Zion Loop - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Zion Loop |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | California |
| Nearby Town: | Arcadia |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | Santa Anita exit from the 210, north one mile to corner of Virginia. TRAILHEAD: Continue north on Santa Anita four more miles to the parking lot. Arcadia, CA 91006 |
| Total Hike Distance: | 9.00 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Moderate to Difficult |
| Permit Required: | Yes |
| Hike Type: | Roundtrip, Loop Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Sturtevant Falls |
| Trails Used: | see below |
| Backcountry Campsites: | Yes |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Rivers |
| Management: | State Park Service |
| Contact Information: | Angeles National Forest |
| Best Season: | Winter, Spring, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers, Bikers, Dogs |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads |
| Hike Summary: | Mt. Zion Loop has it all: lush shaded forests, flowing streams, waterfalls, historic sites, peak ascents, sunny chaparral and stunning views. This adventurous, varied hike from Chantry Flats checks in at 9 miles and about 2,100 feet of elevation gain, a good workout for an intermediate hiker. We're doing this loop counter-clockwise, which means we'll be going down the face of Mt. Zion, the steepest section of our hike. Thus, we'll have plenty of steady climbing and one steep descent, instead of the other way around. From the parking lot, we'll head down a paved road for about a half mile, then begin along the path toward Sturtevant Falls, a beautiful spot that, as a result, attracts big weekend crowds who flock to its base. But we're not going there -- we'll bypass the bottom of the falls and take the trail that rises to its top, with nice views of the tumbling waterfall and the cascades above. After a brief stop, we'll continue following the stream for a couple miles, going past Cascade Picnic Area and Spruce Grove campground to Sturtevant Camp, which was established in 1893 and is the only camp from the Great Hiking Era still operating in the San Gabriels. It's the perfect spot for a bite to eat from your pack, a brief tour of the lodge, and a potable-water refill from the drinking fountain. From Sturtevant Camp, a gentle 30-minute climb takes us to Zion Peak, with great views in all directions (and, amazingly, cell service -- call your friends and tell them to gaze high up into the mountains. That's you up there.) After Zion, we'll descend very steeply to Winter Creek, and take the Upper Winter Creek trail back to the parking lot. We'll maintain no more than a moderate pace, which should get us back to the cars by early to mid-afternoon. |
There are no comments yet.