We did the loop on 12/30/22. There were patches of ice and snow. I wore microspikes for about a 1/3 of the hike. We did the loop and the total mileage was 7 miles. The 2 people I did the hike with didn't have microspikes and they were fine. A lot of this area has been affected by the fires over the previous couple years. Since it is such a long, winding drive along Hwy 2 this trail is not very busy. Make sure to display your Adventure Pass parking permit. Because of the recent storms the waterfall had a good amount of water. read more

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This is a 3 mile (roundtrip) trail that takes you to a really cool waterfall that's located deep within the San Gabriel Mountains. Tall trees provide shade throughout most of the trail. There are just the right amount of people on the trail where it is not too crowded and it's also not too secluded. What I wish I would have known before I went was that you can park right next to the trailhead. If you enter into Buckhorn Campgrounds you can drive right up to the trailhead parking lot. I didn't know this so I parked at the outer parking lot and had to walk a half a mile down the hill. The parking lot nearest the trailhead actually had less cars then the outer parking lot. The other thing is that the majority of the trail is really easy to follow. You just have to remember that when you get to the signage and junction that lists both Cooper Canyon Trail and Burkhart Trail be sure to keep going straight along the Burkhart Trail. The falls will be a little further down on your left. You will have to descend down to the canyon bottom, with the assistance of a rope, to reach the base of the falls. Kids can do it no problem. The waterfall empties into a pool of water that's about a foot deep. It's really cold and refreshing. The waterfall was really wide with a nice and strong flow. Be sure to bring your Adventure Pass. There's no cell service. There are bathroom but they were all locked probably due to Covid-related precautions. read more

This is a beautiful short hike to a nice waterfall. If Buckhorn Campground is open, then you can park past the campground, it's about 3 miles round trip from here. But if the gate is closed to Buckhorn Campground, you will have to park outside and hike to the start of Burkhart trail head which will make this about 4 miles round trip. You will need to display an adventure pass for parking. There are restrooms in the campground area. When I hiked this, the campground was closed. I parked outside and follow the road into the campground. If you follow the road, there are signs directing you to Burkhart Trail. The hike itself is not hard, but pace yourself and enjoy everything around you. You can hear the stream running pretty much throughout the whole hike, but it might be seasonal pending on rain or snow. The trees are so big and majestic. It's definitely way different if you hike near Redbox Picnic area which is my go to destination. The trail is pretty straightforward, the only fork in the trail is when you see the posted sign to cooper canyon trail. Here you want to continue onto the Burkhart Trail. I would say about 50 to 100 feet past the posted sign, you will hear and see a large stream to your left. Keep an eye out for a rock scurry to the left to Cooper Canyon Falls. Someone tied ropes to help hikers climb down if you need it. Enjoy the waterfall and hike back out the way you came in. Whatever you bring in, take out. Don't be a jerk and litter this place. You want others to enjoy this place as clean and natural as it can be. Note, there is a small hidden side trail if you feel adventurous, it will take you to Buckhorn Falls:) As always, pack accordingly to the weather and have fun. read more

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I think this is my new favorite waterfall hike in LA! The waterfall was lush and I'm always up for some rock scrambling, especially when it involves a little rope! We had to enter the campground to access the trailhead (restrooms were all closed when we went despite campers staying there) and parking by the Buckhorn Campgroung gate filled up pretty quickly by 8AM. AKA, try to arrive early to get a decent spot. You can also drive into the campground to park at the actual trailhead, but the designated exit may be blocked off without warning - which means you will have to drive backwards all the way back down on the narrow dirt road. Still, it's a great spot for a quick getaway into the mountains. Make sure to pack out your trash! read more

Cooper Canyon Falls - My new favorite waterfall hike in LA! - Hiking Near Me - La Canada Flintridge, California

Easy hike to the water falls. Highly recommended! make sure to wear all weather/water proof hiking boots as sheets of ice are still on trail this time of the month have fun on your hike and stay hydrated read more

Cooper Canyon Falls - Hiking Near Me - La Canada Flintridge, California

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A wonderful place to go Hiking with the family we did a nice work out walking. We walk 6 miles to get to the fall but went you there is beautiful. read more

