Last week, I came across a post from a local blogger about a place in the Angeles National Forest called “Monkey Canyon.” Not on any maps and unofficially named, the area appears to be a popular swimming hole and rugged hike for those in-the-know. It has rough canyons, big drops, and cold streams.
It looks like it would be a lot of fun to get to — if the area wasn’t nearly covered over in graffiti.
Regardless, this is not a leisurely stroll-in-and-swim hike. This is some serious off-trail scrambling and climbing, wading through waist-deep water in flash flood zones, and maneuvering around steep drop-offs. It is not for anyone who doesn’t know exactly what they’re getting in to — a lesson two men learned today when they were rescued from the canyon and hospitalized.
They’d both fallen off the trail — one 50 feet onto land, the other wedged between boulders in the water.
State & Lake has a post with some great information on Monkey Canyon, including some directions to the ‘trailhead’-ish area and some more warnings. Also, there’s a story about Bigfoot hiding out among the cliff-divers.
Huh. I always figured him for more of a Pacific Northwest boutique-coffee kinda guy.
Image by em crack.
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Monkey Canyon=BIG TUJUNGA NARROWS
HIKE53 on”TRAILS OF THE ANGELES FORREST” by
John Robinsson. Ariving to the parking spots you notice garbage,trasy items scattered all over the place,broken auto window glass all over the parking spots. If you happen see the sherrif when they make their rounds, they will warn you not to leave any valuables visible in the car.That shows what kind of people like to visit this place! Graffiti and trash shows up as you descend to the floor of the cyn and all over the rocks as you hike on. Go visit other nicer places in the ANF.