I'd like to tell you about this effortless 7-mile paved trail, lined with shady sycamore and babbling brooks, accessed easily by crossing a bridge. But first, parking. You'll need an Adventure Pass ($5) to park unless you have the annual pass ($30) or the America the Beautiful pass ($80). Feeling lucky? Park anyway & risk citation/fees ($130). On a weekday, the Angeles National Forest Headquarters had no passes. REI had none either, but the worker was beyond helpful, informing us various ways to track one down. Three stops & 1 hr later, we secured the last Day Pass at a gas station. Now back to the wide open trail, swiftly accessible by bridge, paved for bikers and hikers, flanked by the West Fork of the San Gabriel River. Hike all the way to the Cogswell Dam, see waterfalls along the way, or just while away the afternoon, feet submerged in stream. I hope my Day Pass difficulties was by chance & not due to a systemwide strain. In February, the new administration cut funding to the National Park Services, resulting in the firing 1,000 park employees. More than oil or gold, our National Parks are our nation's greatest treasures. Funding needs to be allocated so they can be properly tended and protected. If not, posterity will be cheated of their greatest inheritance. read more

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Great place to hike and take your dog.. nice running water.. able too swim as well.. pack a lunch bring your fishing pool.( rod&reel )

We drove up here to join in on the SGV Rivers & Mountains Explorer Series ride with approximately 30 bicyclists. The ride was on asphalt paved road that hugs the river for 7 miles and then back to the parking lot. You need a park day pass which cost 5 bucks. The ride was beautiful and it wasn't difficult at all. You can park along the highway hugging the parking lot if it's full. read more

Great views amazing swimming holes . It is extremely packed so come early . Not enough parking would be my only complaint .

Pretty cool paved road trail that goes all the way to the Cogswell damn. We came here to ride our bikes, it was 15 miles round trip with almost 1,000 feet elevation gain. The elevation gain was gradual until about the last mile and a half to the damn. On the return back you can coast downhill, there was also about 3 small waterfalls along the trail. The area of the trail is location the national forest so you will need an adventure pass for parking. (You can get them at any Big 5 sporting good stores. $5 daily, & $35 for an annual pass.) Like other reviewers mentioned parking does fill up later in the day so try to arrive early to get a spot. read more

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Apparently this trail is closed until December of 2026. Would have been nice to know that before driving all the way up there. Despite the fact that we all pay taxes to have access to areas like this, on top of having to buy idiotic things like an "adventure pass" forestry, in their Infinite wisdom closed this area to he public anyway. I'm sure this trail is beautiful. Maybe in two years I'll swing by to check it out. read more

Beautiful isolated bike path / road to campsite. If you want a slightly bumpy and shaded ride to a view from top of a dam, this is it! Apparently only open on weekends to the public for now. The parking lot can get crowded on clear weekends, so I recommend arriving before 9. When I left at noon, there were cars circling to find parking. The road is about 6 miles of relative flat occasionally broken pavement that is best done with a bike with wider tires than a road bike. It's a blast on a gravel bike. The last 3/4 of mile is a moderate climb to the top of the dam, but with little shade it can be tough if you're not expecting it. The payoff is the ride back is all downhill! I recommend carrying a bell and be ready to announce yourself as there will be large groups of hikers and walkers enjoying the walk. read more

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Great trail and beautiful scenery. Parking is tricky if you do not have a rec pass so be ready to walk at least a half mile to the trail head read more

I guess we started maybe further up the trail. Sounds like some say it was a total of 16 miles. We heard it was about 5 in and 5 back from the parking lot/bridge where we entered the trail. Because of time and numerous stops to enjoy the scenery we only did a total of 4 miles. It was beautiful! We enjoyed hiking on the paved road and also along the rocks of the creek. Saw some fishermen (catch and release), mallard ducks, black crows, squirrels, and got to listen to some beautiful but shy birds along the entire hike. We got to see a mini waterfall, too. Would have loved to see what glory awaited at the end. Maybe next time. Annoyed by the graffiti in the parking lot and stupid pet owners who don't pick up their crap... Pls keep your crap in your own crappy neighborhood. read more

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Had a fun time here! Really relaxing! Make sure to keep it clean! There's parking and u don't have to walk a lot to get to the river (: read more

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Cool spot to bring the little ones. We had fun on our adventure. The water was hella cold but it was fun and refreshing after that hike. One note to the ugly people who like to tagged on rocks you are a bunch of losers. You take the beauty out this place by tagging nonsense on the rocks. Find a better and productive hobby assholes. How about volunteering and picking up the garbage other losers leave behind. Overall it's beautiful out there just wish humans were more respectful. read more