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Beautiful hike. Slightly difficult to find if not familiar with area. We made the mistake of parking at beginning of buckhorn camp so we added about a mile to our trip each way. Once you see the waterfall from burkhart trail theres a mountain side to climb down. Theres ropes tied to assist but still slippery so be careful. The falls are stunning. Like out of Fern Gully lol. I recommend dipping in the water and taking a waterfall shower. Bring water shoes so you can keep your hiking shoes dry. You do descend down so be prepared to go back up. read more

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Not a bad little waterfall hike that's smack dab in the middle of the Angeles National Forest. After postponing this hike since the winter (due to snow closures on the 2) I finally came out to check out the falls at Cooper Canyon this morning. The falls sit along the Pacific Crest Trail and you can get to the falls from a few places, namely Buckhorn Campground, Eagle's Roost, and where my comrades and I begun, which was Cloudburst Summit. From Cloudburst, it's an inside out hike for 3.5 miles to the falls one way. Meaning you start going downhill and come back going uphill instead of the typical climb a mountain and come back down. The way down was quite pleasant early in the morning, but we really felt the intense heat when we made our way back up in the late morning. There's pockets of shade on the trail, but even with the vast amount of tree's it was still pretty exposed to sun. It's easy to miss the waterfall itself, as there is small side trail that you need you take. This side trail is unmarked and a few hundred feet east of the junction of 2 trail signs at a junction - one leading to Cooper Canyon Campsite, the other Buckhorn Campground. The water down at the falls was clearest water that I've seen in SoCal, very picturesque stuff. I was glad to see that was actually running water over the falls, as I've seen a lot of dry ones in the summer months. I'd really like to get back here in the winter and see it when the water levels are higher. Overall, it was good hike that's not too taxing if you are willing to drive an hour deep into the Angeles National Forest. read more

Cooper Canyon Falls - Hiking Near Me - La Canada Flintridge, California

A group of my friends and I did this hike last Sunday and it was great! We decided to start and finish at Clouburst, which was the long route. It was about 7.5 miles round trip doing it this way to the waterfall and back and took us about 4 hours. You can also get to the falls via Buckhorn as well and we were told that's about 3 miles round trip.. You can also go via Eagle's Roost supposedly; I am not sure how long that route is. Also, you need an adventure pass to park up there. $5 for the day or $30 for the year. You can buy those at the Ranger Station or at Sports Chalet. The waterfall wasn't too full when we went, which is to be expected since it hasn't rained recently, but it was still pretty and the water was nice and cool. A great hike! I definitely recommend it! read more

When you hit the fork, don't turn back! Take the right trail AWAY from cooper canyon campground. Go a short distance, see the waterfall to the left at the bottom. Take the "hidden" trail down using the rope provided. Let it sink in. read more

Favorite waterfall hike to date. I haven't went recently but I've camped in Buckhorn Campgrounds my entire life with several groups of people over time, family, friends etc. The trail begins once you pass through the campground like other reviewers have mentioned. You do need an adventure pass, I recommend picking one up in La Canada Flintridge before driving up through the mountain to this trailhead. Make sure you also take sufficient amount of water & food because the drive back down is about 45 minutes. There's not much to say that others haven't, it's just one of those trails you have to see for yourself! I did this once at 8 months pregnant so I would say this trail is for everyone! read more

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Best waterfall hike in the San Gabriels by far, but not without some caveats. The best time to go is late winter/early spring. This is when the falls are flowing best, however may be frozen if it's a little too cold. This is also gorgeous, but means scrambling down half frozen steep rocks. There is a rope, but be aware. ALSO, if you go during winter, or too early in spring, the campground road to the trail head parking is closed, which means you have to park about a mile from the trail head, adding about two miles to a four mile hike. Lastly, this is an upside down hike in that you begin by descending and have to climb out. All that said, you SHOULD go. The jeffery pines, small redwoods and cedars so close to L.A. make it worth every step. read more

Cooper Canyon Falls - Best falls hike in the San Gabriels - Hiking Near Me - La Canada Flintridge, California

