Pacific Crest Trails: Cooper Canyon Falls

Cooper Canyon Falls, nestled in the San Gabriel Mountains near the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, is a 25-foot waterfall formed from the perennially flowing stream within Cooper Canyon. The trail begins off the Angeles Crest Highway, about ten miles east of Chilao and 40 miles from the start of the Angeles Crest in La Canada-Flintridge.

There are a few ways to start down to Cooper Canyon Falls. Google Maps took us to the small parking area near the Buckhorn Campground. At time of writing, the campground is closed for the next couple weeks, as it is open from spring through fall, however there are a couple restrooms open for hikers to use. We also saw a lone camper on the grounds on the day of our visit. After meandering around the campground for the purpose of making future plans, we followed the sign for the Burkhart Trail and High Desert NRT.

According to the U.S. Forest Service Website, the Burkhart Trail is an 11.3-mile portion of the High Desert National Recreation Trail, a 40-mile loop trail that connects several trails in the Angeles National Forest, including the PCT. We were not going to hike nearly that much on this day hike; rather we were just going to hike the 2.3 miles or so down to Cooper Canyon Falls.

The first half-mile or so was relatively flat. There were lovely views of the San Gabriel Mountains, which I took in before heading deeper into the canyon. The weather was perfect for a hike. While it had been cloudy in the San Gabriel Valley, the sun shone in the mountains against a bright blue sky.

We noticed several bright yellow signs at the start of the trail warning hikers of potential dangers on the trail as a result of the Bobcat Fire in 2020. Falling trees, loose rocks, and blocked trails were among the possible hazards. Indeed, we did see a number of trees with burn scars, and there were several points on the trail where we had to climb over or under logs. There was one stream crossing that was impacted by a large tree; I twisted funny when I crawled under the log while trying not to fall back into the stream I had just successfully crossed.

I managed to get past the log with no worse than dirty knees and injured pride. We hiked on, mostly following the stream. The sound of the water was relaxing, and the weather on this Saturday in late March was perfect- sunny, but not hot. After about two miles of hiking, we came to a trail fork. Left would take us to Cooper Canyon Campground, a hike-in campground along the PCT. Continuing straight on the Burkhart Trail would take us to the falls.

After about a tenth of a mile, we came to the top of the falls. Going a few more feet, there is a trail to the left that descends to get to the base of Cooper Canyon Falls. There are ropes to help hikers down the slippery rock portion of the drop. While I have done hikes that required a descent with the help of ropes, for some reason, I was having some difficulty with this particular hike. Rather than trust my feet or the ropes, I ended up turned around and sliding down part of the slippery rocks. I did get safely down, as it wasn’t a high drop at that point, but I ended up with a soggy behind. Still, it was worth it. The falls were flowing nicely, and I enjoyed the scenery.

As per usual, we took photos and enjoyed our trail snacks. I was feeling hungry after clumsily climbing down the the falls. My banana and Cheez-its would tide me over until dinner. After hanging out for a bit longer, we headed back up the ropes. Climbing up proved easier than getting down, and we were back on the Burkhart Trail without issues. We trekked back the way we came, arriving back at the campground 40 minutes later. We stopped at the restroom and chatted with a couple hikers who were just starting their hike before walking back to the Subie. This was a nice, moderately easy adventure on a relaxed Saturday afternoon.

Some things to consider:

Adventure passes are required to park anywhere within the Angeles National Forest. These are $5 per day, or $30 for an annual pass. If you plan on visiting other national lands over the course of the year, I recommend purchasing an America the Beautiful National Parks pass. At just $80, it is a great value for many adventures.

The weather can be changeful in the San Gabriel Mountains. While the day was pleasant, it was about 51 degrees Fahrenheit at the start of the hike with a good breeze. In the canyon it felt warmer, and there wasn’t as much wind. There was also snow along parts of Angeles Crest as well as on the road to Buckhorn Campground. The light puffer I brought came in handy for the start of the hike. I would also check road conditions, especially after storms.

Much of the trail is pleasantly shaded in the canyon, however there were some parts that were exposed. A hat and sun protection are recommended.

Dogs are allowed on the trail when on leash. Just be sure to follow B.A.R.K. Ranger principles when exploring with your fluffy buddy.

All Trails indicates that the trail receives moderate-heavy usage. On the day we went, we did see a few hikers, however I wouldn’t say it was particularly busy. I imagine this would be different once the campgrounds open up for the season.

While I considered the trail was pretty safe, there were a few narrow portions that required my concentration. Fortunately, those parts didn’t involve a great drop. We also saw a number of burned logs and fallen trees. Other than the tree that blocked the stream crossing, these were not much of a hindrance to the hike, and it was easy enough to either go around the blockage or climb over it. That said, if weather or trail conditions seem sketchy, it could be a good idea to reschedule. The mountains will still be there when it is safe to return. There were other signs warning against hiking during high wind events and other inclement weather.

Cooper Canyon Falls was a fun adventure in the expansive and scenic Angeles National Forest. And with all the trails in the area, including the famed Pacific Crest Trail, hikers are really spoiled for choice when exploring the San Gabriels. Just pick a happy trail and go!