After hiking Fish Canyon Falls and Monrovia Waterfall I looked for a good lunch place on Yelp. Originally I just assumed I would eat baklava but after 8 miles or hiking I needed some more substance and settled on the Monrovia Market Grill and boy was this a good find.

Details

• Open - Mon – Sat: 11am – 7pm , Closed Sundays
• Around 8 to 10 dollars for a sandwich

This place is very unassuming from the outside and is actually accessible though a market that bears the same name. While I was slightly worried that this would be a run of the mill sandwich place all of that was put aside when I saw the menu and talked to the lady running the register.

She informed me that they took their food serious here and made everything fresh, including the potato salad that was made with lemon, mint and olive oil, which she gave me a sample of. I ended up going with the Angry Beast Grilled Sandwich, which literally had everything on it that I love including horseradish, roast beef, grilled onions, grilled chilies and spinach on rye bread.

It really was an amazing sandwich. Three out of the four of us got it and all said the same. The last person had the veggie sandwich and was pleased with this choice as well. They also had a couple different drinks including a mint lemonade and fresh tea, and for dessert they have an ever-changing selection of bakery items you can choose reform as well.

When we left they encouraged us to tell others which I am happy to do through this post. If you are a fan of good sandwiches you really need to go check out the Monrovia Market and Grill. I, for one, will be back to Monrovia again, the hike in the park and this grill are enough to make me wish it was closer to my house. Let me know if you have been in the comments.

After having heard over and over again about this hike, how dangerous it is and how many people go on it every day I figured I really needed to check it out for myself so I could see what all the fuss was about. I set out from Riverside and got there at about 9 in the morning only to find the main lot full and only about couple spots left in the overflow. This is never a good sign but I reserved judgement and got out of my car to start the hike.

Details

• Free to park
• 3-4 miles round trip (depending on where you park) with ~500 feet of elevation gain
• Busy

The Hike

As I set out on the hike I saw lots of people starting the trail so I knew I would not be alone, however I had no idea that I would encounter as many people as I did. The trail itself starts out at a relatively easy grade on a big dirt fireroad so there is ample space for all the hikers.

It meanders along this path and goes in and out of shade for about a mile with some nice views of the trees, houses and wash to the left. I passed about 20 people during this mile.

When you go around a bend you will see the bridge off in the distance and as you get closer the path will split. From here you will want to go to the left on the path that will take you towards going under the bridge.

As you pass under the bridge the path gets a lot more pretty as you will be following and crossing a stream on your way up to the falls.

I really enjoyed this part of the trail, however there were so many people on the trail and with so many creek crossings it was pretty slow going. I passed about 30 people coming or going during this part of the trail.

Along the trail there are smaller waterfalls, a couple small abandoned buildings from the canyons past and a lot of lush trees, it really is a nice walk.

As I rounded the last bend I heard the sound of people and a faint sound of water so I knew I must be close to Eaton Canyon Falls.

Eaton Canyon Falls

What greeted me was a nice 40 foot waterfall that fell beautifully to a small pool below. It was beautiful and I am sure when it is flowing better and not dry like 2013 was, then it can push a decent amount of water.

This would have been a nice place to relax before starting back on the trail but there was over 150 people here and it was so crowded trying to even get close enough to take a decent picture of the falls.

Now I am all for people getting out on the trail and I am glad there were a lot of people enjoying it but for me it was not very relaxing with all the noise and the trash so I didn’t stay too long. It was a good call as I passed way more people on the way back then I did on the way there so the waterfall was only going to continue to get more crowded.

I also did not find the trail to be dangerous at all but after researching that is only when trying to get to the second falls, which I didn’t see much of a way to do and can imagine that being pretty sketchy as others have said if you are taking it out of the canyon walls.

All in all I liked being able to experience a new hike and Eaton Canyon was beautiful. That being said I would probably recommend Bonita Falls, Fish Canyon Falls, or even Sturtevant Falls as they seem to have a lot less people on the trail. Let me know what you think of the trek to Eaton Canyon in the comments.

