San Gabriel Mountains Heritage Association a California 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation

HIKES AND NATURE WALKS IN THE SAN GABRIELS Walks on the Wild Side, Fall-Winter, 2008-9 November 5, West Fork of the San Gabriel November 19, Marshall Canyon December 3, Hacienda Hills Coyote Trail December 17, San Olene Fire Road January 7, Shoemaker Canyon Road to Nowhere January 21, Santa Fe Dam Natural Area February 4, West Fork in Winter Maps For further questions send an email to November 19, Marshall Canyon Meet at the parking lot marked "P" on the map, 9 am Map and directions: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/photos/2008/jun/18/2881/ Features: sycamore trees More information: Bob Muns has made a plant guide for the area. Paper only. Marshall Canyon Regional Park: "Explore two deeply shaded canyons in the foothills above Claremont and Pomona ...The inner recesses of both canyons are smothered by a leafy canopy of live oak, sycamore, and alder trees." http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2008/jun/18/marshall-canyon/ December 3, Hacienda Hills Trailhead Meet at the trailhead end of 7th Avenue, 9 am Map to Trailhead: http://www.habitatauthority.org/images/zoom/hacienda.jpg Hacienda Hills Trails map: http://www.habitatauthority.org/pdf/Hacienda_Hills%20trails%20map%20color.pdf The plan is to take the Ahwinga Trail to the top where it meets the formerly named Skyline Trail now called the Schabarum Trail. Features: view More information: Western Puente Hills Access Guide (contains a bit of history and some flora and fauna) http://www.habitatauthority.org/pdf/accessguide2.pdf Bob Muns has made a plant list for this trail which is online at http://tchester.org/plants/muns/pr/skyline_trail.html Switchbacks, bring your walking sticks; although when I did this about 10 years ago it seemed easy enough, that was then ... (sigh) this is now December 17, San Olene Fire Road Meet at the picnic area near the upper parking lot, 9 am Map and directions at http://www.bigsantaanitacanyon.com/BSACdirections.htm Features: view, unusual plants like madrone (you northern California folks know it well, the tree with the bright red trunk and large evergreen leaves, a relict form of the vegetation that covered southern California 10,000 years ago More information: "On clear days, the scenery is uniformly pleasant, especially after winter storms have dusted the surrounding summits with snow. Road climbs ... at an almost steady six percent grade." http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2005/jan/06/enjoy-panoramic-view-san-gabriel-valley-top-santa-/ Check road condition and closures: City of Sierra Madre Chantry Road Closure information (maybe) http://cityofsierramadre.com/index.php Wiki page for Chantry Flat where the trail begins http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chantry_Flat Big Santa Anita Canyon history page http://www.bigsantaanitacanyon.com/history.htm Adams Pack Station Celebrating More Than 70 Years at Chantry Flat! http://www.adamspackstation.com/link not working November 5, 2008; too bad, it was very interesting! Bob Muns has made a plant guide for this area http://tchester.org/plants/muns/sgm/chantry_flat.html January 7, Shoemaker Canyon Road to Nowhere Meet at the end of the paved Shoemaker Canyon Road where it is gated, 9 am Map and Directions: here Features: leg stretcher, tunnels if we get that far More information: I don't know how true this one is: The Convict Road at http://www.wejc.com/photo_gallery/the_convict_road.htm Some pictures and a blog at http://the-great-silence.blogspot.com/2008/10/tunnels-to-nowhere.html January 21, Santa Fe Dam Natural Area Meet at the Nature Center Parking Lot, 9 am Fee possible. Use restroom to the left at the bottom of the incline. Then go north towards the mountains following the paved road curving left towards the Nature Center Map and directions: here Features: first wildflowers of the new year, view toward snowy mountains, unique plant assemblages, birds More information: The Natural History of Santa Fe Dam at http://www.cnps-sgm.org/santafedam/index.html links not updated; plant list, bird list, butterfly list incomplete, there are very few February 7, West Fork in Winter Meet upper West Fork trailhead parking lot across bridge, 9 am Map and directions: Take Hwy 39, Azusa Canyon/San Gabriel Canyon Road north about 12 miles from the 210 Freeway. Features: ferns, weeping walls, waterfalls More information: I kinda like these storm photos of winter at its worst (best?) in the places we've been at http://geology.csupomona.edu/janourse/Storm%20Photos.htm. If you have PowerPoint installed check out the slide show of what has happened to the West Fork bridge in the past updated November 6, 2008 Back to Index Page The mission of the San Gabriel Mountains Heritage Association is to provide support for environmental education, interpretive and heritage programs on the Angeles National Forest. For how you can help, please call the USFS Mt Baldy Visitor Center at 909 982 2829. In partnership with USDA Forest Service