Enchanted in Chantry

Hike a Quieter Trail at Chantry Flat in Los Angeles

Chantry Flat is one of the most popular hiking areas in LA, but the 5.3-mile (round-trip) Hoegees Campground via Upper and Lower Winter Creek Loop Trail proves you can find peace and quiet anywhere, even in busy Los Angeles.

From the parking lot you can either start on the First Water/Upper Winter Creek Trail or the Chantry Flat Truck Trail (the one that leads to Sturtevant Falls), located in the upper and lower parking lots, respectively. As far as difficulty, there isn’t a noticeable difference between the two directions. The counterclockwise loop (starting on the Truck Trail) drops down, then there’s a steady incline, and then another decline back to the parking lot. The clockwise loop (starting on the Upper Winter Creek Trail) begins with a steady incline, then drops down, then goes back up to the parking lot (this write-up is based on a clockwise loop).

As you leave the parking lot, the trail begins to gently climb for approximately 2 miles (overall climbing 1,269 feet in elevation). The higher you go, the more spectacular the views become, with a panorama of the San Gabriel Mountains around every turn. Everything feels so fresh and green, having just recently reopened following a four-year fire closure. Chantry Flat is an extremely popular hiking area, but most hikers coming here are either heading for Sturtevant Falls or Mount Wilson, so this trail manages to feel serene and peaceful (especially the farther into the trail you go). You never really notice the trail reaching its peak elevation as there is no summit; it just eventually starts dropping down into the canyon.

After reaching the canyon floor, the rest of the trail follows the creek through the canyon, with several stream crossings (*as of this writing, creek levels are low and there are plenty of rocks to use when crossing, but be mindful that stormy weather can change this quickly). It is beautiful and lush, a surprising sight during the early winter season, creating a stunning contrast with the last remnants of the fall foliage.

The small Hoegees Campground is nestled on the canyon floor; signage marks where the old campground used to stand, and the Lower Winter Creek Trail picks up just below that before passing through the modern-day campground. Right before the end, the trail climbs back up for around half a mile to get back to the parking lot (and back to busy civilization).

Note: Always check weather and trail conditions before going; and download a map. Hoegees Campground/Upper & Lower Winter Creek Loop Trail is located in Chantry Flat. Adventure Pass required. The parking lot fills quickly (especially on the weekend), but paid parking is available at Adam’s Pack Station if the regular parking lot is full (located within the Chantry Flat parking area). Parking there is $25 and they have a small restaurant selling food and beverages (plus you can visit the donkeys!). Trailhead. Dog-friendly.

Story and photos by Natalie Bates, @wanderwithnatalie

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View