As far as beaches in Southern California go, San Clemente will always have a special place in my heart. I learned to surf and caught my first wave on the beach to the right of the pier and I spent many a college day pursuing the next wave and eating at Pedro’s Tacos. Unbeknownst to me (thanks SocalHiker) there is actually a beautiful path that walks from the Metrolink parking area all the way down to Calafia Park and stays right next to the coast and the Surfliner train the whole way. With the wife training for a half marathon we thought it would be the perfect place to put in a long run for her and a leisurely bike ride for myself so we set out for the trail.

Details

• Trail is free but parking varies at the different start locations
• 2.6 miles each way
• At the Metrolink it was a quarter for 15 minutes I believe and I have been told this is the cheapest place to park
• Food and restrooms along the trail
• During the summer biking is not allowed near the San Clemente Pier due to the amount of people there

San  Clemente Beach Trail

After parking and paying our fees we set out on the trail. I loved the nice map they provide at the start of the trail as it shows you the mileage markers as they related to areas that you pass so you can make the trail as short or as long as you want.

The trail itself stays relatively flat the whole way which makes it perfect for all levels of athletic abilities to be able to take in the nice scenery. The trail is relatively wide for the first 3/4ths of a mile as it passes over vernal pools, staircases to the road ahead and entrances to the beach.

From there it goes up to an elevated bridge where you are not able to ride your bike and you must walk it in order to avoid being fined $100.

This is also a great place to watch the trains go by. I for one have always been fascinated with trains and they are one of my favorite things to photograph as you can see from these posts, so I waited on the bridge to get a picture of one going by below.

After exiting the bridge I was back on my bike for about a quarter of a mile until the path went into a very narrow area near the San Clemente Pier. While you can bike here it is pretty hard to get by all the people so I opted to just walk it to the pier and over which is a designated no bike zone as well.

If you haven’t been dene here, the pier has a great place to eat lunch. I would suggest checking it out on the way back as that would give you a decent amount of walking then a nice lunch before heading back to your car.

There are also shops here as well and a parking lot (that fills fast) where you can start the trail.

The trial then passes the bridge by T Street which is one of the best places for boogie boarding before crossing back over the train tracks.

The last portion is a nice dirt path that has wildflowers in the spring and a beautiful set of cliffs at the end.

When you reach Calafia Park you will see the end of the San Clemente Beach Trail sign letting you know you have completed half of your journey and can head back.

All in all I loved this trail and it is a perfect example of the beauty of Southern California. If you are doing this in the summer make sure to bring a lot of water as there is no shade but during the winter and spring it can be a nice way to break a sweat with a beautiful background. Check out the rest of the pictures below and let me know if you have been there in the comments.

Get Directions

Left Coast Brewery came highly recommended by a friend of mine for their stellar IPA’s so when they opened their tasting room a couple of months ago I have been looking for a reason to get down there and give it a try. After spending the day biking the San Clemente beach trail and eating at Pedro’s Tacos we decided to head over to Left Coast Brewery and check it out.

Details

• Decent size tasting room with TV’s
• $10 for a five beer sampler
• Hours – Wednesday -Friday 4pm-9pm, Saturday -12pm-9pm, Sunday 1:30pm-6pm

The Tap Room

After navigating the industrial area that is so common for SoCal Breweries to find themselves in, we passed the large silo and found the entrance to the tasting room.

The tasting room is good-sized and has ample seating at the bar as well as 5 or 6 bar stool tables behind it, lined with steel kegs. When we went the bar was full but all of the tables were empty.

The first thing I noticed at the tasting room was the taps which I really liked. They had a voo doo doll tap and even a beach inspired Treseles tap which added to the style of the brewery.

The beer list was also pretty big with about 10 beers on tap. I grabbed a sampler and just let the bar tender decide what to put on it.

The Beer

Out of the five I tried I really liked three of them. The first was the Hop Juice Double IPA which has a really great hoppy flavor that was strong but not too overpowering. Next was the Baltic Porter, which was probably my favorite, as it had a really smooth taste and I don’t even normally like porters. Lastly, I really enjoyed the Zombified Oat Mead Stout as it was smooth with a heavy flavor. I also tried the Raspberry Wheat which was good but not my style and the Voo Doo which was very popular but I wasn’t really into it.

