Fish Canyon
Duarte / San Gabriel Mtns · near Duarte / Azusa · Los Angeles / SoCal
Canyoneering
At a glance
- Grade
- intermediate
- Best season
- Late spring–fall after flows drop; avoid after rain
What is here
- Setting
- foothill
- Amenities
- Spectacular tiered waterfall · Lush, fern-lined gorge · Scenic intermediate rappels · Green front-range setting
- Best for
- A scenic tiered-waterfall descent
- Features
- Beautiful multi-tier falls · Lush green canyon · Scenic intermediate descent · Front-range gem above Duarte
Worth knowing
- Hazards
- Flash-flood risk — check weather · Access can be gated/shuttle-only near the quarry — verify · Slippery, mossy rock; anchor inspection · Cold pools; route-finding
- Beginner friendly
- No
Canyoneering detail
- Character
- waterfalls · rappels · swims
- Water
- pools
- Commitment
- 2
- Descent notes
- A lush front-range canyon above Duarte ending at a spectacular multi-tier waterfall — the technical descent rappels a series of falls into a green, fern-lined gorge, a beautiful intermediate outing
- Stats note
- ~3–5 rappels, tiered falls; approach past a quarry; half-day
- Wetsuit
- No
- Intl tip
- A San Gabriel front-range canyon above Duarte famous for a spectacular multi-tier waterfall — the technical descent rappels a series of falls into a lush, fern-lined green gorge, a scenic intermediate outing. Access has historically been complicated by an active quarry near the mouth (gated or shuttle-only at times) — check current access before going. Mossy rock is slippery (inspect/back up anchors), and the narrow canyon flash-floods — never enter with rain, go once spring flows drop. A green jewel of the front range.
- Directions note
- Access through the Vulcan Materials quarry trailhead in Azusa (check open days)
The guide
Fish Canyon, climbing into the San Gabriel front range above Duarte, is famous for its spectacular multi-tiered waterfall — one…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Fish Canyon — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 34.17, -117.9