West Fork Trail - Very refreshing after a hike - Hiking Near Me - Azusa, California

Great Paved Trail (7miles) that leads to a Dirt Road for another 5 miles and even up to mt wilson if you choose to go that far. Nice ample parking at the base. Great for bike riding. Even better with a CX bike or Dirt Bike. I love this place but clean up after yourselves please. read more

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Bought a book that listed wrong parking lot long/lat directions. Another Yelp reviewer listed the correct directions 34.242286, -117.870182 * Bugs galore! Bring bug spray. * Portables only (gross) * 15 miles round trip (ends at Coswell Dam 7.5 miles) * Paved road: ADA compliant, lots of bicycle riders, few hikers, even fewer fishers, stollers, and wagons Close to the dam, there's a neighborhood, I'm guessing the city houses their employees here, with the local fire station. Thought it was deserted but heard a big dog barking as we were walking through. Good, easy mileage to add to my Fitbit, no inclines, no dirt/rocky roads, no sweat. Just easy. Bring bug spray. But if you're riding a bike, ride fast, no stops, no bugs will annoy you. read more

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Not sure if it's park of the actual West Fork Trail but this review is for the path along the west fork river. Parking lot: 34.242286, -117.870182 Need adventure pass. The trail is paved asphalt. Since it was by a stream/river I was hoping to escape from the heat but it was hot with no shade. Only went 1-2 miles, spent some time in the "pool" and came back. Most of it had a muddy bottom so the swimming holes can get really murky Next time I think i'll come with a bike. read more

West Fork Trail - Hiking Near Me - Azusa, California

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This trail is not accurate on yelp's map. You just keep driving up route 39 for 9 miles or so, up the mountain side. Right before you see the shooting range, I believe. The hike itself is very easy, like a walk...on paved road. Great for families with children. You generally walk next to a stream and it's nice to hear this natural melody, an escape from the busy city life ---but not too far. There are a number of bikers that pass by, but the road is well accommodated for sharing. My huge complaint were the number of bugs in mid October. I couldn't take them flying near my ear. Hearing that annoying buzzing sound--or landing on my face. They didn't bite or cause itch. But they were definitely annoying nevertheless. (I do have to admit, they bothered me more than the other folks in my party, they weren't swinging their arms every minute) Maybe if I drop by this trail again, I'll update this review. read more

This is a random bike/hiking trail that you would NOT expect to find in Azusa. I felt like I was in the East Coast - with all the recent rain, there was so much greenery and the river was full of water. I'm a horrible biker so I wanted to go somewhere that's outdoor, deserted, shaded, and flat. This was the PERFECT trail and it completely fit my idea of an easy bike ride on a Saturday morning. I was even hesitant to write this review because I think it's a well kept secret gem. ;) THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE GOING TO THE TRAIL: * Get an adventure pass and leave it in your car if you want to avoid getting a parking ticket. You can get it at the kiosk that's like 4 min away from the parking lot. * The trail is generally uphill, so don't take a beach cruiser...I only struggled on this bike ride because I stupidly took a beach cruiser and it was SO hard to go uphill. Otherwise, it would've been an easy ride. * Take bug spray - there are SO many bugs when you go closer into the dam read more

I've been to the East Fork many times, and decided to visit the West Fork for the first time. I will never return. Contrary to my expectation that this would be a scenic nature stroll along the river I found that this was like a ghetto Raging Waters. I was disturbed and appalled on so many levels. 1) The first mile in is full of HUGE hispanic families (made up at least 95% of the visitors). I mean HUGE (12-24 people per family). I am not trying to make broad generalizations, but I'm sure you can do the correlations and the math yourselves. 2) Trash, glass bottles, broken glass, all over the place! I don't understand why ANYONE would think it is ok to leave trash in any place other than the trash can. Why would people leave glass beer bottles in the river and then let your children play around in the river?! 3) Campfires and grills all over the place despite clear signs prohibiting them. Hm guys, it's common sense. This is a dry brush forest, why the fuck would you light up a fire or a cigarette??? 4) Screaming kids everywhere. Floaters, rafts, sand toys, everywhere! 5) Graffiti all over the place! Notably, a large curvy penis drawn on the paved trail road. Then, there is the normal gang tagging on the rocks; wtf?! 6) Complete and utter disregard for the environment. In addition to above, I was disappointed to see people constructing artificial dams (moving rocks around to dam up the water). This destroys ecosystems people! Also, people swimming in the river fully clothed and with shoes still on. Obviously these persons came with the intention of swimming in the river. At a minimum, wear swimwear and go barefoot. While entering the water at all is already polluting the ecosystem with bacteria and chemicals from one's clothing, if you must do it, a practical compromise is to go in swimwear. Is it that hard??? Why would you enter fully clothed? 7) People blasting loud music. read more

