Class: 3AIII R
Gear: Two 120’ropes, One 60’ rope, outfits for a canyon with no swims (wetsuits are unnecessary), 30’ of webbing, steel rappel rings, bolts at each drop but be prepared to build natural anchors as bolts may be damaged by rockfall (inspect carefully). Self rescue and group rescue gear with head lamps.
Expected Time Commitment: Car to car for a small solid team – 6 hours (on the short approach), 12 hours (on the long approach)
Technical Obstacles:
8 waterfalls 25′ to 100′
7 rappels (one two stage)
2 down climb
Non Technical Obstacles: The lower sections of this route was completely buried by a land slide that was naturally re-exposed as of October of 2004 resulting in loads of loose rocks. This route has to be avoided during and just after any rains. Any animal movement, heavy wind, or seismic activity on either rim of this canyon will result in rock fall.
Poison oak: Plenty of it in the upper reaches along and above the stream. Look out especially just upstream of the first rappel.
Recommended Time of Year: Late fall, winter and spring. Low elevation south facing front country canyon route.
Trailhead:
From the 210, take the exit to Allen Ave – go 0.2 mi north
Bear left at E Maple St – go 0.1 mi
Turn right at N Allen Ave – go 1.8 mi
Continue on Allen Ave – go 0.8 mi
Turn left at E Altadena Dr – go 0.1 mi
Turn right at Tanoble Dr – go 0.2 mi
Turn left at E Loma Alta Dr – go 0.7 mi
Bear left at Rubio Canyon Rd – go 0.1 mi
Turn right at Rubio Crest Dr – go 0.1 mi
Turn right at Rubio Vista Rd – go 0.1 mi
Approach:
- Look for a canyon warning sign and proceed quietly through the easement that will lead up canyon. The easement is located on the east of Rubio Vista near the top of the road.
# Continue up canyon as the trail enters the water course until you reach the last and lowest exposed waterfall. Look to the “right” up slope (canyon left) and follow the steep but shallow dry drainage on a faint usage trail.
# This trail will work its way up hill about 500 feet before it takes a sharp left hand turn.
# Follow the trail as it climbs steeply to a look out point we call lunch ledge.
# You will be able to assess the water flow and the presence of the fixed anchors atop the largest waterfall in the canyon.
# Continue up slope on this trail until it begins to contour side slope up canyon then drops down into the canyon.
# There are two rigged rappels down this slope due to severe erosion. One is off three pickets at the top and the second is off a tree about halfway down.
# Once in the water course you should change into your technical canyon gear.
Longer approach that visits upper parts of the canyon:
Drop your car at the Rubio Vista trailhead, then drive a second car back to the top of Lake St. Park and follow the trail up to the top of Echo Mountain. From there find the new user trail that goes east off the back side of the old hotel ruins area. find your way from there down into Rubio canyon proper and follow it down cyn.
Descent:
For the longer approach you will navigate a 75′ two stage rappel first –
Rap #1 75′ bolts cyn right (two stage)
Rap #2 95′ bolts cyn right
Rap #3 40′ bolts cyn right
Rap #4 40′ bolts cyn left
Rap #5 55′ bolts cyn left (recent rock slides have shortened this rappel be heads up!)
Rap #6 55′ bolts cyn right
rap #7 45′ bolts cyn right (two stage with walk off at the base of the first drop)
Egress:
Follow faint user trail back to the point where (if you hiked in from the bottom) entered the rock filled stream bed. If you came from Echo Mtn look for elevated water pipes overhead, and a large stack of smashed up pipes in the middle of the stream bed. you will find a faint user trail cyn right under a large shade tree with a small bit of poison oak on the right