All in all this is a great place for a beer. I would have no problem recommending it and I can see myself coming back for one of the above three. Let me know if you have been there in the comments as I would love to hear what you think as well.

Get Directions

One of California’s most famous spots is the gem of a hotel located off Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo called the Madonna Inn. This hotel prides itself on having no one room the same, and the amount of weirdness present in the rooms creation are unlike any hotel in the world. It has rooms completely made of rock, rooms with nothing but pink and rooms that would make Austin Powers proud. The hotel also features a famous bar, dining area, pool and infamous urinal that allows men to pee right into a waterfall fountain. All of this adds to the charm of this eclectic hotel.

The Rooms – Old World Suite

I wish this was more comprehensive, but as I have only stayed in this one room you may also want to pursue this link to see what else they have to offer. That being said the “Old World Suite” that I stayed in was all sorts of epic. The room itself is fully rock with rock ceilings, floor and walls.

It has a kitchen complete with four chairs and a sink, and a full rock fireplace that operates with a wall switch.

Past the rock wall that divides the living room is the bedroom complete with a red bed that matches the rock well.

From there you enter the bathroom with a waterfall that runs water down a series of rock steps into the basin to wash your hands, and a shower enclosure that has a set of two rock showers that rain on you, as well as a normal showerhead.

It is one of those rooms you never want to leave.

The Dining Room

The dining room in the main lobby is also a site to behold. It is largely pink with lots of booths that the patrons can sit in. I didn’t eat here on this trip but I have before and it is great, however, it is pricey.

Copper Cafe and Horseshoe Lounge

Another must see in the hotel is the Copper Cafe with the Horseshoe Bar. The horseshoe bar is exactly that, a horseshoe that guests can sit around to order everything from food and drinks to their famous cakes.

Amie and I each tried a slice of cake, and if you only have two people you really only need one as these are huge!

Copper Cafe is also a great place for breakfast if you are staying in the hotel.

Mens Urinal Fountain

One of the most famous attractions at the Madonna Inn is that of the Mens downstairs lobby bathroom. This urinal is unlike any you have used before and when you step up to the area a motion sensors turns on a fountain from the ceiling that runs water down a rock wall before it cascades off to the ground below. You simply relieve yourself into that water stream. Almost every time I have gone there have been women in the men’s bathroom checking it out as it is one of the reasons people come to the inn.

Now if all of this doesn’t make you want to stay here, the towns surrounding it of San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach and Morro Bay also have a ton of fun things for the traveler to do. Making Madonna Inn an all around great place to spend a night or a week on a vacation. Check out the rest of the pictures and make sure to book the rooms you want in advance as some of the popular ones book out a year ahead.

Photo Gallery

While browsing around Google Maps I stumbled on a spot of green close to my house in Riverside. That green spot belonged to Harford Springs Reserve, a Riverside County park of 300 acres, and one that I had never visited even though it was so close. After doing a little research I saw that the park had lots of wildflowers in bloom for the Spring so I set out with my camera to go exploring.

Details

• Free to enter
• Download a Map here

Harford Springs Reserve

After driving into the wilderness area that this park covers, I had to watch for the turn out off Gavilan Road which is very easy to miss, and is for the small dirt parking lot that starts the trail. You will notice it by the below sign on the left hand side.

The parking lot itself can hold about six cars and the start of the trail is unassuming. I looked around for whatever information I could gather and then set out on the trail.

The trail starts with a beautiful walk through high foliage before climbing above it and into the barren area of rocks and shrubbery.

As I started walking I quickly realized there is almost no signs for the splitting trails. I would highly recommend printing out the below map to make it easier to see where you are going.

The map will help you make your way along but if you have a decent since of direction you should be able to navigate yourself back without it, it is just hard to know how far you have gone. That being said the trails have almost no shade and a decent amount of hills so if you need to check your direction walk up a hill and you can see pretty far.

