Santa Year Round

Explore Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Los Angeles County

Woman on a boardwalk at Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Los Angeles County

Talk about a dam good idea. Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale is an 836-acre county park that was developed over 40 years after the namesake dry dam was originally constructed to prevent flooding from the San Gabriel River. While you won’t actually interact with the horseshoe-shaped gravity dam on this hike (you can drive by the structure on the southwest side of the park along Arrow Highway), you can explore the park’s highlights on a 4-mile loop featuring a lake, mountain vistas, and plenty of local flora and fauna.

Start on the paved trail heading clockwise along the 70-acre lake. The serene aquatic view is framed by the hulking San Gabriels. Look for prominent peaks like Mount Wilson or snow-topped Baldy. Picnic tables on grassy lawns flank the water, making nice perches for watching Canada geese, cormorants, coots, ducks, and even pelicans. 

Canada Geese at the shoreline of Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Los Angeles County

After about half a mile you’ll reach “the beach.” Palm trees, sand, and lifeguard towers suddenly border the water and make for a truly special (and very SoCal) surprise. You can’t currently swim here, but put it on your to-do list for the future.

As you reach the western edge of the lake, the path ends and a dirt trail begins, continuing the loop for new perspectives on the lake. The sudden wildness is welcoming as you meander through chaparral—laurel sumac, sugarbush, and prickly pear cactus. The trail eventually deposits you back to the lot; take the dirt trail heading north here to continue your hike. This takes you to the Santa Fe Nature Center, home to a short interpretive trail through an indigenous garden detailing the unique ecology of the area, an alluvial flood plain.

Here, you can head back the way you came. Or create the loop by heading east on the paved San Gabriel River bike trail (which stretches over 35 miles in total). This eventually winds south and climbs along a rocky embankment, for more views of the lake below and mountains beyond. When you reach the park entrance, head down the road toward the lake. Damtastic.

Young couple taking a selfie in front of the lake at Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area

To get to the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area, take the I-210 to the Irwindale Ave. exit and head south. After 1.5 miles, take a right onto Arrow Hwy. and after 0.5 mile, turn right at the park entrance sign (Azusa Canyon Rd.). Park at the main lot (at the eastern edge of the lake, $10) to start your exploration of the area. Dog-friendly (except for Nature Center interpretive trail)!

Story and photos by Matt Pawlik

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  2. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

    View
  3. Rio Del Mar-velous

    Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos might be one of the best places for a treasure hunt. Its location between two other beaches makes for a good stroll featuring a spectacle of wildlife as you search the sand for sea glass and seashells.

    View
  4. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Gentle Giants

    Some people visit national parks to marvel at the iconic sights, while others come seeking solitude in nature. With visitation on the rise, it can be hard to find both. But in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, this pair of trails offers both....

    View
  2. Walking the Los Angeles River Trail Through Frogtown

    Frogtown Strutter’s Stroll

    Don’t go dismissing the Los Angeles River as merely a 51-mile concrete channel. It’s a genuine urban artery that links real neighborhoods, and its riverside bike/ped paths endear i

    View
  3. Griffith's Golden

    With over 4,200 acres and hundreds of trails, Griffith Park is the gold standard. Opt for the lesser-hiked northwestern end of the park and visit the 2.25-mile Skyline and Oak Canyon loop from Travel Town.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Fall for It All in Reno Tahoe

    The best kind of getaway? Less time on logistics, more time on memory-making. Jackpot! You’ve got Reno Tahoe.

    View