CHANTRY FLATS

[Girl Hiker]

This morning Jeff and I checked out Chantry Flats. We really had no specific trails in mind but we were both excited to see Sturtevant Falls.

Thank God It wasn't crowded. There were only a few cars in the parking lot and a couple of bikers.

As we descended the newly paved road, the first thing we observed from the devastating Bobcat fire was the bridge. It was tossed aside and replaced with a plank of wood. I hope they build a new bridge.

Sturtevant Falls was our first destination. The water was flowing nicely. A small group of hikers were taking photos but quickly departed.

We had a nice peaceful snack break and enjoyed the scenery. As I was taking photos of the waterfall, Jeff found a cute baby toad hanging out by a rock.

We retraced our steps back to the junction and decided to take the Upper Winter Creek trail and do a loop hike.

Then we descended the Upper Falls trail and found another cool spot to take another snack break in the shade.

As we hiked through the area there were lots of cool pools of water & small cascades. Chantry was just as beautiful as I remembered it.

We continued on above Sturtevant Falls and as we looked down we could see more hikers had arrived. Then Jeff found a benchmark on a rock.

Finally, we descended the Lower Winter Creek trail and decided to call it a day.

As we were walking back up the road we met Scott and his donkees/mules (whatever you call them). There were 5 of them and they all had names. They were heading towards Sturtevant Camp.

Overall, it was a nice hike. The water was flowing throughout the creeks, hardly any bugs, very lush and green in some areas and the fall colors were nice. We also stopped by the Pack Station.

[Sean]

Thanks for the report. Do you mean you took the Gabrielino-Upper Falls loop? Winter Creek doesn't connect with Upper Falls. I'm curious how far they've restored the Gabrielino.

[Girl Hiker]

The sign said Upper Falls trail. I'll post a picture of it later.

There's a split to continue going up or go on the trail we did above the falls.

[Nate U]

I knew nothing of Sturtevant Camp, but doing some research now looks like a really neat place. That front range area of the Gabes feels like a world unto itself with so much history. I've spent time on the other side of Wilson, but I haven't been in the Santa Anita watershed at all. Lets do a group hike from Chantry sometime soon! Would love to do a hike there with someone who knows some history.

How much evidence of the fire was there? Your photos make it look like it wasn't all that much? Was there poodledog everywhere? Lots of blackened, dead trees? How different from what you remember before the fire?

N8

[Girl Hiker]

Nate- the fire didn't affect much of the area where we started from the lower parking lot. One cabin did burn which was close to the trailhead and the cool bridge that was once there.

The majority of cabins were saved.

The cabins at Sturtevant camp were burned but they are currently rebuilding.

As we walked down the Winter Creek trail further into the canyon there was evidence of burnt trees

Also, the trail up to the waterfall is narrower. No evidence of poodle dog but tons of poison oak. It is avoidable and off the trail if you pay attention to where you are walking.

Most of the area on the backside from Manzanita ridge that goes up to Wilson was burned.

Yes a group hike would be awesome! By the way back in 2015 (I think) I hiked the entire Chantry Flats in sections. Unfortunately, since the Bobcat fire many trails will be permanently closed.

[Girl Hiker]

Thanks for the report. Do you mean you took the Gabrielino-Upper Falls loop? Winter Creek doesn't connect with Upper Falls. I'm curious how far they've restored the Gabrielino.

We took the Upper Falls trail that connects to the Lower Winter Creek trail. We did not continue on the Upper Winter Creek trail at the split.

[Sean]

Falling Sign Junction is on the Gabrielino in Big Santa Anita. It doesn't look like you were on Winter Creek. If you had hiked Winter Creek you would have ended up at Hoegees, not Sturtevant.

[HikeUp]

[Girl Hiker]

Falling Sign Junction is on the Gabrielino in Big Santa Anita. It doesn't look like you were on Winter Creek. If you had hiked Winter Creek you would have ended up at Hoegees, not Sturtevant.

Whatever. We hiked. There is a lower and upper winter Creek trail. You weren't there so just let it be

[Sean]

Falling Sign Junction is on the Gabrielino in Big Santa Anita. It doesn't look like you were on Winter Creek. If you had hiked Winter Creek you would have ended up at Hoegees, not Sturtevant.

Whatever. We hiked. There is a lower and upper winter Creek trail. You weren't there so just let it be

You're welcome.

[JeffH]

It was nice to see this area with no trash, I don't expect that to last much longer.
Don't know which trail we were on, we took the dirt road down and then walked to the falls. From there we backtracked a little to the junction and walked up the left fork, which reached another junction where we turned right and went downhill. That trail led us back to the junction near the falls. I don't know trail names and they aren't important to me.
It was rather warm walking back up the dirt road even though the temperature in my car was noted at 75 degrees.

PS- the bathrooms at the bottom of the dirt road are closed.

[David R]

There is an upper and lower trail above the falls, it sounds like you took the upper until it merged with the lower and came back along that one which follows the creek and goes right above the falls. Will have to get up there soon and try the firebreak to Manzanita Ridge and Mt. Wilson. It looks like I can come back down Winter Creek.