Deep in the middle of the Angeles National Forest, the falls are linearly closer to Pearblossom than La Canada which meant enough environmental shift to change the character of the forest compared to the southern side that faces LA. The canyon to the falls had sparse ground cover due to the harsh summers and snowy winters at 6000'. The river carved Cooper Canyon to expose somewhat reflective granite faces which had a slight hint of the Sierras. The dirt and crushed rock trail was semi-shaded due to the thin firs, rough pines, and big burnt red cedars. The trailhead is 34 miles northeast from the 210 along Angeles Crest - the shortest route that was open this time of year. After going past the automotive and motorcycle club hang-out Newcomb's Ranch (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/newcombs-ranch-la-cañada-flintridge-2), look for signs to Buckhorn. If Buckhorn Campground is closed, drive back and park at the Buckhorn Day Use Area on Angeles Crest. If full, other pull-outs with parking are nearby. This hike is 5.3 miles roundtrip with 1200' elevation change. Walk to the campground entrance and follow the paved road through the campground to the Buckhorn Campground Day Use Area. Take the Burkhart Trail until reaching Cooper Canyon Trail. Immediately past this junction towards the Devil's Punchbowl is Cooper Canyon Falls. A rope was hung to aid hikers to the base of the falls but wasn't needed because the grade did not need repelling or rock climbing skills. In springtime, the falls had good flow. If Buckhorn Campground is open, park at the Buckhorn Campground Day Use Area inside the campground. This hike is 3.0 miles roundtrip with 700' elevation change along Burkhart Trail. When parking, a $5 Adventure Pass or NPS Interagency annual pass must be displayed. read more

First and foremost, you need to purchase a Forest Adventure pass for $5 per day or $30 per year in order to park near the trail. You can get it at Big 5 or REI. Not sure about anywhere else. I need to write this review since I just got back from this trail before I forget... This is my 2nd time on the trail. The review is based on my experience and from I know and saw. The trail starts from the tiny parking lot and goes downhill. The view is pretty, and just like last year, I saw some purple wildflowers. I think it's about 2.5 miles to get to Cooper Canyon campground. It's located right along the creek. My friends and I backpacked in. There's a pit toilet just as you enter the campground. It's first come first serve. There's about 6 spaces, each with it's own bench, fire ring and cooking stove. Remember, you can only collect dead wood unless you want to carry your own firewood, which I highly doubt you'd want to. Depending on the water flow, the creek had enough water this season so we were able to filter water from that resource. Plenty of shade with all the trees. We hiked over a mile (don't quote me on this) down to the waterfall. You have to rappel using the rope which was already there. It's not too bad. With all the rain we've had this season, the waterfall was gorgeous!!! Highly recommend if you're hiking or backpacking in that area. I lost signal (AT&T) on the way up to Cooper Canyon trail on the Angeles Crest highway. BTW, we had to take a detour due to the mudslide. Be sure to check the road conditions. I would say it's a moderate hike. Going back up the trail is always hard for me, especially carrying a 32 lbs backpack! I had a good time and I'm sure so will you! Happy trails!!! read more

This is such a LOVELY SERENE Trail! Meandering through the forest & enjoying the light scattering through the ginormous pines is soooo PEACEFUL! Beautiful wildflowers in the spring; Following the bubbling creek & playing on the stepping stones makes you feel like a kid again. The Hidden Waterfall is definitely a Treat. The LIFEFORCE was INTENSE & I left feeling ENERGIZED after a 14 mile hike! Note: the Hidden waterfall is definitely hidden, you could walk right past it & not even know, as we first did. I'm going to try explain this as the other reviews were difficult to get. This is from starting at the top side of the loop: head down the mountain several miles, at the fork proceed down the fire road along the creek and you will meet up with the trail that runs alongside the creek. At about the half way point in the loop when you cross the creek continue on until you see a sign for Buckhorn. Instead of turning right up the hill hang a left; someone wrote waterfall in black marker with an arrow. Head that direction for less than half a mile and the Hidden waterfall is on the left. There is an unambiguous path with a tree stump on the top bank. Head down the path & use the rope to descend. If you reach rattlesnake trail at the bottom of the hill from the main trail-you passed it. When you are satiated head back up the hill and follow signs to Buckhorn. After the trail there is a paved road that takes you through the campground and uphill to Hwy 2. You will hike about 1.5-2 Miles on 2 back up to the Trailhead. This portion of the hike is all uphill & has little shade. read more

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Really loved this trail. We went just after the week of rain and snow in the mountains so we were walking on packed snow almost the whole trail. We walked from the road, through the Buckhorn campground to get to the Burkhart trailhead. That leads to the falls. If you're planning to go while theres still snow, make sure you suit up. read more