The trails in this park and the lack of people really provide for a great experience. Since it is not heavily travelled you will run into lots of birds, lizards and even snakes as you walk along the trails.

I loved this as it seems like most of the city trails like this in Southern California are heavily trafficked and the wildlife has started to move away from them.

After doing a fair amount of exploring and climbing on rocks I set out to find the wildflowers and after climbing a near rock I saw the blanket of yellow along the ground 100 yards in front of me.

The Wildflowers

The wildflowers are where this park really shines. There are some areas where you can see a wide range of flowers all over the park.

The yellows, purples and blues were in full bloom and I couldn’t stop taking pictures. It is hard to do them justice in pictures but you can get out to see them yourself as just walking around and exploring allows you to see so much. Here are some of my favorite pictures, click to make them bigger.

After a couple hours walking around I was back to my car and home in no time. I really loved my time here and already have plans to go back again. These are the areas that I want more people to experience, even though I am always afraid of the destruction that comes with a place being busy. I would highly recommend you check out the park, especially during the spring season for the wildflowers, and would love to hear your comments below.

Looking to avoid the usual tourist clap-trap that some spots in San Diego can entail? These five spots are fascinating places you won’t want to miss on your next trip to San Diego, California. Like the five weird places in LA post, these recommendations are a bit off the beaten track, but definitely worth the trip so check out a different side of San Diego with these five local hot spots:

Black’s Beach

San Diego is home to miles of gorgeous coastline sprinkled with little hidden beaches and alcoves, but none are more interesting than Black’s Beach located between La Jolla and Del Mar. Black’s is known for two things: great surf and nudists. Yes, that’s right, Black’s is San Diego’s one nude beach where visitors can bare it all and get an eyeful any time of year. Black’s isn’t just great for getting a “full body” tan, it’s also a beautiful beach located just below the Torrey Pines State Reserve. This protected area is perfect for a coastal hike through Manzanita and chaparral as well as the stunning (and extremely rare) Torrey Pines. While hiking down from the top of the reserve, hikers will get an insane view of the San Diego coastline from La Jolla up to Del Mar and it’s a great place to catch a glimpse of marine life-like dolphins and migrating gray whales.

Haunted Whaley House

The Whaley House Museum in Old Town San Diego is definitely worth a trip, especially for guests interested in the paranormal. The historic Greek revival style Whaley House was built-in 1857 and has attracted the living (and not so living) guests ever since. What looks like a lovely brick building with dainty white trim is actually considered one of the most haunted places in the country. Before the Whaley House was constructed, the property was part of a cemetery where many Kumeyaay Indians were buried. Since its construction, the Whaley House has been a hot spot for paranormal activity from unexplained swinging meat cleavers to reported ghost sightings and some guests have even noticed paranormal occurrences while enjoying a guided tour of the museum.

Coronado Sand Dunes

These sand dunes have become an intrinsic part of the gorgeous coastline that graces the edge of Coronado. The coastal community of Coronado has a retro vibe, and its beach has pristine white sands and clear ocean-waters which make it a draw for locals and tourists alike. The sand dunes themselves are situated just north of Hotel Del Coronado, which is the most well-known of San Diego hotels with its unmistakable terracotta exterior looming over the beach. The sand dunes form a labyrinthine entrance to the beach, and are quite high – they’ll dwarf any human standing next to them. A tidbit unknown even to some locals is that if you have an aerial view, they actually spell out Coronado. These are man-made and were constructed in the 1980’s by a maintenance worker who turned his job of cleaning the beach into fashioning the sand dunes which are still there today.

Mt. Soledad

Climb up to the top of Mount Soledad for the most stunning views of San Diego and its famous coastal shoreline. The top of this San Diego landmark provides 360-degree views of the entire city, and is the ideal spot for a picnic on one of the benches lining the area or for simply taking in the breathtaking view. On a clear day, you can see the entirety of La Jolla, the Pacific Ocean, the edge of Mexico and more. A large cross is perched at the top of the peak and commemorates fallen veterans, which makes Mount Soledad even more of a serene and solemn spot. It’s advisable to pay a visit midday rather than first thing in the morning so that the marine layer has had time to evaporate.

