Arroyo Seco

Arroyo Seco Trail (Gabrielino National Recreation Trail)

During the early decades of this century, Arroyo Seco was an extremely popular place for a weekend outing.  About halfway up the wild section of the canyon stood Camp Oak Wilde, a rustic resort constructed in 1911.  Hikers and horsemen stayed a night or two or used the hostelry as a rest stop on the way up to Mt. Wilson.  During the 1920s, a road was constructed and automobilists traveled the Arroyo to Camp Oak Wilde.

Southern California's "flood of the century" wiped out Oak Wilde in 1938. The awesome torrent also washed away the road and many vacation cabins. A few stone steps and foundations, ivy-covered walls and bridges give today's hiker hints of a time gone by.

Besides the Southern California history lesson, oak, sycamore and bay-filled Arroyo Seco has much to offer. The modern day traveler can walk the old 1920s auto road and newer Forest Service trails to quiet picnic areas. Because the path up the Arroyo Seco is officially part of the Gabrielino National Recreation Trail, it's usually kept in very good condition.

Hikers walk an abandoned 1920s' auto road and newer Forest Service trails through the Southland's most storied canyon. Several quiet picnic areas beckon the walker.

This is a great morning walk.  On hot afternoons, however, you might want to exercise elsewhere; smog fills the Arroyo Seco.

^ top

^ top

The  hike: As you walk up Windsor you'll spot two roads. The leftward road descends to JPL.  You head right on a narrow asphalt road, closed to vehicle traffic.  You'll pass some fenced-off areas and facilities belonging to the Pasadena Water Department and a junction with Lower Brown Mountain Road. A short mile from the trailhead are some Forest Service residences.

The road, dirt now, penetrates the arroyo and enters a more sylvan scene, shaded by oaks and sycamores. Often you can't help but chuckle at the "No Fishing" signs posted next to the creekbed; most of the time the arroyo is quite "seco" and if there are any fish around, they must've walked here.

^ top

Teddy's Outpost Picnic Area is your first destination. In 1915 Theodore Syvertson had a tiny roadside hostelry at this site. A half mile beyond Teddy's is large Gould Mesa Campground, with plenty of picnic tables. Next stop, a short distance past the campground is a small picnic area called Nino. A mile beyond Gould Mesa Campground is Paul Little Picnic Area.

Now you leave the bottom of the arroyo and climb moderately to steeply up the east wall of the canyon. After curving along high on the wall, the trail then drops back to the canyon floor, where oak-shaded Oakwilde Trail Camp offers a tranquil rest stop. A few stone foundations remind the walker that Arroyo Seco was once Pasadena's most popular place for a weekend outing.

^ top