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This place is great and I just love the area. This is a year-round waterfall and water flow depends on rain season. This waterfall is easy to miss and the first time I tried finding Cooper Canyon falls I ended up at Burkhart Saddle. You take Burkhart trail all the way down to you get to the Pacific Crest Trail Junction and make a right. It is not far from the junction and can be missed. Make sure you give yourself double the time on your return trip since it is all uphill on your return to the parking lot. Make sure to pass all the campground sites and park at the designated parking area for the trailhead(You will get a ticket if you park at the camping slots). There are also some waterfalls on your way up that I believe is better than Copper Canyon Falls. You can see use trails that lead to the creek that will lead to the other waterfalls. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes if you are going to go exploring. I am also not responsible if you get hurt. Be safe... Distance: 3.1-miles round trip Elevation Gain: 638 Feet Time: 1.5 hour round trip Hike Type: Out and Back Rating: Class 1, easy Dog-friendly: Yes(depends on dog) Mountain Bike Friendly: Yes up to the PCT Kid Friendly: Yes, but return incline is tough Parking: Adventure Pass https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=gtfU7XXRhBA read more

Recommended to bring: Adventure pass for parking Extra layer (it got cold on and off) Towel Shoes you're okay with getting wet You'll need to get inside Buckhorn Campgrounds first as Burkhart's Trail (the way to Cooper Canyon Falls) is located there and not whatever's pinpointed on Yelp. A quick peak at google maps could prevent you from making the same minor error I did of unnecessarily driving 2 additional miles down the road and to nothing at all. I arrived here at about 9:30 and the place was desolate. I'm not sure if it's empty because the campground is currently closed or maybe this is just a bit of a hidden gem that not too many people know about yet. I had to park inside the Buckhorn day use picnic area which is located about 1000 ft from the campgrounds. RT from the car was 6 miles and took me 3 hours to complete, but this is mostly due to me just dicking around and taking photos. The hike goes downhill practically the entire time in, but what goes down has to come up, so the way back is a tad of a bitch. It didn't prove to be too strenuous as I was able to get back up to the car within an hour without making any stops. So even at average health you shouldn't have a problem. You'll get shade on and off throughout the hike with only one part where you're directly blasted by the sun, but even lackadaisically walking through it would take you 3 minutes at most. Once you're down in the creek area you'll be encompassed by the foliage above. The trail features redwoods, pines, rock formations, fat squirrels and many points for photo opportunities. Eventually you'll hit a sign that tries to "Cheshire Cat" you out of finding the waterfall. The left points to Cooper Canyon Falls and the continuing path is Burkhart Trail. Follow that! The waterfall is not too far from the signage and a little further ahead on the left is a somewhat sketchy looking path down. That way will lead you to the base of the fall. Some good samaritan left their rope behind for ease of the descent. This trail is dog friendly, but unless you want to do the highly unethical method of tossing Fido to his demise you should probably leash him to a nearby tree before going down. I was lucky enough to have the whole waterfall to myself and had I packed a sandwich it would have been the perfect picnic. But there's always next time and I'm definitely coming back! read more

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Beautiful scenery and hike, but all uphill going back so prepare your legs! As the other reviews say, the waterfall is VERY hidden, so hidden that we thought the trail to it wasn't a real trail. I went in the summer so it was quite hot, but there was a lot of shade for most of the hike. HOWEVER, there were A LOOOOT of flies and mosquitoes and other bugs in the area so prepare yourself. But at this time, there were more flowers and plants in the area so it was quite beautiful. If I ever go next time, I wouldn't choose to explore the waterfall area until there was more water, but this is definitely a hike to do! read more