La Paloma Theatre

The La Paloma Theatre is located in Encinitas, California, and is truly one of the hidden gems of the San Diego area. Upon walking through this movie theatre, guests will feel as if they’ve been transported back in time, which makes sense considering this theatre has been in operation since 1928. It actually has the distinction of being one of the first theatres to make the switch from showing silent film to talkies. The exterior of this cute movie theatre has an old-time marquee, and once inside guests will be impressed with the lacey art-deco style. You can catch a current flick at the La Paloma Theatre, or night owls can attend a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is screened every Friday night at midnight.

A visit to any of these San Diego locations is guaranteed to either provide stunning views of the beachy paradise or unique experiences that are well-worth fitting into a San Diego itinerary. From the paranormal to the simply beautiful, San Diego has a wealth of attractions that will appeal to any traveler.

About the Author

This article was written by Carli Leavitt, the editor of SanDiego.com. Carli is a San Diego native with a wealth of knowledge about local attractions, hotels, beaches and nightlife venues in Southern California.

Image Credits (All from Flickr Creative Commons)

• Whaley House – Nick Chill Photography – Flickr CC - http://www.flickr.com/photos/nchill4x4/2463477130/
• Sand Dunes – Slworking2 – Flickr CC - http://www.flickr.com/photos/slworking/220779527/
• Mt Soledad – Steve Suhrheinrich – Flickr CC - http://www.flickr.com/photos/steveaxton/3346281959/
• La Paloma Theatre – Roadsidepictures – Flickr CC - http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadsidepictures/1283246600/

As far as waterfalls in Southern California go I have seen a lot. I think if I had to pick a favorite though, Bonita Falls would probably be it. This majestic waterfall falls over 100 feet which by Southern California standards is massive. It is a great example of the gems that are oft missed in our area and a perfect first hike for people that are not used to hiking but want to try it. Seeing a waterfall like this so close to home has helped me turn many a friend onto hiking. The one complaint I have about this waterfall is the increasing amount of graffiti that is found here each time I go back. I can’t fathom who would want to do this and if you are reading this please stop! For everyone else check out how to see it for yourself below.

Details

• 2 miles round trip with about 300 feet of elevation
• You will be walking over rocks the whole time as there is no trail
• Must have Adventure Pass to avoid ticket

The Hike

After exiting the 15 freeway at Sierra Ave you will proceed under the freeway and onto Lytle Creek Road. Continue on this road for about 5 miles until you see the below turn off. There is not much in the way of signs or anything so you will need to watch for this and if you hit the main town then you went to far.

Let me preface this by saying this hike is easy to get lost on if you do not know the way. It is an easy 1 mile each way but you must follow the instructions in order to find it and if you are worried about getting there check out some other blogs as well.

The hike begins with a small river crossing. There should be multiple ways to get across without getting wet but make sure to be careful.

From here the hike dumps you into the rock wash that you will be walking on the entire way. For directions to get to the falls I would just say keep left. The waterfall will be on a small trail on the left that you shouldn’t miss as long as you stay on that side.

After about 3/4ths of a mile you should see a small path heading up the left side of the mountain with lots of green trees and even a graffiti arrow.

This path will take you up into the incline and towards the water. You should see this sign as you proceed up as well.

Continue walking about a tenth of a mile and you should hear the water and see the first glimpse of the falls.

From here you can just continue to push up to the base of the falls and explore. Notice how big they are compared to the lady in the above picture. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the falls.

The water at the base of the falls is probably only a foot or two deep so you will not be doing much swimming, but when we went in 2013 the water was flowing pretty good so in the spring I would expect the falls to look awesome.

You can continue to climb above the falls I am told but I have not done it and cannot comment on it being safe or not. The base of the falls are an amazing place to take your family and enjoy a snack in this beautiful area. That being said it gets more and more destroyed each time I am there so make sure if you are checking it out to do your part to pack out your trash or even pick up the trash left by others. This is a beautiful place to hike to and one that we should continue to keep clean.

