Little Santa Anita Canyon in Angeles National Forest, CA

Canyoneer Little Santa Anita Canyon Angeles National Forest, CA

Class 2 3B (50 ft max) 3.5 miles 1100 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Apr 28, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Little Santa Anita Canyon GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

This route may have access issues.

Completing the canyon requires trespassing on city land and climbing over a gate. There is an option to leave LSA Canyon earlier, but I don't know the specifics of this option.

This is a technical canyon. If you are unfamiliar with how to build anchors or the gear required for canyoneering do not attempt this route.

Chris hijacked my peakbagging trip by tossing Little Santa Anita Canyon into the mix, but I was far from upset about the addition of a technical canyon. It's been almost a year since my last one, and this was a great run in the San Gabriel Mountains to break my dry spell, pun intended since the water was flowing nicely today. We both were aware there are some great canyons in these mountains, but it's crazy they're so accessible from the Los Angeles sprawl. The approach for Little Santa Anita Canyon begins along the Mount Wilson Trail. We parked along Mira Monte Road since there's no parking at the actual start of the trail. Make sure to curb your tires, or risk a fine!

After a brief walk along the pavement, we started up the trail. Basically rushing since it was already a bit late in the day, we became excited to dunk our immediately sweat-drenched bodies in the canyon water. The Mount Wilson Trail is wide and well-maintained, wrapping in and out of the gullies and slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains foothills. Little Santa Anita Canyon came into view below us about halfway up, the water below enticing and a few of the rappels to come becoming visible. After a bit over a mile, we reached a junction with the First Water spur trail, taking it down to the head of the canyon. We geared up in wetsuits and started through the initial set of granitic scramble obstacles to the technical section only a couple of hundred feet down the canyon.

I'll let the photos below outline the rappels, which I've numbered based on the Ropewiki for LSA for consistency. The canyon turned out to be well-traveled enough that we didn't need to replace any webbing, and none of the drops exceeded 50 feet. It was an excellent, relaxing half-day outing.

LSA Canyon starts by dropping down five rappels within the watercourse, only a couple forcing us into the water. There was some fun scrambling and of course, poison oak and rattlesnakes. LSA Canyon opens briefly before Rappel 6, and stays a bit wider through Rappel 9. Then the canyon becomes nontechnical for a half mile or so, where there's plenty of ample boulder-hopping and downed tree-dodging within the creek.

After Rappel 12, the canyon opens up briefy again. This is important to note because many parties may wish to leave LSA Canyon here. Continuing down the watercourse leads to what Chris and I thought were the most beautiful rappels for the day, but this exit requires trespassing on Los Angeles County Public Works land. If you choose to leave, look for an exit slope on the right (34.178188, -118.0432987). We didn't do this, so I can't speak to the exit quality, nor did I manage to snag a photo of it. Assuming you choose to complete the canyon, it narrows further and there are a few little scrambles. Rappel 14 dropped us into a large pothole, a gorgeous section of the canyon. After Rappel 15, a short drop, we were clear of the technical stuff and hiked through the widening canyon until we reached the top of the public works dam. To reach the suburban roads ahead, you need to climb over the gate, then under another gate.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!