Cooper Canyon Falls Beautiful hike, about 3.5 miles RT. I've been hiking all over LA/OC area in the last several years and this is my favorite waterfall hike so far. Definitely worth the drive! It's about 36 miles along Hwy 2 ( Angeles Crest Hwy) from La Canada Flintridge. Once you pass Waterman Ski area on your right start looking for Buckhorn Campground on your left ( past the Buckhorn Day Use Area). Drive down to the very bottom of the campground until you see a sign for Buckhart Trail parking. Park there. You will need an Adventure Pass ( $5 day pass or $30 annual pass) which you must purchase ahead of time at REI, Sports Chalet...). There are pit toilets at the trailhead. The closest trash cans are the bear-proof ones up farther in the campground. We figured this out when at the trailhead we had a full doggie bag to dispose of. . The trail near the campground still had large patches of snow. The trail was well maintained and snow free throughout. The trail follows are river/stream throughout the hike and could be heard all along the trail. The trail descends slowly to the canyon. A bit rocky and narrow in places, but negotiable even when passing other hikers with our lab in tow. We meet few day hikers on Sunday afternoon, but we're delighted to pass about a dozen PCT through hikers as the PCT ( Pacific Crest Trail) intersects the Buckhart Trail twice in this stretch. There are beautiful giant Redwood and Ponderosa Pines scattered throughout the hike. Lupine and bright yellow monkey flower are now in bloom ( as well as along Hwy 2). You will descend into the canyon and pass over a small creek. A ways past the creek crossing you will see a sign for Cooper Canyon Camoground/PCT going left. Continue on the Burkhart Trail to the RIGHT. At the bottom of the sign someone has indicated waterfall with arrow to the right. Continue hiking along the creek and listen for Cooper Canyon Falls on the right down in the canyon. There is NO SIGN for the falls. Look for the steep and rather hidden trail PAST the falls ( there are some wood embankment walls built to prevent erosion where the trail starts down). The trail is steep, rocky, narrow and requires footwear with good tread. 50 ft or so down you will see a thick, secure cotton rope to help you descend the rest of the way into the canyon. There is good footing except for the last 10 feet which is rocky. The waterfall is beautiful and was freely flowing when we were there. If you don't want to go down in the rope there is a view of the falls near where the rope is secured. It's worth the view. We actually missed the falls the first time and continued to the next creek crossing, it was a nice place to have lunch. Just up the trail the narrow PCT trail picks up again on the right. If you get here you have gone too far. Once you visit the falls retrace your hike. This hike felt more challenging than its 3.5 miles. The elevation of 5,000 to 6,000 feet and the steady hike back out were probably the reason. This was the first time I tried hiking poles and I was very glad to have them on the hike out! I had read the elevation gain for this hike is around 800 feet which sounds about right. Take more food and water than you think you'll need. I had 3 L for me and our lab which was fine in early Spring. Bring your camera. There are plenty of photo ops along the trail. There is another, longer route ( 7+ mi) to the falls out of Cloudburst which you will pass on the way to Buckhorn Campgound. This is definitely on my bucket list. On Hwy 2 there is a resturant and a visitors center along the way. We didn't stop this time, but plan to on another visit. Enjoy! read more

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It was a Sunday morning on easter day, came with my hiking crew. Theres 4 of us, all first time here. Let me first say that this hike is not easy by far, bring a lot of water. We started the trail at 9:30, its all down hill basically. No signs pointed to anywhere until you walked for at least 30 mins. We got to the water fall and Its not even a water fall, small stream basically. I ask one of my friend "this can't be it" I decided to keep going, we follow the buckhorn trail. My other friend stop following us by this time and decided to turn back with his girlfriend. Me and my other buddie kept going for about an hour. I decided we need a 10 min break and started eating beef jerky. At this point there was no sign of people what so ever, the air was thinner. I made the call to turn back, its a not good sign at the moment. Our stride got us back to the water fall "stream" in 30 mins. I was looking for my other friends but I figure they went back to the car. This is where the hard part begins, all incline all the way back up. Im a strong hiker and I work out 5 days a week but I had to make at least 6 stops before we got back to the car. Worst part my leg started cramping up. I was thinking in my head who the heck put down "easy moderate". When you get back to your car you will feel such a relief. All in all a lot of trees, a great exercise. If you want a challenge this is the place. read more

Cooper Canyon Falls - The beautiful view with a little snow! - Hiking Near Me - La Canada Flintridge, California

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Welp. I did this hike on December 26th, 2014. I didn't actually make it to Cooper canyon falls because the snow and ice were crazy thick. Still it was amazing. It is a fairly easy hike out of Buckhorn campground that looks like your in the Sierra Nevada. This hike seems easy enough for kids, yet entertaining enough for even the most experienced of backpackers. My point of this review is mainly to add the awesome pictures I took that day. Enjoy! read more

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Awesome little waterfall only a couple miles from the Buckhorn campground via the Burkhart Trail. I've been here 4 times already this year and this hike never ceased to amaze me. read more

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This trail is legit. I prefer the trails that are a drive from urban areas because as this trail demonstrated, there was no graffiti. Other trails are still burned out from the station fire but still some good old forest growth and canopy to provide shade during intense heat. If you get to the bottom of the canyon, look closely at the deeper pools of water. There are good size trout swimming in there. Next visit I'll bring some sandals in my day pack so I can take a dip in the water on a hot day and walk along the stones. read more