Sturtevant Falls Trail

It’s time to go hiking! You want to find adventure deep within a forest-like environment, but you want to stay close to civilization. You’re in Los Angeles, but you need to escape slightly from the hustle and bustle of society. But, perhaps, you’d like to sit down for a quick meal after your hike without having to drive somewhere else. How can you get away without getting away fully? By hiking, of course, to the ideal spot! And if what I described above is what you’re looking for, then Sturtevant Falls Trail is the hike for you!

When I visited this hike, while we were only expecting a hike to a waterfall, my friends and I found so much more at Sturtevant Falls Trail. This hike has a free parking lot, as well as a closer parking lot by a convenience store that you can pay to park at. On a busy day, it’s worth it to pay the $20 to park by the store. This cute little western building has home-cooked food, drinks, snacks, and one friendly cat walking around. It’s a great place to stop after your hike to get a cold drink, some ice cream, or even a full meal. There are a couple of trails that stem out from here, and they are relatively easy to follow, as they are well-marked. In fact, the two major trails start in the same direction and then split off partway through. There are also cabins for rent in this area, as well, so it’s a heavily inhabited yet beautifully natural spot to visit.

As we went down the trail, after an immediate steep hill, we found ourselves leaving the paved trail and winding up immersed deeply in the woods. In the woods, we found cabins galore! A sign was listed at the convenience store on how to rent a cabin there. They were charming little cabins, and we discussed renting one, as they are cute, nice little secluded buildings scattered throughout the trees along the length of the trail.

The trail itself is 3 miles out-and-back, with the hike ending Sturtevant Falls before you loop back. Unlike many waterfalls on other trails, this one was beautiful and lush. The waterfall was flowing freely into an adorable little pond. The water of the pond was clear, so I enjoyed soaking my feet in the cool water. The walk back up was a little rough, as that final walk uphill was intense, but we left wanting to go back and try Hermit trail, the other trail right nearby this one. Again, it’s worth it to stop in and visit the little store on the way out.

All-in-all, I would highly recommend Sturtevant Falls Trail. From finding little hidden abandoned buildings to handsome little cabins, some water, and a lot of the beauty nature has to offer, it really is a perfect trail. And unlike many trails I find throughout the Los Angeles area, this trail is well marked with clear paths to follow. Talk about a win-win!