Gabrielino Trail
Encyclopedia
The Gabrielino Trail is a United States National Recreation Trail
that runs through the Angeles National Forest
with trailheads at Windsor Avenue in Altadena, California
on the west end and Chantry Flat
, just north of Arcadia, California
, on the east. It passes through three major watersheds and has an elevation gain/loss of 3500 ft (1,066.8 m)
The trail winds its way from Chantry Flat, through Big Santa Anita Canyon past Sturtevant Falls and Sturtevant's Camp, then over Newcomb's Pass into the West Fork of the San Gabriel River
. The trail meets the river at Devore Campground then follows the watercourse upstream to West Fork Campground.
To this point, the Gabrielino Trail has been tracing the Silver Moccasin Trail
. It is across the stream from West Fork Campground that the Silver Moccasin Trail heads up Shortcut Canyon for the San Gabriel High Country. To continue on the Gabrielino Trail, travel west to the head of the West Fork at Red Box Saddle
near Mount Wilson
. This is the trail's highest point.
From Red Box, the Gabrielino continues westward down the Arroyo Seco
through Commodore Switzer Trail Camp, Oakwilde and Gould Mesa Campgrounds, and emerges from The Arroyo at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
.
The following is a list of Forest Service facilities along the route of the Gabrielino Trail, east to west:
National Recreation Trail
National Recreation Trail is a designation given to existing trails that contribute to health, conservation, and recreation goals in the United States. Over 1,000 trails in all 50 U.S. states, available for public use and ranging from less than a mile to in length, have been designated as NRTs...
that runs through the Angeles National Forest
Angeles National Forest
The Angeles National Forest of the U.S. National Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, southern California. It was established on July 1, 1908, incorporating the first San Bernardino National Forest and parts of the former Santa Barbara and San Gabriel...
with trailheads at Windsor Avenue in Altadena, California
Altadena, California
Altadena is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States, approximately from the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center, and directly north of the city of Pasadena, California...
on the west end and Chantry Flat
Chantry Flat
Chantry Flat is a designated "Recreation Area" within the Angeles National Forest, about three miles into Big Santa Anita Canyon, and is closely associated with the towns of Arcadia and Sierra Madre, CA. The flat itself houses a large public picnic area, and is the starting point for several...
, just north of Arcadia, California
Arcadia, California
Arcadia is an affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and located approximately northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains....
, on the east. It passes through three major watersheds and has an elevation gain/loss of 3500 ft (1,066.8 m)
History
When several existing trails were renamed to make a "new" 28.5 mile (45 km) trail in 1970, in compliance with the National Trails System Act, the Forest Service announcement read as follows:Directions
San Gabriel River (California)
The San Gabriel River flows through southern Los Angeles County, California in the United States. Its main stem is about long, while its farthest tributaries extend almost altogether...
. The trail meets the river at Devore Campground then follows the watercourse upstream to West Fork Campground.
To this point, the Gabrielino Trail has been tracing the Silver Moccasin Trail
Silver Moccasin Trail
The Silver Moccasin Trail is a trail located in the San Gabriel Mountains, just northeast of Los Angeles. It begins at Chantry Flat Recreation Area above the city of Arcadia, California, traversing upward and down through several canyons and along the high ridges of the Angeles National Forest....
. It is across the stream from West Fork Campground that the Silver Moccasin Trail heads up Shortcut Canyon for the San Gabriel High Country. To continue on the Gabrielino Trail, travel west to the head of the West Fork at Red Box Saddle
Arroyo Seco (Los Angeles County)
The Arroyo Seco, meaning "dry stream" in Spanish, is a seasonal river, canyon, watershed, and cultural area in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The Arroyo Seco has been called the most celebrated canyon in Southern California.-River course:...
near Mount Wilson
Mount Wilson
Mount Wilson can refer to several things:* Mount Wilson ** Mount Wilson Observatory* Mount Wilson, New South Wales, a mountain with a small hamlet in Australia* One of a list of peaks named Mount Wilson...
. This is the trail's highest point.
From Red Box, the Gabrielino continues westward down the Arroyo Seco
Arroyo Seco
The Arroyo Seco, meaning "dry stream" in Spanish, is a seasonal river, canyon, watershed, and cultural area in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The Arroyo Seco has been called the most celebrated canyon in Southern California.-River course:...
through Commodore Switzer Trail Camp, Oakwilde and Gould Mesa Campgrounds, and emerges from The Arroyo at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
.
Facilities
Potable water is available at the Chantry Flat trailhead, but otherwise one must boil or filter the stream water. Very little cell phone service along the entire route.The following is a list of Forest Service facilities along the route of the Gabrielino Trail, east to west:
- Chantry Flat Picnic AreaChantry FlatChantry Flat is a designated "Recreation Area" within the Angeles National Forest, about three miles into Big Santa Anita Canyon, and is closely associated with the towns of Arcadia and Sierra Madre, CA. The flat itself houses a large public picnic area, and is the starting point for several...
- Cascade Picnic Area
- Spruce Grove Campground
- Newcomb's Pass Picnic Area
- Devore Trail Camp
- West Fork Campground
- Valley Forge Campground
- Switzer's Picnic Area
- Commodore Switzer Trail Camp
- Oakwilde Campground
- Paul Little Picnic Area
- Niño Picnic Area
- Gould Mesa Campground
- Teddy's Outpost Picnic Area