1 min
Overview
This short trip to a picturesque waterfall is a beautiful hike at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains that has long been closed due to wildfires. Extend your time in the area at the nearby campsite or with neighboring trails. The 2009 Station Fire really did a number on outdoor recreation in the San Gabriel Mountains. Millard Canyon, long considered one of the crown jewels of the San Gabriel Mountains, was completely off-limits until the Forest Service lifted the hiking ban in 2015. Although the fire’s effects can still be seen here — especially in the amount of debris that was pushed down the watershed by winter rains — volunteer crews have done an incredible job at bringing the trail back to life. At the time of writing, those same volunteers are still working in the area, so hikers can expect to see some improvements along the way. If you see one, say thank you! This hike begins at the moderately sized parking area for the Chaney Trailhead. Look for the signs for Millard Campground, leading northeast from the parking area. You’ll hike past some cabins and buildings that bear a striking resemblance to those found scattered around the San Gabriels in similar canyons — relics of the Great Hiking Era that saw thousands of Angelenos scrambling through these peaks and valleys at the turn of the century. Joseph Chapman and his wife, Gaudalupe Ortega y Sánchez, circa 1847 According to historian John Robinson, Millard Canyon was once known as Church Canyon, and this location is tied to some of the earliest colonial history of Los Angeles. Around 1818, the New Englander Joseph Chapman was an officer on the privateer Hippolyte de Bouchard‘s ship when it was captured by the Spanish off the coast of Santa Barbara. When the Spanish discovered Chapman knew about logging, they tasked him with leading a band of Native American workers into the wilds north of Los Angeles to cut timber for the Plaza Church, which also gave the canyon its first known European name. Chapman’s lumberjacking skills were in such high demand fro
Trail Stats
2.0 km
81 m
629 m
547 m
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Photos
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