From there you simply head back out the way you came. If you have been to this waterfall I would love to hear about it in the comments and make sure to check out the pictures and get directions for yourself below.

Photo Gallery

Get Directions

After visiting Desert Christ Park I made the 4 mile trek up to Pioneertown. This unique place was once a living movie set, but one of the main reasons people come today is for the music and BBQ that is present at the stellar Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace. I stopped in for a lunch and here is my review.

Details

• Thursday-Sunday 11am-2am, Monday 5pm-2am, Closed Tuesday and Wednesday
  
• Reservations are recommended for dinner
• Here is their event schedule for bands
• Lunch prices range from $8-$15

History

In 1982, Harriet and her husband, Claude “Pappy” Allen, opened “Pappy&Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace”. With family style Tex-Mex cuisine and live music featuring Pappy, Harriet and their granddaughter Kristina, P&H quickly became a local favorite with all walks of life getting along under one roof!  Pappy died in 1994 and his friends and fans flew from all over the world to be at P&H for a celebration of his life..  Victoria Williams, a good friend of Pappy and touring partner wrote the song “Happy To Have Known Pappy” off her critically acclaimed record “Loose”, that talks about that day. Harriet sold the bar to a family friend who gave it up after a few years.  Enter Robyn Celia and Linda Krantz, two New Yorkers who loved P&H and wanted to see it returned to its glory days. The girls bought the club in 2003 and have done just that.  Musicians from Robert Plant to Vampire Weekend to Leon Russell to Sean Lennon and many more have graced the P&H stage.  The legendary bar has become an indie rock favorite with a vibe that can’t be matched. Pappy&Harriet’s continues the tradition of live music, great barbeque, and good times in memory of Pappy and all those who came before him.

The Restaurant

One of the best things about visiting here is the design of the restaurant. It feels like an old saloon when you stop in with all of the old world style and unique wooden artifacts. A lot of time was taken to create this atmosphere and it makes for a great place to relax.

The stage itself is small which adds to the experience that is created when bands as big as the ones mentioned above come through to play. The stage is also only a foot or so off the ground so you can imagine what it would be like to see someone like Robert Plant here.

There is also a shrine on one wall will all of the bands and actors that have come through over the years and it includes a lot of famous people.

In the back they have a couple pool tables near the bar so you can partake in some pool if you feel so inclined. The bathrooms themselves have some awesome paintings on the doors and insides as well.

The Food

I was excited to try the BBQ that I could smell as soon as I got out of my car so I had the tri tip sandwich with the side of mac and cheese.

I have to say the mac and cheese may be the best I have ever had as it was so rich and flavorful. A super unique taste. The tri tip sandwich was great as well with a really good BBQ sauce to dip it in and onions on top.

My mom got the BLT with cheesy fries, which is like a cheesy potato, she liked it a lot as well and I imagine you really can’t go wrong with the options here. Also, the drinks come in big mason jars which I love as it keeps them from constantly needing refills.

This place is really a fun experience. After eating you can even walk through the replica main street that makes up Pioneertown. Now while it is pretty out-of-the-way for most people, if you are heading to Joshua Tree it is a great place to stop for lunch or dinner. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments.

When I first heard about this place it seemed almost too crazy to believe, an abandoned Nazi camp in the rich area of the Pacific Palisades that you can hike to. Then after reading countless reviews on friends blogs I knew I needed to see it for myself so I set out.

Details

• Street parking is free
• 4 miles round trip and about 600 feet of elevation
• Over 500 stairs so make sure you can handle it

History

The history on this area is a little sketchy and put together but I will do my best to write what I have heard. in the 1930s’ during the time of the first world war Winona and Norman Stephens were convinced by a German named Herr Schmidt that when Germany ultimately won the war, the American government would not be able to stay afloat thus leading to a time of anarchy in the United States. During that time they would be able to live in their self-sustaining community and then come out when the opportunity presenting itself to help with the German take over. So with that convincing they set out to build a massive area they could use to keep them safe during the war.

