Entry to Chantry Flat from Sierra Madre via the Chantry Flat Road is closed to everyone (cars, hikers, bicyclists) until April 15, 2003 for repairs caused by a fire in December 1999.
Summary: The Chantry Flat Road was closed to all traffic, including hikers and bicyclists, from 12/26/99 through 8/16/00 due to the Santa Anita II arson fire, and the subsequent undermining of the road by rain and mudslides. The Road was reopened temporarily on 8/17/00, and closed again on 10 January 2001 until some time in March. In late 2002, work began on $600,000 worth of improvements to the road, which will reopen it permanently.
Hence make sure the road is open by calling (626) 574-5200 before you hike.
Big Santa Anita Canyon itself is not closed. Hikers can still enter the Canyon by going up the streambed. (PSN 11/29/00)
History:
The road was originally closed on December 26-28, 1999 during the Santa Anita II arson fire, which burned 738 acres north of Arcadia centered near the microwave tower south of Chantry Flat. The road remained closed due to the aftermath of the fire and to gather clues about the origin of the fire, which may have started at the road.
The rains of February undermined a 100 yard section, leaving air pockets under the asphalt, as well as creating other damage. L.A. County spent $48,000 on parts of the road in Sierra Madre and $284,000 on the county portion repairing those sections. However, the remaining repairs in the city of Sierra Madre will cost ~$250,000, but Sierra Madre is only possibly willing to spend $100,000 on it. The $250,000 would be a significant portion of their general funds (the city size is only 10,767).
It is perhaps understandable that Sierra Madre is unwilling to repair a road that is used mostly by nonresidents. The road was originally built in 1935 by the County of Los Angeles. The Forest Service says that they are prohibited from spending their funds to fix the part of the road in Sierra Madre.
During the closure, the road continued to be used by residents and the Forest Service, but it was said that the road "should not bear heavy traffic". However, even bikers and hikers were turned away at the entrance to the road by police from Sierra Madre and Arcadia.
On 8/17/00, the Chantry Flat road finally reopened. Sierra Madre spent $5,000 to repair the damaged section of road at the entrance. However, the road will be closed again at the first sign of rain, since $250,000 of major repairs to the road, its culverts and its debris basins are still needed.
The road was closed again on 10/12/00 for several days when rain was forecast.
Finally, on 10/24/00, the federal government came to the rescue, ponying up $600,000 to fix the road for good, including replacing damaged metal culverts beneath the road with much larger concrete ones. Work will begin after permits are obtained from the Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Fish and Game. Sierra Madre City Councilman Bart Doyle predicts that the road work, estimated to take weeks, not months, will be completed by summer 2001.
Sources: Personal experience, The San Gabriels; L.A. Times 5/26/00, B1, B7; 10/24/00; PSN 1/6/00, 8/18/00, 10/12/00; Big Santa Anita Canyon 11/29/02. See also Road to Chantry Flat closed Indefinitely)
Most of the rest of this page is just a template, and has been put online just for the closure information above.
General Information
Access
Hikes
Other Web Information
General Information
Access Map: Mt. Wilson Region. The location is marked by the letters CF near the lower right of the map. Note the waterfalls plotted on the map.
See also: USGS 7.5' x 7.5' Map: Mount Wilson. Chantry Flat is at (34.tbd° N, 118.tbd° W)
By Car: Not accessible by car in 2000!
By Trail:
Hikes
No. RT
milesElev.
gainSeason Name
Other Web Information
- BSAC Cabinowners's Big Santa Anita Canyon
- We Um Attaxxum Pack Station at Xoxamongna (Chantry Flat / Big Santa Anita Canyon Packstation)
- Mountain Biker.com's Rim Trail via Mount Wilson loop
- Robinson's Chantry Flat to Mt. Wilson via Winter Creek posted by the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter
- Mount Wilson, 2-Nov-91, By: Southern Courtney
- Camp Sturtevant from the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church
- Total Escape's Sturtevant Falls
Go to Field Guide to the San Gabriel Mountains: Places
Copyright © 2000-2002 by Tom Chester and Jane Strong
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to us at this source:
http://tchester.org/sgm/places/chantry_flat.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester | Jane Strong
Updated 29 November 2002.