Dawn Mine
in the San Gabriel Mountains
Loading ... This trail is currently closed due to damages from the 2009 Station Fire
Dawn Mine offers a glimpse into the history of the San Gabriel Mountains. The abandoned shafts can be reached on a moderately strenuous 6-mile round trip hike up beautiful Millard Canyon.
To visit the entrance to this forgotten gold mine, start from the Millard Campground parking area and hike half a mile up the canyon to Millard Falls. Take in the falls and back up three hundred feet. You will see a wooden post to your left, marking a steep path up the wall of the canyon. This is the start of the extended trail to Dawn Mine.
This first section of the Dawn Mine Trail will definitely get your thighs burning!
Take the steep path up along the right rim of the canyon, returning to the creek at a small landing above Millard Falls. Cross the water here and pick up the single track on the other side. The pleasant hike upstream begins anew.
Follow the trail as it routinely crosses the creek, unable to decide which side it wants to be on. The trail breaks up some as the canyon widens, bringing in more California bays and other vegetation. Stick with the stream. As long as you do not exit the canyon, you will arrive at the destination.
The photos in this report depict recognizable milestones to help guide you to the mine. The photos below offer more scenic views of the hike.
Looking upstream from a little ways above the falls
The trail passes over rusted out pipes and other man-made vestiges.
Continue past this check cam
You will cross under and over a few logs along your way.
This old log is nice enough to have a built-in step
When you start to ask yourself, “how far away is this thing,” you are probably getting close. A miles from the mine, the canyon narrows and the creek may disappear underground. The stream bed becomes a boulder field, so take the trail to the left as it winds up a steep slope.
When you come back into the stream bed, you should see these blackened tree roots standing out and covered in white stones:
Continue past this marker
Follow the dry creek and trail into a wooded area, as you close in on the mine. The trail will cross back and forth across the creek. At one point, when you are walking along the right bank, there will be remnants of an old miners’ encampment in a clearing on the slope to the left. Pay a brief visit to the rusting relics and push on for the last third of a mile to the mine.
The canyon bends to the left, then to the right, as you rock-hop along. When the trail switches up the canyon wall to the left, you are there! Take a look at the rusted engine that once delivered gold from the mine, and ascend to the mouth of the mine. Climb inside and enjoy a moment in the cold shade. If you brought a flashlight you can have a look back into the dark recesses.
A century-old mining engine
Leave the mine and retrace your steps down the canyon. Take your time and enjoy the calming creek as the sun plays on the water through the leaves of the bays above. You are sure to return to Millard Falls with a feeling of blissful accomplishment. An Adventure Pass is required to park at the trailhead for Dawn Mine in the Angeles National Forest. No other permit is required, so get out and enjoy!
To get to the trailhead: Take the 210 freeway to Pasadena. Exit Lake Avenue and head north. After 3.5 miles, turn left at the T onto Loma Alta Drive. After one mile, make a right on Chaney Trail. The 1.5 mile road winds up to Sunset Ridge and down to the parking lot for Millard Campground and the trail to Dawn Mine.
Use the map below to create your own directions to the trailhead:
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Photos
Dawn Mine
Millard Falls
![Millard Canyon](http://www.hikespeak.comhttp://www.hikespeak.com"/img/la/Millard/Millard_IMG_7180.jpg")
Millard Campground
Nearby Trails
 | Dawn Mine This 6-mile hike from Millard Campground leads past Millard Falls to an old gold mine. |
 | Rubio Canyon Trail This 1.3-mile round trip hike ventures into a rustic canyon to a double waterfall. |
 | More trails in the San Gabriel Mountains Explore other destinations in the range. |
Similar Trails
 | Santa Anita Canyon Loop This 9.5-mile loop visits a two peaceful creeks, a 60 foot waterfall and plenty of beautiful wilderness. |
Camping
 | Millard Campground This is the place to camp at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. Or, the place to start on a hike to Millard Falls or Dawn Mine. |
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problem here 2011 , from millard campground to the waterfalls is fenced off and do not enter etc USFS signs , . remains closed untill ??
To get to the trailhead: Take the 210 freeway to Pasadena. Exit Lake Avenue and head north. After 3.5 miles, turn left at the T onto Loma Alta Drive. After one mile, make a right on Chaney Trail. The 1.5 mile road winds up to Sunset Ridge and down to the parking lot for Millard Campground and the trail to Dawn Mine. hi this is wrong there is no trail head to gold mine from parking lot at Millard Campground , to get to dawn mine trail head you park at top chaney trail ie locked gate sunset fire road before you get to end of road [ parking lot ] then follow cement road till you see sign gold mine trail
Find the Sunset Trail just off the road from the Gate. Go Left to River to then Right Up. Fallow the Black Spray Paint pass the big rock, up the Left to more Arrows to the Left, Cross the River bout 4 or more times, Look for @ Arrows back to back then look up the Mt for the Rock With a X on it & you are there. The 2nd Mine is up the Mt to the Left of the Arrow.
The path in from sunset ridge fire road down into to millard canyon is open again, but from the campground to the mountain rescue cabin is still closed. *** The Falls still remain CLOSED ***