Trouble on the Trails

Recent storms caused damage to trails in the Angeles National Forest, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and the San Bernardino National Forest. These areas were the hardest hit:

ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST Damage is confined to the wilderness areas around the San Gabriel River and its tributaries. Much of the Bear Creek Trail, East Fork Trail and Heaton Flat Trail are under water or washed out. The Ice House Canyon and Chapman trails near Mt. Baldy were heavily damaged.

Portions of the Sunset Trail, the Gabrielino Trail in Arroyo Seco Canyon and the Sam Merrill Trail suffered damage. Slides also occurred in such areas as Santa Anita Canyon.

Trails in Little Tujunga Canyon and Big Tujunga Canyon were overwhelmed by floodwaters and slides. Affected trails include Trail Canyon Trail, the Pacoima Canyon Trail, the Doc Larson Trail, the Grizzly Flat area and the Pacific Crest Trail in Soledad Canyon. The Bear Divide Nature Trail has not been repaired from damage during the previous year’s rainy season.

SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA Trails in the Rocky Oaks, Cheeseboro Canyon and Rancho Sierra Vista areas were closed for a week during the rainstorms but have since reopened. However, some slides have not been removed. Damage resulted in the temporary closure of the road to Happy Hollow Campground.

SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST Slides were especially bad in the Big Bear area of the Pacific Crest Trail.