Hiking Trail Guide: Winter Creek Loop

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Winter Creek Loop

Distance
5 miles

Elevation
1000 feet gain

Difficulty
3/10

City
Sierra Madre ,CA (91024) 17.2 miles from you Weather Map

Trailhead
From the Foothill Freeway(210) in Arcadia, exit on Santa Anita Avenue and drive six miles north to its end at Chantry Flat. The trail begins across the road from the parking lot.

Description

This wonderful shady hikes ascends up a deep cut canyon, through which Winter Creek flows on its way to merge with Santa Anita Creek. The floor of the canyon is covered with a lush ivy like ground cover, a multitude of trees, large rock faces, and a lovely burbling creek. The morning I did this hike, I heard a symphony of birds, with a large owl swooping down the stream and landing almost directly in front of me. Along Winter creek you will see a few cabins built in the 30's and a series of Lincoln Log like check dams.

Follow the paved road down into Santa Anita canyon, across a bridge, and bear left on the marked Lower Winter Trail. About 1.5 miles up Winter creek you'll pass through Hoegee Camp. Just past the camp you will pass two trail junctions, the second of which will be the Upper Winter Creek trail, which will take back to a fire road just above the Chantry flat parking area. Note that the upper trail has some very steep drop-offs so watch your step.

Map / Directions: