Stone Canyon Trail

John Muir wrote:

"Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity, and that parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but fountains of life."

Stone Canyon TrailThe Stone Canyon Trail is located in the Angeles National Forest, in the Big Tujunga Canyon area AKA BigT. The Trail head is located at Wildwood Picnic area.

DLG map of BigT Directions to Trail head Condor peak topo

The trail stats are as follows:

  • 13W07 is the official Forest Service route designation.

    • Flowering Plants

    WILDWOOD PICNIC CLOSURE

    Wildwood Re-Opened 2-2-2001

     

     

    Map links

    History

    Aircraft wrecks collected history

    I don't have much on the history of the Trail to date but a check topo maps dating to 1920's all show the trail, I was also told a Hunting or "some kind" of Lodge named Wildwood was located in the area, I was hoping to find more history Photos maps newspaper stories about the big Tujunga area. if you have any leads or stories please contact me.

    What are those Pink Flagging tapes for?

    see the data

    Many people have asked what the numbers on the flagging tape and wood stakes mean. These numbers represent the distance in hundreds of feet from the trail register at the bottom of the trail.Example +028.00 is 2800 feet from the start of the trail. At one time I had placed these markers every 100 feet for the first 2 miles and every 500 feet after that. But time and vandals have taken their toll. Most of the markers in the first 1/2 mile are gone and the remaining ones are sporadic. You will see numbers like these along roads and freeways every where you go.

    Why I do it

    My obsession for this trail goes back many years, I've been hiking it regularly since 1993 after a serious accident and have been working on it for about that long too.

    What I do

    By working on it I mean I've been clearing brush and down trees, repairing small slide areas and areas where brush growth had forced hikers off the trail, picking up trash and in general encouraging the use of it.

    Recently I've been more ambitious in my maintenance activities and have become a forest service volunteer. The projects have progressed from trimming some bushes and removing down trees to full scale trail reconstruction. This more ambitious work has taken place over the last 2 years. So far I've completed about 2640 feet (1/2 mile) of trail and plan to complete another 2000 feet by the end of the year 2000. The section I first selected to work on is the middle mile as this portion of the trail is in the worst shape. The upper 1 1/2 miles and the lower mile are in relatively good shape having been recently brushed by County and Forest Service Fire crews.This work was done in 1997 and 1998.

    Switch back at +73.60 after reconstruction

    Switch Back at ~ +64.25

    Before ....................................After .....................................Before....................................After

    Year 2000 project

    The year 2000 project will require the construction of a major retaining wall approximately 50 feet long. This work will be especially difficult because of it's location and the type of work. Getting to the site requires a 1 3/4 mile hike with 1800 foot elevation gain, all supplies, materials and tools will have to be carried up the mountain, further some 7/8" diameter holes will have to be hand drilled in solid rock to anchor the wall to the mountain. Because of the amount of work at this site the retaining wall portion of the year 2000 project may well extend into the year 2001 project. as the brush clearance and tread reconstruction will take precedence over the retaining wall.

    Update 4/14/2000

    I've started brushing the section from +97.00 to +76.50. I've cleared to roughly +87.00(1000 feet) leaving 850 feet of chain saw work and have completed about 400 feet of tread leaving 1450 feet of tread to complete.

    Year 2001 project

    The year 2001 most likely will involve reconstructing tread near the top of the trail. several areas have been severely eroded and will need the tread filled in with rocks and dirt and 3 or 4 switch backs reconstructed. The length of trail in need of repair is roughly 1320 feet, from marker +140.20 to +153.40. I'll also continue working on the retaining wall from the Y2K project if needed and repair any damage from winter rains in addition to the general maintenance.

    Volunteer Information

    I generally work by myself only because I have no one to help as such I don't have a set schedule. If you would like to help and we'll arrange something.

    Right now I'm looking for help brushing the trail from +76.50 to +97.00 . I feel with 2 or 3 helpers (swampers) and one chainsaw operator (sawyer) this can be brushed in 2 or 3 days, I will then complete the work over the year digging out the root balls, repairing switch backs, and restoring the tread.

    But if you can just carry something up the mountain this would be a big help, I have supplies and materials along the trail that need to be moved. If you can carry something up, please and I'll send you a list of items, their location and final destination.

    Maintenance is needed on the upper and lower sections done in 97 and 98, both sections are now becoming overgrown as brush growth after the "98" rains was heavy. I'd like to buy a clearing saw and brush this before it requires a chain saw.

    Update 4/14/2000

    I sold a bunch of things I don't use anymore and bought a clearing saw, I got a Husquvarna 252RX as the Stihl was way more than I could afford. The "Husky" has almost the same HP and weight for 1/2 the price hopefully it will last. I also bought a new chain saw a "husky" model 55 I bought this from a guy down in San Deigo Michael Peace, he won it in a car race and had no use for it. He sold it to me at a price much lower than retail. I would like to thank him again for selling the saw to me it has been very useful

     

    links to other Hikes and sites Relating to the angeles national forest

    Forest Service Tom Chester Roy Randall

    This is a Link to a good Hike Description by Roy Randall

    Hike Description

     

     


    FastCounter by LinkExchange

    If you have comments or suggestions, email me at stonecanyon@mattmaxon.com

    HOME