Great place to bike and not worry about cars. However, there is the rangers truck that occasionally drives through. Most of the visitors are cool. There's always that group that brings things in and leaves it (trash) : ( read more

Great family friendly bike ride. It is so relaxing and beautiful! Slight uphill most of the way making for a super easy ride back. If you want to avoid the steep uphill to the dam, turn around at the campground or a bit past it. The campground is 7 miles in. There are picnic benches and bathrooms along the way too. Don't forget your Adventure Pass for parking. read more

This trail along the West Fork of the San Gabriel River is the counterpart to the "Bridge to Nowhere" trail along the East Fork of the river, which already has quite a few Yelp reviews. Though very nice, the West Fork Trail isn't quite as scenic as the East Fork trail. What makes the West Fork trail special is that it's paved and smooth (it's actually a service road). This makes it ideal for runners and casual bikers. As a runner, I love the trail. It's 13 miles in and back to the camp--a half marathon. Inbound you climb about 500 feet, but this ascent is spread evenly over the entire 6.5 miles. When you turn around to run back, you feel a new boost of energy from switching to downhill. Much of the trail is shaded. This is also a very popular spot for fly fishing, as well as for families with kids who want to play in the water. read more

This is a beautiful trail for biking. It is paved and quite flat, but runs along a small river, so the entire time you get to gaze at green trees and waterfalls, with plenty of trees and birds. It's a great trail for leisurely bikers and joggers. There are a few picnic tables near the river and a waterfall, which provide an ideal stopping point. When I went, it was not crowded at all, making you feel like you're miles from the city (and indeed you are), and there are two parking lots at the trailhead, so parking isn't an issue. You do need an Adventure Pass, though. Also, I don't have personal experience, but this might be a good place for fishing. There seemed to be quite a few fisherman along the river. There are numerous fishing platforms throughout. They have a catch and release policy. So if it's so great, why not 5 stars? There is a significant amount of mountain driving required to get there. Ah, the sacrifices one must make for a wilderness experience. read more

I love this trail for rollerblading, jogging or a bike ride. Unfortunately the first mile or so is nothing, but a disappointment. TRASH EVERYWHERE. I have on several occasions gone out just to clean the area. Bring my trash bags and gloves and it's just completely annoying that people have no regards to the land or the ecosystem. This place should be patrolled more often and people should be cited. No glass, no grills, no trash, no smoking is allowed. Yet I always pick up glass bottles, cigarette butts, blunt wraps, shoes, socks, diapers, clothes. PICK UP YOUR TRASH,YOU LAZY DISGUSTING S*** HEADS. Their are plenty trash cans surrounding the area!!!!!! read more

West Fork Trail - What I picked up from just one sandy area of the stream. - Hiking Near Me - Azusa, California

Biking here is nice. Steady and easy climb for the first 7 miles, then a steep incline for the last mile. Much less crowded after the first 2-3 miles. Once you get to the top, the view from Cogswell Dam is pretty amazing. Bring water, and some snacks. Maybe a hat and some anti-bug spray for the spring/summer. Fishing here is catch and release. Adventure Passes are available at the AM/PM store at the foot of the mountain. read more

After having ridden this path earlier today all I can say is that I will be back to ride it again. It is not a challenge really until the last 1/2 mile up to the helipad but the scenery along the way makes it all worthwhile. However I did not go past the private residence with the "No Trespassing" sign prominently displayed. I understand that the path to Cogswell Dam may be open but it didn't appear to be that way to me. Perhaps on another ride I will be able to find out for sure. Bring water and maybe a lunch. There are picnic tables available and plenty of rocks to sit on by the river. You might want to pack some bug repellent for this ride but I found that the only time the biting flies annoyed me was when I stopped. Keep riding and they are no problem at all. It is best to get here early in the day as the available parking by the afternoon will be filled. read more

I almost hate giving a review here cause I love this trail. I've walked it, rode it, fished it, swam it and some day when I'm old and posses a handicap plate I'll drive it. Yes, it is even handicap accessible with platforms to fish from. Sure, the parking lot gets packed quick in the summer and it gets overran with locals in the first mile or so. But if you trek beyond that part you quickly forgot about all that and find the beauty of the SGR. I've run into all kinds of nice people along the trail, even deer hunters. Yes, you can do that up there too. I could go on and on about it, you can get details on the parking, length and all in other reviews. Like anything else, go the extra mile... its always less crowded there and remember, pick up your trash... and while you're at it... pick up a little more to help keep it nice. read more