As we all know that didn’t happen and around the time of Pearl Harbor they were taken into custody from their home. All in all it is said that over 4 million dollars was invested into this ranch and they were able to create a pretty amazing set of structures with that money. Among what they made was a power station, machine shed, fully irrigated hillside for growing food, raised gardens, a massive water tank and even a place to store diesel fuel. They also built multiple cement stairs up the side of the neighboring hill to help with the farming and to patrol the area. They planned to build a four story mansion here as well but it was said to have fallen through.

All that is left standing today is the power station, water tank, gardens and the collapsed machine shed.

Getting there

It is hard to give an exact trailhead address for this hike but the address I put in my phone was the corner of Capri Drive and Casale Road, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 which will take you to the start of Sullivan Ridge Fire Road, the road that you will be walking. Just make sure you read the parking signs, but there was a lot of street parking here.

The Hike

After parking you will want to proceed on Sullivan Ridge Road. This will wind down around some beautiful houses before turning to a run down area that you walk through to get to the main dirt road.

Here you will see the yellow road block telling you are entering Topanga Canyon and you will just continue on the dirt  road for about another 3/5ths of a mile. When you get to about the max elevation you will see a beautiful view of the Malibu and Santa Monica coastline to your left and the start of the chain link fence in front of you.

About 100 yards from here you will see a cut out in the chain link fence that you can walk through to get to the top of the stairs.

If you don’t see this one there is another 3 minutes further next to a water tank and 10 min further is the old abandoned gate for the road down to the compound so you have a lot of chances to get there.

The Stairs

First thing to note, when I was there on a Saturday morning there literally was none one else here. From the moment I got to the stairs till when I got back to the road I didn’t see a soul. This made for good pictures for me but others could find this creepy so just be warned.

These stairs are not for the faint of heart. They drop 250 feet of elevation in only a hundred yards or so and they seem to just drop off in front of you. Just continue down and you get some cool views of the canyon around you and the overhanging plants that form a tunnel over some parts of the stairs.

After the long climb down proceed to the left which will drop you in this small field complete with a graffiti covered wall.

About 50 yards past this area you will see the powerhouse.

The Powerhouse

The powerhouse itself is actually really well-kept together. Sure, it is covered in graffiti, but it still seems structurally sound. I walked in and explored it and while I hate graffiti it was pretty crazy the urban decay on this place especially for photography.

You can even climb the ladder in the middle that will get you all the way onto the roof.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the area.

The Machine Shed

If you head North from the power house you will shortly reach the remains of the machine shed.

As you can see the machine shed is not much more than some broken down pieces of ruble but it is still fun to photograph and explore.

After the machine shed I went back to the powerhouse and took the stairs to the right up to the gardens

The Gardens

All that is left of the gardens are some raised cement beds that have become overgrown with the grass of the area. They are unique in that there are a decent amount of them though. This also provides a good view of the powerhouse from above as well before heading back to the dirt road.

As you proceed up these steps they will empty you out on a dirt road. If you want to go back to the first steps head right but if you want to go up to the entrance of the compound head left and proceed a half mile up the road which I recommend as it will take you to the main gate.

You will know you’re getting close when you reach the massive water tower they have right next to the road and when you round the bend you will see the gate.

The gate was simply the main entrance to the compound all of those years ago. It has been kept together well and is a great photo opportunity  After that head up Sullivan Fire Road, which you are now on again and back to your car, completing the loop. On the way back you will see what looks like another entrance down to the ruins if you miss the first one.

For the photographer I cannot recommend Murphey’s Ranch enough, it is a super unique place to capture a ton of different photos while exploring this strange part of LA history. You can see the rest of my pictures below and get directions to go check it out for yourself. I would also love it if you would leave a comment as well as this post is over 1100 words so I would amazed if anyone read to the end!

 Other Resources on this hike

• Hikespeak
• ModernHiker
• GreeneAdventures

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