Hoegees Camp, press on to Mt. Zion. This trail leaves the banks of the creek for higher ground and panoramic views of Santa Anita Canyon. Less than a quarter mile above Hoegees Camp on Lower Winter Creek Trail, there is a junction with Lower Zion Trail. Upper Winter Creek Trail continues straight ahead, returning to Chantry Flats, but if you turn right, the summit of Mount Zion is just 1 3/4 away.

The trail switches up the south face of Mount Zion, leaving the spruce-shaded forest for a chaparral-covered hillside. Wildflowers soak in the sun and grow in vibrant patches along the trail, making this a great spring hike. Blue Dicks, Larkspur, and Phacelia are all in abundance. You will also be treated to views down Santa Anita Canyon toward the hazy (or smoggy) civilization below.

Wildflowers along Lower Zion Trail

Push on up the trail as it ascends a thousand feet. This will get your thighs burning for sure, but then a trail runner will go past and you will remember that it can’t be that steep.

At the top, there is a turnoff for a 1/4 mile track out to the summit. The views from the top aren’t much better than what you’ve seen along the trail already, but it would just feel wrong to bypass this little side trip to the summit.

Large-flowered Phacelia

To return, you may descend Lower Zion Trail back to Hoegees Camp, or take the Upper Zion Trail north along the ridge down to Spruce Grove Camp as part of the Santa Anita Canyon Loop.

To get to the trailhead: Take the 210 east through Pasadena to Arcadia. Exit Santa Anita and head north. Go up the mountain for 5 miles until the road ends at Chantry Flats. Display your National Forest adventure pass and park your car in the lot.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

Winter Creek Trail to Hoegees Camp
       
       
       
Lower Zion Trail from Hoegees Camp to Mt. Zion
       
       
Upper Zion Trail from Spruce Grove Camp to Mt. Zion
       
Gabrielino Trail to Spruce Grove Camp
       
       
Sturtevant Falls
       

These photos were taken in April of 2009. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Upper Zion Trail The trail from Spruce Grove Camp up Mt. Zion is 1.5 miles long.
	Hoegees Camp This 4.25-mile hike follows Lower Winter Creek Trail through a beautiful wooded canyon to a backcountry campground with fourteen first-come first-serve sites.
	Upper Winter Creek Trail This 2.75-mile long trail can be used to extend Santa Anita Canyon Loop or create a 4.85-mile loop with Lower Winter Creek Trail.
	Spruce Grove Camp This 8-mile in-and-out or 9.5-mile loop takes hikers beyond Sturtevant Falls to a backcountry campground with seven first-come first-serve sites.
	Sturtevant Falls This 3.25-mile hike visits a 60-foot waterfall and a lush cottage-lined canyon.
	Hermit Falls This 2.5-mile heads down canyon away from Sturtevant Falls toward a 30-foot waterfall. The lush canyon and the babbling creek are quite calming.
	Santa Anita Canyon Loop This 9.5-mile loop visits a two peaceful creeks, a 60 foot waterfall and plenty of beautiful wilderness.
	More trails in the San Gabriel Mountains Explore other destinations in the range.

 

Similar Trails

 

	Dawn Mine This 6-mile hike from Millard Campground leads past Millard Falls to an old gold mine.
	Fish Canyon Falls This 4-mile hike starts at a rock quarry with restricted access and ends up at a multi-tiered 80-foot waterfall.
	Mount Waterman in the Angeles National Forest This 5.5-mile hike gradually ascends 1300 feet, passing through a pine forest to reach the round summit of Mt. Waterman.

 

More Info

 

A trail map and brochure of Santa Anita Canyon courtesy of the Angeles National Forest

The Angeles National Forest website