San Gabriel Dam Trail

[Sean]

I can't find any write-ups about this trail, which is a bit odd, because it's clearly visible from San Gabriel Canyon Road. The lack of interest in it, however, could be due to its steepness, obscure trailhead, or also the fact that it dead-ends at the San Gabriel Dam, so that after dropping 1650' in 1.8 miles, you then have to backtrack up the ridge. But if you're looking for a quick class 2 workout, this is a fun adventure with excellent views.

To access the top of this route, drive up Glendora Mountain Road. From the intersection with Sierra Madre Ave., go up for 7.9 miles and look for a large turnout on the left at a bend in the road. If you reach mile marker 6.50, then you've gone about a quarter-mile too far.

At the east end of the turnout, hop over the berm and find the trail which follows an overgrown firebreak. The nice path gently rolls along, descending a little bit to Point 3007.

At 3007 the nice trail vanishes, and you must pick the correct use path. The firebreak ridge turns to the right. If you continue straight, you'll end up dropping into Steele Taco Canyon, and unless you have serious rappelling skills and gear, you don't want to be in there.

After the turn, there is a stretch of relatively flat ridgeline.

Then there is a slight left turn, where the trail becomes clear again, but this time it consists of a series of very steep drops with poor footing on potentially loose sand. Though recent rains had softened the soil and made life a little easier during my trip.

I stopped a little before the water tank above the dam, sat down, enjoyed the view, and ate my lunch.

I was slow going back up and spent several rest breaks taking in the pre-sunset vistas.

[AW~]

Interesting...could you see the main falls of Steele Taco?

[Gene]

Did you come across any large benchmarks cemented in corrugated pipe? There used to be some special benchmarks around the dam to precisely measure movement of the dam. The trail may have been used to access the benchmarks.

[Sean]

Interesting...could you see the main falls of Steele Taco?

Nah, the view is blocked by a subsidiary ridge.

[Sean]

Did you come across any large benchmarks cemented in corrugated pipe?

No, but I wasn't looking for benchmarks. There are none listed on my maps. The 1940 topo shows a spot elevation along the ridge at 1758', but all the BMs near the reservoir are along the San Gabriel Canyon Road. Also, the firebreak could have destroyed any old marks atop the ridge.

I did happen upon a metal post on the side of the firebreak. Though it lacked markings.

[tekewin]

Nice find. It looks like you could walk right out onto the dam.

[Sean]

Nice find. It looks like you could walk right out onto the dam.

It seems you could, but I can't say for certain. I didn't snoop around the tank, where the trail hits a paved road. There were a couple workers down there about a hundred feet away.

[Gene]

Did you come across any large benchmarks cemented in corrugated pipe?

No, but I wasn't looking for benchmarks. There are none listed on my maps. The 1940 topo shows a spot elevation along the ridge at 1758', but all the BMs near the reservoir are along the San Gabriel Canyon Road. Also, the firebreak could have destroyed any old marks atop the ridge.

I did happen upon a metal post on the side of the firebreak. Though it lacked markings.

It may well have been destroyed, these were special benchmarks used before the advent of laser and satellite measurements. There were several located around the dam and on the dam itself.

The water tank was installed when the dam was under construction. The water was used to wash off the foundation bedrock. It once had an inflatable roof when it was used for drinking water. It was a great trampoline if you were not afraid of heights.