access it. Wilbur Sturtevant built the trails we will be hiking to serve the series of camps he and Arie Hoegees built; Sturtevant Camp remains an active camp to this day. When asked why he routed the Mount Zion trail straight up over the peak instead of around it, Sturtevant replied it was to make it a little more interesting and challenging for those hiking it.

*** PLEASE sign up online to complete the required waiver and paperwork to save time at the trailhead. Sign up link: https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00001zbOZGIA2

This hike is brought to you by the Hundred Peaks Section, the original SoCal peakbaggers, the Wilderness Adventures Section, which sponsors many diverse and interesting outings, and the Local Outings Committee, the oldest hiking group in Los Angeles.