Trailhead: Switzer Picnic Area

View toward bridge at the west trailhead for the Gabrieleno Tail at the Switzer Picnic Area

Trail: Switzer Picnic Area to Switzer Falls and the Bear Canyon Trail along the Arroyo Seco to the mouth of Bear Canyon.

Note: This is a good short extension to hiking to Switzer Falls without going all the way up to Bear Canyon Campground.

Description: From the trailhead at the west end of the lower parking lot, cross the bridge and follow the Gabrieleno trail down along the Arroyo Seco. Cross the Arroyo Seco at an obvious spot near Commodore Switzer Trailcamp and continue uphill to a junction with the Bear Canyon Trail (note: as of this writing the Gabrieleno Trail is closed at this junction). Follow the Bear Canyon Trail down to the Arroyo Seco and at the junction at the Arroyo Seco follow the trail north along the Arroyo Seco a short distance to Switzer Falls. Return to the junction and follow the trail south along the Arroyo Seco until the trail meets the mouth of Bear Canyon and overlooks the Arroyo Seco. Return the same way.

Stats: 5.0 miles, 1100′ of gain and loss. (The stats don’t include a 0.2-mile portion of the hike I did as shown on the track map. On that day, I didn’t have time to make it all the way up to Bear Canyon Campground, but, I wanted to enjoy walking through the narrow passage that begins the trek up Bear Canyon).

Track map for Switzer Picnic Area to Switzer Falls and Bear Canyon from February 2017 using Backcountry Navigator (US Forest Service-2013 map) from my phone.

Last Hiked: 2-24-2017

View at the mouth of Bear Canyon overlooking the Arroyo Seco which continues south. At this point, Bear Canyon leads east up to Bear Canyon Campground and Tom Sloan Saddle. (2-24-2017)