Switzer Falls - Hiking near Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA, California
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana,California
34.2561100755, -118.1527599216
GPS: 34°15'22.0"N 118°9'9.9"W
Maps | Directions
State: California

Hike

This is a relatively easy hike into one of the loveliest sections of the San Gabriel mountains. The hike meanders back and across the stream running down the spectacular Arroyo Seco Canyon. The stream is lined with oaks and alder, with the water cascading over granite into mirror-like pools. The hike travels high above the 50 foot high Switzer falls, then drops back to the stream, where hikers can double back to stand at the base of the falls.

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Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.

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  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of waste properly
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of other visitors

Directions

From Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA, California

  1. Head southwest on Santa Ana Ave toward E 2nd St (138 ft)
  2. Turn left at the 1st cross street onto E 2nd St (1.6 mi)
  3. Turn left onto N Studebaker Rd (0.8 mi)
  4. Merge onto CA-22 E via the ramp to Interstate 605/Interstate 405 (0.7 mi)
  5. Take exit 2 for I-605 N (1.2 mi)
  6. Continue onto I-605 N (10.3 mi)
  7. Take exit 11 to merge onto I-5 N/Santa Ana Fwy toward Los Angeles (9.7 mi)
  8. Keep right at the fork to continue on I-5 N, follow signs for I-10 W/Santa Monica/Interstate 5 N/Sacramento (0.3 mi)
  9. Keep left to continue on I-5 N/Golden State Fwy, follow signs for Sacramento/Interstate 5 N (2.0 mi)
  10. Keep left to continue on I-5 N (4.1 mi)
  11. Take the exit onto CA-2 N toward Glendale (7.7 mi)
  12. Keep right to stay on CA-2 N, follow signs for Pasadena/I-210 (0.7 mi)
  13. Merge onto CA-2 E/I-210 E (0.4 mi)
  14. Take exit 20 for CA-2/Angeles Crest Hwy toward La Cañada Flintridge (0.3 mi)
  15. Turn left onto Angeles Crest Hwy (9.8 mi)
  16. Turn right onto Switzer Truck Trail (0.5 mi)
or

From Interstate 210 in La Canada, take Highway 2 north and drive 10 miles to Switzer picnic area on the right. Descend to the parking area outside the campground. You will see a footbridge over the stream leading to the trail head.

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