Trail Canyon Falls
DETAILS:
Trailhead Address:19600 North Trail Canyon Road, Angeles National Forest, Tujunga, CA91042
Location: Trail Canyon Falls resides on the western end of Angeles National Forrest in the Sunland-Tujunga area.
Directions: From the Sunland Boulevard exit off the 210 in Sunland, head east on Sunland Boulevard / Foothill Boulevard. In 1.3 miles, turn left onto Oro Vista Avenue, which becomes Big Tujunga Canyon Road. In about 5 miles, park near the gated dirt road to Trail Canyon. If the gate is open, you can drive an additional 0.3 mile to the actual trailhead.
Hours of Operation: Sunrise to sunset.
Parking: If the gate off Big Tujunga Canyon Road into Trail Canyon is open, you can proceed to the parking area within. If the gate is closed, as it was during our visit, you can park for free along Big Tujunga Canyon Road.
Cost: There are conflicting report as to whether or not a recreation pass is required to hike to the falls. If you chose get one, see “resources” below for current fees.
Time Commitment: The out and back trail to the falls is just over 4 miles with some decent elevation gain as you get closer to the falls. We spent approximately 3 hours there.
Whether it’s Escondido Falls, Eaton Canyon, or Switzer Falls, everyone seems to have their go-to waterfall hike in Los Angeles (yes Southern California actually has its fair share of waterfalls). They’re all great, and you can’t go wrong visiting any of them, but my waterfall hike of choice would have to be Trail Canyon Falls in the Angeles National Forest. Before we go any further, here’s a little word to the wise, any of these waterfalls can be found gushing or all the way down to a trickle depending on what time of year you go. Your best bet to see them in all their glory is from late fall into early spring and just after a storm system has passed through.
With that out of the way, I prefer Trail Canyon Falls because it’s more secluded (if only slightly) than some of those other trails, so you’ll feel a little more at one with nature than you would navigating the traffic jam that is Eaton Canyon on the weekends. This is especially true if you can make it out on a weekday. We barely came across three other people on the entire trail during the weekday we went. But the most unique feature of Trail Canyon Falls that differentiates it from most is that it allows you to see the waterfall from two different vantage points; the traditional view at the base of the falls within the canyon below and the other from directly above the fall’s crest which provides a stunning view of the mountainous terrain around you. As a general PSA, use extreme caution if you chose to venture towards the crest. Definitely not somewhere you’d want an accident to occur.
As mentioned in the details, the trail to the falls is roughly 4 miles in & out. The first mile (approximately) of the trail will take you past a small collection of cabins and along Golden Creek. The trail will cross over the creek several times, so depending on water levels, you may need to get a little wet to proceed. The next mile (approximately) will start your ascent up the western side of the canyon. While not excessive, you’ll definitely start to feel the burn in your legs as you gain elevation, but it’ll be worth it as the waterfall comes into view off in the distance. Near the end of this second mile, you’ll see a dirt footpath to your right that winds down to the canyon floor. Keep an eye out for it since it’ll be easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. We chose to proceed to the crest first and take in the views from above before turning back to venture below. The footpath is steep and will definitely require some rock scrambling to reach the bottom, so take your time and watch your footing as you descend. Once there, I promise you’ll be rewarded for your effort with a dazzling display of nature, the mist from the falls gently falling on your face as you continue to enjoy the waterworks.