Starting up the Mount Wilson Trail.
Starting up the Mount Wilson Trail.
Along the Mount Wilson Trail.
Along the Mount Wilson Trail.
View back along the Mount Wilson Trail as we leave the city.
View back along the Mount Wilson Trail as we leave the city.
Little Santa Anita Canyon seen below on the right.
Little Santa Anita Canyon seen below on the right.
View down at Rappel 9 within LSA Canyon.
View down at Rappel 9 within LSA Canyon.
Continuing along the Mount Wilson Trail.
Continuing along the Mount Wilson Trail.
View back.
View back.
The trail flattens out as it approaches the First Water spur trail.
The trail flattens out as it approaches the First Water spur trail.
First Water spur junction.
First Water spur junction.
After suiting up, we headed into the Little Santa Anita Canyon watercourse.
After suiting up, we headed into the Little Santa Anita Canyon watercourse.
Initially just some cute scrambles on the granite canyon floor.
Initially just some cute scrambles on the granite canyon floor.
Pretty lighting within the canyon.
Pretty lighting within the canyon.
Rappel 1, about 40'.
Rappel 1, about 40'.
View back at Rappel 1.
View back at Rappel 1.
Rappel 2, 40'.
Rappel 2, 40'.
View back at Rappel 2.
View back at Rappel 2.
Rappel 3, nicknamed "The Spout".
Rappel 3, nicknamed "The Spout".
"The Spout".
"The Spout".
View back at "The Spout", Rappel 3.
View back at "The Spout", Rappel 3.
Rappel 4, 45'.
Rappel 4, 45'.
Rappel 5, 35'.
Rappel 5, 35'.
View back at Rappel  5.
View back at Rappel 5.
Short open section of hiking through the watercourse.
Short open section of hiking through the watercourse.
Looing back at a scramble obstacle.
Looing back at a scramble obstacle.
Rappel 6, which can be bypassed on the right via the slab.
Rappel 6, which can be bypassed on the right via the slab.
Chris rappelling the optional Rappel 6.
Chris rappelling the optional Rappel 6.
View up at optional Rappel 6.
View up at optional Rappel 6.
Short walk through the canyon.
Short walk through the canyon.
Rappel 7, 45'.
Rappel 7, 45'.
A short butt-slide as LSA opens up a bit. I believe this is what was listed as Rappel 8.
A short butt-slide as LSA opens up a bit. I believe this is what was listed as Rappel 8.
Rappel 9, 50'.
Rappel 9, 50'.
View back at Rappel 9.
View back at Rappel 9.
Longer hike down the watercourse, lots of rocks and downed trees. Also poison oak.
Longer hike down the watercourse, lots of rocks and downed trees. Also poison oak.
Image 33 from gallery
View back up LSA within the watercourse hike. We saw two rattlesnakes.
View back up LSA within the watercourse hike. We saw two rattlesnakes.
Rappel 10, 30'.
Rappel 10, 30'.
Little Santa Anita Canyon narrows further.
Little Santa Anita Canyon narrows further.
We skipped Rappel 11, finding it nice as a down-climb.
We skipped Rappel 11, finding it nice as a down-climb.
A cute slide leading to the top of Rappel 12.
A cute slide leading to the top of Rappel 12.
Image 39 from gallery
Image 40 from gallery
Rappel 12, 15'.
Rappel 12, 15'.
View back toward Rappel 12.
View back toward Rappel 12.
Little Santa Anita Canyon opens up again. Look for the exit on the right if you prefer to escape back to the Mount Wilson Trail instead of continue to the final few rappels.
Little Santa Anita Canyon opens up again. Look for the exit on the right if you prefer to escape back to the Mount Wilson Trail instead of continue to the final few rappels.
We found this lower section of the canyon to be the most beautiful: short down-climbs and pretty flowing water.
We found this lower section of the canyon to be the most beautiful: short down-climbs and pretty flowing water.
View back up the canyon.
View back up the canyon.
Gorgeous narrows.
Gorgeous narrows.
A little slide.
A little slide.
Rappel 13, 20'.
Rappel 13, 20'.
View back at Rappl 13.
View back at Rappl 13.
View back through more narrows.
View back through more narrows.
Rappel 14, 40', into a gorgeous pothole.
Rappel 14, 40', into a gorgeous pothole.
View back toward Rappel 14.
View back toward Rappel 14.
Extension of Rappel 14, or a slide.
Extension of Rappel 14, or a slide.
Rappel 15, 10'.
Rappel 15, 10'.
Looking back into Little Santa Canyon after the technical stuff is over.
Looking back into Little Santa Canyon after the technical stuff is over.
At the top of the dam, where we took the ramp.
At the top of the dam, where we took the ramp.
The No Trespassing gate to climb over.
The No Trespassing gate to climb over.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!