Glen Canyon Falls
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 1:15 am
After the recent socal rain we received, I decided it’d be a great chance to see Glen Canyon Falls of the West Fork San Gabriel River. Gotta make this a bike hike unless you enjoy long walks on paved roads (12.6 mi r.t.)
Indeed, it was a very pleasant smooth and scenic ride with the road following West Fork to Glen Campground. The sight of these spectacular falls merited a second visit later in the week to share the experience.
At the start of the bike ride.
At about 3 miles you pass a set of 4 beautiful unnamed waterfalls on your left. They flow into the West Fork from the south.
We got off our bikes to explore them. It was an easy scramble to the second fall.
Interesting water color…..minerals?
Further on the road, we passed several other mini falls flowing into West Fork. At 6.3 mi, a big empty Glen campground came into view. However when I came again this past Saturday the campground was crowded. A good portion of the campers were teenage boys (boy scouts?). We rode on past Glen campground to the Cogswell dam gate (boy that was a workout!) and then back to Glen Campground.
At Glen campground, we snatched the only available spot with a picnic table for a lunch break before hitting the Canyon. We were entertained watching the boys struggle to chop wood. A circle of them were standing around watching as one guy struggled with the ax. A good stretch of time passed by (45 minutes) and there was about two pieces cut.
We stashed our bikes and headed towards the Canyon. Its only about a quarter mile up the creek before you reach the base of the lower falls....
....and they were stunning.
A rather large trunk sits on the left side allowing you to walk right up to the waterfall. Looks like its been there for a couple of years. From a certain angle, we were able to barely see all three falls at the same time. However I wouldn’t recommend climbing the steep slope to try to get a better view of the upper falls. But of course, I had to find that out for myself. I tried several different ways until I realized there was a rope buried underneath the dirt. It was tied to a tree half way up. I used the rope until I came to the end of it. I felt like the recent rains made the dirt more loose than usual and everything was deteriorating underneath my feet. I contemplated how long the descent was going to take and decided I had enough.
In his website, Dan Simpson wrote “Bottom line, I don't think the reward of going past the lower falls is worth the danger and risk, unless of course, you have technical canyoneering skills and equipment” Does anyone have a different experience?
So the second time I came that week, I didn’t bother trying.
Hopping back onto our bikes we rode back to our cars, admiring all these little fellas on the road.
Indeed, it was a very pleasant smooth and scenic ride with the road following West Fork to Glen Campground. The sight of these spectacular falls merited a second visit later in the week to share the experience.
At the start of the bike ride.
At about 3 miles you pass a set of 4 beautiful unnamed waterfalls on your left. They flow into the West Fork from the south.
We got off our bikes to explore them. It was an easy scramble to the second fall.
Interesting water color…..minerals?
Further on the road, we passed several other mini falls flowing into West Fork. At 6.3 mi, a big empty Glen campground came into view. However when I came again this past Saturday the campground was crowded. A good portion of the campers were teenage boys (boy scouts?). We rode on past Glen campground to the Cogswell dam gate (boy that was a workout!) and then back to Glen Campground.
At Glen campground, we snatched the only available spot with a picnic table for a lunch break before hitting the Canyon. We were entertained watching the boys struggle to chop wood. A circle of them were standing around watching as one guy struggled with the ax. A good stretch of time passed by (45 minutes) and there was about two pieces cut.
We stashed our bikes and headed towards the Canyon. Its only about a quarter mile up the creek before you reach the base of the lower falls....
....and they were stunning.
A rather large trunk sits on the left side allowing you to walk right up to the waterfall. Looks like its been there for a couple of years. From a certain angle, we were able to barely see all three falls at the same time. However I wouldn’t recommend climbing the steep slope to try to get a better view of the upper falls. But of course, I had to find that out for myself. I tried several different ways until I realized there was a rope buried underneath the dirt. It was tied to a tree half way up. I used the rope until I came to the end of it. I felt like the recent rains made the dirt more loose than usual and everything was deteriorating underneath my feet. I contemplated how long the descent was going to take and decided I had enough.
In his website, Dan Simpson wrote “Bottom line, I don't think the reward of going past the lower falls is worth the danger and risk, unless of course, you have technical canyoneering skills and equipment” Does anyone have a different experience?
So the second time I came that week, I didn’t bother trying.
Hopping back onto our bikes we rode back to our cars, admiring all these little fellas on the road.
