East Fork to Bridge to Nowhere

ACTIVE LOG

Distance: 10.13 mi	Points: 1070	Calories: none
Total Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

WPT001

Location: 34.237179, -117.764801
Drive to the end of East Fork Road. There is a small, often crowded parking lot. Park there, or along the side of the road and display your Adventure Pass. Proceed north to a gate, and hike down this fire road.

WPT002

Location: 34.241821, -117.761253
Heaton Flat Picnic Area and Campground. At Y-junction, stay straight and continue on the East Fork Trail as it joins the east bank of the river. SIDE TRIP: Veer right onto the Heaton Flats Trail for a very strenuous, very difficult ascent to Iron Mountain. This adds just under 15 miles and about 6000 feet of elevation gain, on trail and off, and is recommended only for experienced, fit hikers.

WPT003

Location: 34.244885, -117.760399
Stay on the east side of the river, as the trail hits a solid rock wall. Boulder hop along the east side of the water and rejoin the trail after about 30 feet.

WPT007

Location: 34.252235, -117.759666
At 1.4 miles, just beyond the second crossing, the trail splits into several use-trails. Many are marked with cairns, but they all meander along the river. Take whichever route looks the least overgrown and continue northeast.

WPT016

Location: 34.260674, -117.747238
At 2.84 miles, ignore use-trails that ascend the ridge to your right and instead, stay along the river as it curves northeast from Swan Rock.

WPT019

Location: 34.268955, -117.746971
At 3.52 miles, the river continues north around a small bend. Ignore the use trail leaving the riverbed and climbing up onto this ridge -- this trail will leave you stranded above the actual route with no safe way down. Instead, continue near the river's edge on the eastern bank.

WPT022

Location: 34.279163, -117.752167
At 4.49 miles, pass the sign marking Private Property. Continue on trail.

WPT023

Location: 34.283165, -117.747246
At 4.9 miles, come upon the Bridge to Nowhere. From this approach, the bridge doesn't look very impressive. But once you cross the span and look back, you'll be treated to a very unique view -- a lone concrete bridge without any roads nearby.

WPT024

Location: 34.283093, -117.746002
At 5.02 miles, look for a few use-trails on your right that scramble down to the river. There are several excellent swimming holes, and many perches to watch bungee jumpers leap off the bridge. When you're done experiencing this unique area, ascend back to the main trail and return the way you came in. OPTION: Continue 360 feet farther along the trail to the ruins of a very small tunnel that was supposed to lead to the bridge. OPTION: Continue .25 miles farther along the trail as it crosses the river again and travels into The Narrows -- Southern California's deepest gorge. There is an unimproved Trail Camp here. Do not camp near the Bridge -- it is private property.

WPT009

Location: 34.254677, -117.759438
At 1.67 miles, the canyon makes a sharp turn toward the northeast as it intersects with Shoemaker Canyon, to the northwest of this point. If you look up at the western canyon wall, you can see evidence of the failed Shoemaker Canyon Road, which blasted a few tunnels into the mountains as far as this area. Here, the East Fork trail also shows signs of its former status as a paved road. Look down for areas of asphalt and pavement on the trail, heavily overgrown and worn down by 50-plus years of California sun and wind.

WPT004

Location: 34.247986, -117.760323
Cross the East Fork from east to west bank

WPT006

Location: 34.251785, -117.759666
Cross the river from west to east banks, along this broad section of trail.

WPT010

Location: 34.256035, -117.757729
Third river crossing.

WPT011

Location: 34.256798, -117.756638
Fourth river crossing. For the next .6 miles, the trail follows the river west through a narrow section of canyon. This area is very shaded and generally cooler than the rest of the trail. The route hugs the southern wall of the canyon, which has several sections of overgrown poison oak. Watch where you put your hands.

WPT017

Location: 34.262402, -117.746689
Cross the river as it bends north at Allison Gulch. Depending on water levels, there may be a shallow bar in the middle of the river.

WPT018

Location: 34.263069, -117.746399
At 3.08 miles, cross the river back to the east bank. OPTION: Veer right at junction with Allison Gulch for an approximately 1.4 mile trip to the ruins of Allison Mine. This trail is a severely overgrown and eroded route that requires excellent pathfinding skills. An alternate ascent in this gulch requires technical climbing abilities and rappelling -- and -- as with all old mining areas -- extreme caution should be excercised to avoid mine shafts and dangerous equipment.

WPT020

Location: 34.269848, -117.747940
At 3.63 miles, cross the river twice, to another long bar stretching northeast. Continue in this direction, and note the old, severely eroded road grade on the southeast side of the canyon.

WPT021

Location: 34.271496, -117.746826
At 3.77 miles, cross the river again to the eastern bank. Scan this ridge for a prominent use trail that leads to the old road grade. This route may be marked by a large arrow made of stones.

WPT013

Location: 34.257374, -117.750618
Make a short scramble down some boulders -- about 10 feet.

WPT014

Location: 34.259056, -117.746727
At 2.68 miles, the trail enters the Sheep Mountain Wilderness area at the intersection with Laurel Canyon. The East Fork trail continues north.

WPT012

Location: 34.257919, -117.751190
Ignore the thin use-trail worn into the rock wall and stay on the lower route. It will eventually make a short ascent in a safer area.

WPT008

Location: 34.253429, -117.758484
At 1.5 miles, the flood plain of the river becomes scattered with logs and other debris. The trail is still not defined here, so stay as close to the eastern canyon wall as you can to avoid most of the obstacles in the area.

WPT015

Location: 34.260174, -117.746437
At 2.78 miles, look at the western canyon wall. A prominent, twisted vein of quartz gives this formation its name -- Swan Rock. The white rock inside the darker mountain is striking in indirect sunlight.

WPT005

Location: 34.248528, -117.760315
After crossing the river, the trail leaves the banks and ascends up a small ridge near the canyon wall. Look for one of the many use-trails climbing to your left.

Gate

Location: 34.236656, -117.765198
The gate at the trailhead.

River View

Location: 34.239620, -117.762619
A view of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River from the fire road.

Heaton Flats

Location: 34.242035, -117.761208
Trail sign at Heaton Flats Junction.

Trail to ridge

Location: 34.248528, -117.760521
One of the use-trails to the actual trail on the ridge.

Old Pavement

Location: 34.254948, -117.759491
Some sections of the old East Fork Road still have asphalt on the ground.

River View 3

Location: 34.256542, -117.756912

Wilderness Boundary

Location: 34.259132, -117.746834
Sheep Mountain Wilderness sign.

River View 2

Location: 34.263886, -117.746834
Another view of the river and mountains to the north.

Stone Arrow

Location: 34.271580, -117.746361
Marker to trail.

More Pavement

Location: 34.274311, -117.748375
More visible pavement on the last stretch of trail before the bridge.

Bridge to Nowhere

Location: 34.283360, -117.746445
The Bridge to Nowhere, from the east side.