Sturtevant Falls

We left the city for the weekend and went on a spur-of-the-moment waterfall hike. The trail follows a stream the whole way, and the tree cover keeps the summer heat from being too much. You can hear running water along the route, and now and then we spotted small animals in the woods. After roughly 1.5 miles, you reach Sturtevant Falls, where water comes down a rock wall into a clear pool. Up here there's no city noise, only the valley, the stream and the falls. If you live in Los Angeles, it's a good weekend hike to save. Trail Details Trail: Sturtevant Falls Trail, Chantry Flat, Angeles National Forest Round trip: about 3.3 miles (5.3 km) Elevation gain: about 450 to 500 ft Difficulty: easy, beginner friendly Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours, including photo stops Dogs: allowed on a leash Entry: no trail fee Address: Chantry Flat Road, Arcadia, CA 91006 (we navigated to the Gabrielino Trail eastern trailhead) The Walk The trail starts at the bottom of the car park, beside the toilets, on a downhill stretch. Most of the elevation gain comes from that stretch, since you walk down at the start and climb back up at the end. After that the path is mostly flat and easy. Roughly half the trail is shaded and half is in the sun. There are a few small stream crossings, two or three of them with a log bridge or a pile of stones to step across, which is part of the fun. You also pass an old bridge and some leftover historic buildings, so it's a good trail for a slow pace, stopping to look around and take photos. It suits dogs and kids too. There are plenty of small streams on the way. You don't need water shoes for most of it if you place your feet on the stones, though if you want to play in the water, a swimsuit works wherever the stream runs shallow. At the Falls To get close to the falls you have to wade. If you're careful you can step from stone to stone and stay dry, but I'd still wear waterproof shoes or sandals. For photos, I used a wide aperture lens, though an ultra-wide lens might have been more interesting here. I'd go in winter, especially in the few days after rain, when the falls look their best. In summer I'd expect the flow to be a lot smaller. Parking There's a car park at Chantry Flat, but on weekends it's packed and you end up parking along the road, with some risk of a ticket. Go early. A National Forest Adventure Pass is listed as required for parking here, so check before you leave. If you want food afterwards, Arcadia Mall is only about ten minutes away.