Bailey Canyon Falls
Via Bailey Canyon Park
Sierra Madre / Angeles National Forest / Southern California
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Trail Stats
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Mileage
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1.2
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Trailhead
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1100'
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Total gain
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350'
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Gain per mi.
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583'
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This small, seasonal waterfall is not much to write home about, but is worth a visit if you live nearby and want a pleasant stroll through a lovely little canyon. It makes a good hike for children, but be careful of the poison oak. The Bailey Canyon Trail is not as renowned as its famous neighbor to the immediate east—Mt. Wilson Trail—but is highly popular with local joggers, walkers, dog people.
In the early days of the canyon, local trappers snared fox and coyote and shipped the pelts to furriers in Chicago. In 1875, R.J Bailey homesteaded the canyon. He left little but his name. (Source: John McKinney)
Season: November - June
This hike can certainly be done all year long, however if you intend to view water in the falls, you will want to hike in the winter or spring after some good rains. In the spring the wild flowers and lush green flora is delightful. I enjoy doing waterfall hikes on gloomy, cloudy days, when I really don't want to hike to a peak with obscured views. The overcast weather also defuses the light making for better conditions to photograph the falls.
Getting to the Trailhead:
 From the 210 Foothill Freeway Arcadia, exit Santa Anita Avenue and go north. Turn left (west) on Grand View and drive several blocks to the stop sign at Lima. Continue one more block to Grove. Turn right (north) and drive up the street to Bailey Canyon Park (open "dawn to dusk"). The trial begins on left (west end of the parking lot).
Trail Description:
 From the Bailey Canyon Park parking lot, take the signed trail which starts on the west end of the parking lot. Walk a couple minutes to a pedestrian gate with a turnstile. Go through the gate and turn right (north), walking up the paved service road past a debris basin on your right. The road soon becomes dirt and narrows into a nice trail. There will be a sturdy footbridge on your right, but you'll continue straight ahead. After about 5 minutes from the bridge you reach a signed junction ("Canyon View Nature Trail Water Fall 1/4 mile"). The right fork heads up the slope to Jones Peak. But to get to the falls, you'll go left. The path immediately drops into the creek bed. The route crosses the creek many times. A few places are a little dicey, so young ones may need some assistance. And watch out for poison oak. Soon the creek bends left then in a few minutes it make a sharp right to bring you face to face with Bailey Canyon Falls. The water pours over a notch in the black rock and plummets about 15 feet into a little pool. The steep granite walls nicely frame this picturesque setting.
Return the way you came. 
Hike Log
Baily Canyon Falls
2-15-06
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8:40
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A: Trailhead (1100')
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8:45
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B: Bridge
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8:48
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C: Junction
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8:59/9:35
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D: Bailey Canyon Falls
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9:42/9:57
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Trimming Poison Oak
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10:01
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C: Junction
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10:08/10:13
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B: Bridge
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10:18
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A: Trailhead (1100')
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Summary:
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19 Minutes up
20 minutes down
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 View Full Topo Map
(188 K)
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Trail Notes:
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People Traffic: This popular trail attracts lots of traffic, particularly on the main route. On a hot summer day when I hiked down (7-10-04) from Jones Peak, I had the entire 3.3-mile trip from summit to trailhead all by myself. When I hiked to Jones Peak on 11-24-05 (Thanksgiving morning), there were lots of hikers on the trail. When I hike to the falls on a cool Wednesday morining in February (2-15-06), I had the falls portion to myself but passed several walkers on the main trail.
Related links on Dan's Hiking Pages:
Links:
- Bailey Canyon Trails - by Tom Chester. Detailed mileage for the various trail sections, background information, topo maps, and links.
- Bailey Canyon Park - at www.sierramadrenews.net. Provides basic information about the park.
- Adventure Hikes and Canvoneering in the San Gabriels by Christopher E. Brennen. "Hike D7. Bailey Canyon." Provides thorough information on a cross-country hike down Bailey Canyon from the old foundation. This route requires technical skills and equipment.
Books:
- Trails of the Angeles: 100 Hikes in the San Gabriels - by John Robinson with Doug Christiansen (Wilderness Press, 8th Edition, April 2005). Hike 34: "Sierra Madre to Bailey Canyon, Jones Peak." This hike was added to the 8th Edition (not in previous editions). They direct the hiker to the falls as part of route to Jones Peak: "...you reach a junction. Turn left and walk a short distance to a small waterfall, then right to Jones Peak." Unfortunately, this is vague and misleading. It suggests that the route continues from there rather than stating that the hiker needs to walk back to the main trail junction, and then turn right (which would actually be left).
- Afoot and Afield in Los Angeles County - by Jerry Schad (Wilderness Press: Berkley, 2nd Edition, Sept. 2000) - Area A-6, Trip 8: Bailey Canyon. Brief description of the hike to Bailey Canyon Falls (1.2 miles round trip). Jerry first published this account (1990) before the trail was complete to the summit, but failed to update it for the 2nd Edition (2000), long after the trail was complete (same as McKinney, below). Also Jerry's description of the falls is misleading. He writes of a "dike of black gabbro rock" which makes it sound like a man-made structure. It's actually a natural waterfall. Also he writes, "After a wet storm you could possibly wade this last stretch and behold an impressive waterfall here." Actually, there is no wading involved to see the falls. You round the bend and see the falls in its full glory, maybe 50 to 75 feet in front of you. You may have to wade if you want to take a cold shower under the falls.
- Wild L.A.: A Hiker's Guide - by John McKinney (Olympus Press: Santa Barbara, 2003). "Bailey Canyon." Describes a 5-mile round trip hike up the main trail. Does not mention the falls. Obviously John did not check on current trail conditions before publishing his work in 2003. His ancient description is prior to the completion of the beautiful trail to Jones Peak and beyond, which was finished years before his publication date. It's unfortunate that he recycles write-ups in new books without doing the diligence of getting updates.
- California Waterfalls - by Chris Shaffer (Shafdog Publications) - "Bailey Canyon Falls." Note: I have not yet acquired this book (nor have my closest two public libraries) or read his description for this hike, so I cannot give any firsthand endorsements. I did briefly thumb through a copy at the Forest Service office in Glendora. Has lots of color photos throughout and seems to be nicely done.
Last Hiked: February 15, 2006
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