JMunaretto wrote:ok if I am walking from Switzer campground south and stay to the left where the gabrielino trail goes right, I'll hit point "F".
Correct.
JMunaretto wrote:I think that's the point I was at last time I went. I don't remember any obvious trail continuing from there on...
The trail isn't quite as obvious as the trail coming down from the Gabrieleno Trail ("G"), but there is a trail. It crosses to the opposite side and goes downstream from there.
JMunaretto wrote:... it seems from the first topo (and your point 'E' that I could continue along the canyon east then south.
Exactly. This by the way is exactly what the trail does.
JMunaretto wrote:Looking at the first topo, it seems I could head north from point 'F' also, any idea what's there?
Yes, you can head back upstream (north) from where you drop into the canyon ("F"). You scramble up the creek bed and eventually come to a pool at the base of the falls. The pool is nice, albeit shallow (knee depth?), but it's scenically worthwhile. It's fun to watch the water come off the falls.
Note that there is a danger of rock fall. While this pool at the base of the falls is nice, it's not particularly good for swimming. The best swimming holes are between points "F" and "E."
JMunaretto wrote:If someone says they are going to Bear Canyon Trail Camp, I'm assuming that would be on the same trail as 'E'. Is it past 'E'?
Point "E" marks the spot where you leave the Arroyo Seco and proceed (generally SE) up Bear Canyon. Bear Canyon Trail Camp is between point "E" (where you leave the Arroyo Seco) and point "D" (where the trail drops into Bear Canyon from Tom Sloan Saddle). Grab one of those Tom Harrison
Angeles Front Country maps. The Front Country map will pin point the location for you on the map, although you can't miss it if you're hiking in Bear Canyon.
By the way, there is no maintained trail below "E" in the Arroyo Seco. I know people have gone further south, but I believe it's fairly rough terrain. There's a reason why the Gabrieleno Trail leaves the bed of the Arroyo Seco at Switzer's Camp and doesn't rejoin the bed of the Arroyo Seco until miles downstream.