Been going to Azusa for a bit but just discover this beautiful gateway. Well time spent but honestly people need to pick up there damm trash smh :'( but overall beautiful place must check it out!! read more

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Nice place to come for a long walk alone ,family or love one! Is so peaceful and so relaxing read more

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The West Fork Trail is actually a paved road that runs approximately 7 miles to a small campground. It's a very easy hike with plenty of shade, bathrooms, and almost no elevation gain. I saw a ton of people pushing strollers and young kids riding razor scooters on memorial weekend. The trail runs parallel to a creek with a ton of fishing areas, swimming holes, and sandy beaches. There are several decent sized waterfalls along the trail on the tributaries which feed the creek. Several of the seasonal waterfalls along the upper part of the trail are fed by a natural spring and are probably potable. After the campground, the road climbs steeply out of the canyon for an additional mile to the Cogswell Dam. We had to walk our bikes up the last stretch of the road to get to the dam. There are several confusing "No Trespassing" signs at the top of the hill, but these refer to the private homes and not to the road itself. You can actually ride your bike across the dam, which was pretty awesome. Although the road is open only to foot traffic and bikes, you may encounter the occasional construction or maintenance vehicle along the road. Bring plenty of water and snacks and make sure to have plenty of time to make it the dam and explore all the waterfalls along the way. The trailhead is located about 14 miles north of the 210 freeway in Azusa on route 39. read more

Before you leave Azusa, it's best to get the Adventure Day Pass before you head up the 39 because I don't know where you can get it once you get to the parking lot for the West Fork Trail. Put the pass on your dash board. Some weekends are busier than others so I'd advise to get there early as the parking lots tend to fill up quickly. We went on Monday 1/09/12 around 10:00 am so it was pretty empty. I would suggest not putting anything of value in plain sight in your car if you're going to be gone for hours. Not everybody who goes to the West Fork are "law abiding citizens" from the looks of it. Even though it was going to be 85 degrees in Azusa that day, it was in the low 50's once we got to the parking lot. It was cold! On the drive up, there were several bikers trekking up the mountain road. Please drive slow and watch for bikers since the road is only one lane up and one lane back. In the winter months, I'd suggest to dress warm and in layers as it does get warm when walking in the sun. Most of the trail is shaded and does get chilly. The trail is all paved and wide enough for one vehicle. On the 5 mile walk we did, we only encountered one bathroom and 3 picnic tables. The bathrooms do not have sinks so bring antibacterial handi-wipes. I wasn't brave enough to go in there but my fellow hikers did, it was not very sanitary. The trail gets nicer after Mile 1. There is less trash after Mile 1 (I'm talking about people as well as rubbish). The trail is pretty flat and very easy to walk. I'd suggest wearing athletic shoes and not hiking boots unless you're going off the trail. My fellow hikers wore hiking boots and had sore feet by the end of our 10 mile hike. I wore my Adidas and was feeling no pain. We saw a lot of people with their fishing poles as the park does have a catch and release program. There are several fishing platforms along the trail that are geared for wheelchair access. The people we talked to who were fishing had caught some small fish. The park ranger did say that he's caught 10-12" trout before but most of the fish are small. This is a good hike for adults of all ages and children. Just pick up your trash and dispose of it in it's proper area. My boyfriend said that he's seen dirty diapers in the first mile when he's been up here before. That's just disgusting. Let's keep our park looking clean and beautiful! read more

Doesn't show when road is closed off. I read it's a good place to stargaze, but the road was closed off.

This is the nicest bike trail I have been on so far. Paved, shady, green, nice river view all the way up the whole 5 miles one way. Slight uphill climb the whole way up, then the return trip is all downhill. Occasional bathrooms, picnic tables, fishing platforms and a small waterfall at the 5 mile point. After the first mile, it is very secluded. The last mile that leads to the reservoir is very steep, so that would be for pros only. read more

Gorgeous paved trail that extends 7 miles each way. There are mountains on one side of the trail and a river on the other. You will see people jogging, walking their dogs, and running. Breathtaking especially after the rain this season. Make sure you have your adventure pass which you can buy at mostly any gas station along the way. read more

I have walked this trail before and it was a pleasant walk. Today it was packed with people, illegal fires, loud music, and trash everywhere. No fun. All of the inner city was out for the day and not respecting the environment. read more