Those of us living in SoCal are blessed not only with great weather but also with an abundance of fresh food and great natural beauty.
So why not make the most of it!
Those living in the foothill areas of the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys have a number of wonderful hiking trails to choose from.
Last weekend we went hiking in the 'Big Santa Anita Canyon' area north of Arcadia. It is hard to describe the tranquility and respite from our hectic lives that even a short hike can provide.
There are a number of books and websites on various hiking trails all over SoCal.
Here is a little info if you would like to follow in our footsteps:
Drive north on Santa Anita Avenue from the I-210 freeway and after 2-3 miles, after passing the last few houses in North Arcadia, you enter the Angeles National Forest. The road winds up the mountain and ends at a parking lot and ranger station.
You need a pass ($5) to park and you can buy it at the general store there, or from the National Park office on Santa Anita Ave just south of the 210 freeway or from a number of local stores (including REI).
Make sure to carry water. Head down the paved road from the parking lot - a steep 0.6 mile drop into the valley floor. Head down the well marked trail which runs next to a gushing creek surrounded by old growth oaks and other trees. There are a number of old cabins that line the trail and provide a window into the past. A 1.2 mile hike brings you to the base of the 55 feet high Sturtevant Falls (picture above). Spend sometime sitting on a rock and relaxing by the pool of water before starting back. The water is especially good at this time of the year.
The whole hike should take about 90 to 120 minutes, but you could extend it by following other trails to other nearby waterfalls and other sites.
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