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SAN GABRIEL TRAILS AWARD AND SEGMENTS
The SAN GABREIL TRAILS AWARD has been developed to
encourage Scout units to experience backpacking and exploring
throughout the San Gabriel Mountain area and to encourage wise
use and proper maintenance of the trails and campsites within the
Angeles National Forest.
This award consists of a main patch and a series of segments
which allow the unit many options as to the trails and trail camps
which may be explored. Each segment requires an overnight
backpack outing of at least five (5) scheduled hours.
John Robinson's "TRAILS OF THE ANGELES" is referenced for
appropriate hikes in each segment area. Current USGS
topographic maps should be consulted for trail details.
Requirements:
1. Comply with the GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.
2. Obtain a Local Tour permit from your council.
3. Obtain required Fire Permit and Wilderness Permit. Check in
and out with local USFS or Stat
e Park Ranger when possible.
Comply with all USFS and State Park regulations.
4. Complete a backpack application with a roster of participants,
menus, itinerary, and trail profile. Submit the completed form
to your council H.A.T. for approval at least two weeks prior to
the outing.
5. At least one of the required two adult leaders participating on
the outing must have completed
the basic backpack awareness
course and hold a current Red Cross First Aid Certificate.
6. Each participant shall carry
a backpack containing all his
personal gear and a share of the unit equipment and food for a
minimum of five (5) scheduled backpack hours and sleep at
least one (1) night in a backcountry trail camp in one of the
listed segment areas. (1 backpack hour = 2 miles or 1000 feet
in elevation gain).
7. Each participant must work on a good turn project within the
National Forest for each tra
il segment earned. Projects
involving trail repair and mainte
nance require the supervision
of a Trail Boss or Forest Ranger.
8. After completing a weekend outing in one of the listed areas,
the unit leader shall file an Award Application and a hike
report listing all participants who earned this award and/or
segment. (A three-day, two-night backpack of 10 or more
backpack hours through two adjacent areas may earn both
segments).
SAN GABRIEL TRAILS AWARD SEGMENTS
BEAR CREEK
The trail along Bear Creek penetrates the rugged San Gabriel Wilderness. Recommended trail head starts at Highway 39
below Coldbrook Campground and terminates at the west fork of
the San Gabriel River. The lower trail has many stream
crossings and is heavily covered by poison oak. Trail camps ar
e Bear Creek and Lower Bear Cr
eek. A side trip for a peak
climb is at Smith Mountain. Wilderness permits may be obtai
ned at Glendora Ranger Station. Reference Robinson's hikes
73 & 74.
BUCKHORN
Buckhorn and Cooper Canyon were once campgrounds of the Shoshone
Indians and later served as hunting camps for early
settlers. The suggested trek is from Cloudburst Summit through
Cooper Canyon to Mt. Williams. Use of the trail camp at
Cooper Canyon is convenient for exploring the San Gabriel M
ountain backcountry. Review Robinson's hike 60 through 66.
CUCAMONGA
This trek takes you into the western si
de of the rugged Cucamonga Wilderness. A
ccess is from the trail head at Ice House
Canyon above Mt. Baldy Village or from Baldy Notch. A wild
erness permit may be obtained at
Mt. Baldy Ranger Station.
The trail camp at Kelly's offers a base for side hikes to any of
the high peaks, offering impressive views of the area. Consul
t
Robinson's hikes 96 through 99.
EAST FORK
Follow the valley of the east fork of the San Gabriel River from Vincent Gap to East Fork Ranger Station for a trip that
offers adventure and isolation. Once a hunting ground for local
Indians, the lower canyon has become a haven for weekend
gold prospectors. Good trails take you to Mine Gulch Camp
in the shadow of Mt. Baden-Powell, but the middle section to
Bridge-to-Nowhere requires cross-
country skills. Start at either end of the
canyon. Wilderness permit is obtained at Big
Pines or East Fork Ranger Stations. See Robinson's hikes 84 to 88.
LITTLE JIMMY
Sheltered on the north slope of Mt. Islip, Little Jimmy is accessi
ble from Islip Saddle, Crystal Lake or Vincent Gap via the
Pacific Coast Trail (PCT). Several peaks nearby provide cha
llenging side hikes with panoramas of the San Gabriels. Good
water is at Little Jimmy Springs. Refer to Robinson's hikes 76 to 81.
MT. LOWE
Featuring the front range of the San Gabriels and scenic Eaton Ca
nyon areas, Mt. Lowe also offers a trip into the historic past
of the front range. Many of the access tr
ails leading up from Altadena
require steep climbs on exposed slopes. Trail camps
at Mt. Lowe and Idlehour offer year-round water. A trek thr
ough Henninger Flats Forestry Station is worthwhile. Review
Robinson's hikes 19 to 33.
SANTA ANITA CANYON
A major portion of the Gabrielino Trail traverses this canyon. The Gabrielino Indians once migrated into these mountains
gathering food. Sturtevant Falls in the
lower canyon is worth the visit. Access to
the area is from Chantry Flats or Red Box,
with trail camps at Hogees, Spruce Grove or Devore. See Robinson's hikes 39 to 47 and 49 to 52.
SWITZER FALLS
The Commodore Switzer Trail Camp and Switzer Falls were once two of the most popular areas during the "great hiking era"
of the San Gabriels. Trails that access
the area follow Arroyo Seco and Bear Cany
ons. Trail camps are at Switzer, Bear
Canyon and Oakwilde. Water generally is availa
ble. Consult Robinson's hikes 15 to 18 and 33.
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