Bailey Canyon Falls

The wet and wild winters of the past two seasons has brought uncommon, if not rare in recent years, sights and phenomena along our So Cal trails. For starters, the wildflower season here in the San Gabriel Mountains seems particularly long and vibrant, with lush blooms along every trail I’ve hiked in the last couple months. Even as temperatures are now heating up in June, the rains and the May grey/June gloom cloud cover typical of coastal Southern California seem to have preserved this lovely bloom into early summer.

The other outcome of these atmospheric river storms is the return of water formations that have not been seen in many years, or at least with this much intensity. One such example is Bailey Canyon Falls. This ephemeral waterfall at the end of the Bailey Canyon Nature Trail in Sierra Madre is just that- ephemeral. It typically has a short season and dries up rather quickly. During the drought years, it was barely more than a trickle at most, and even then, when we visited with Owen, it was bone dry.

This year, however, it is a different scene. In celebration of a long school year well-completed, I felt I needed to get back out in the nature for some grounding. By the time I left the house, the early June Friday was heating up quickly, and I hoped for a short hike that would be fairly shaded, flat, and quiet. The Bailey Canyon Nature Trail fit the bill for all three. The nature trail is typically quieter than the trail up to Jones Peak, especially on a weekday. At about a mile-and-a-half round trip, the hike was short enough for me to hike in and back, have a picnic lunch at the wilderness park, and stop at the Sierra Madre Starbucks for some iced caffeine before heading back home for a merit badge meeting.

I was not disappointed. I was curious to see whether the falls would still be flowing in June, given the warming up in temps over the past couple weeks. After following the road and the debris basin, I came to the bridge to the Live Oak Nature Trail. Indeed, there is water, and water in abundance. While there is typically a small stream that flows through the canyon, the falls itself dries up fairly quickly after the rainy season. On my solo hike yesterday, there was plenty of water in the stream, relatively speaking, which boded well for water in the falls.

I continued along to the junction of the Bailey Canyon Trail to Jones Peak and the flatter Bailey Canyon Nature Trail. I took the trail to the left, crossing the stream for the first time. While the canyon was not inundated with water, there were short points where I was hiking in the stream. I got some water on my boots, but even this wasn’t bad.

After a short quarter-mile on the nature trail, I arrived at the base of the falls. Owen’s stick teepee of two years ago was gone, but in its place was water. The 30-foot falls, while not the largest or most impressive waterfall in the San Gabriels, was still a lovely sight. The cool spray was refreshing, and I had fun frolicking in the spray near the falls.

After cooling off and taking some video, I started the hike back to the picnic area. This time, I enjoyed the wildflowers, stopping periodically to take photos. There were also many butterflies out near the stream, notably the western tiger swallowtails endemic to California.

I arrived back at the picnic tables and unpacked my lunch. The humble nut butter and jam sandwich and piece of Disneyland toffee was good after a hike, and the fields of matilija poppies in bloom against the backdrop of the San Gabriels was a perfect setting for a relaxing lunch.

Some things to consider:

While this hike is short, at 1.3 miles out and back, it is considered moderate, likely because of the rocky parts. I would consider this hike kid-friendly, but there are some areas to be cautious of. There are also areas where the trail is a bit overgrown and narrow. At time of writing, poison oak was not an issue along the trail, however it has been in the past.

The canyon can get hot, especially in the summer. While there is shade in the canyon, the road past the debris basin is not shaded and is asphalt. Sun protection is a must. I also recommend dog booties if you are hiking with your pup to protect their paws.

The other potential weather-related issue is flash flooding. This canyon is particularly prone to flooding in the event of heavy rain. If after checking weather reports there is a risk of flooding, it’s best to postpone the hike. The canyon will still be there.

There is parking at Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park, however spots tend to fill up quickly on weekend mornings. In case you decide to arrive early, as do many of the peak hikers, there is fortunately ample street parking. Just be sure not to park where there are no parking signs and be courteous of the residents in the neighborhood.

Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park is the oldest of its kind in Southern California. In addition to hiking trails, there are picnic tables, fire pits, and grills. There is also a restroom with a flush toilet, definitely a plus before beginning a hike.

Bailey Canyon is a beautiful place, with plenty of recreation opportunity. It was a special treat to be able to enjoy the falls this past Friday, no matter how short-lived they may end up being. In addition to helping California’s drought, the heavy rains of the past two years have produced some lovely scenery for more adventures meant to be shared. Happy trails!