Monrovia Canyon
Monrovia / San Gabriel Mtns · near Monrovia · Los Angeles / SoCal
Canyoneering
At a glance
- Grade
- basic
- Best season
- Late spring–fall; avoid after rain; check park status
What is here
- Setting
- foothill
- Amenities
- Accessible mossy waterfall · Short, low-commitment descent · Good skills-practice canyon · Close to town
- Best for
- A short, accessible skills canyon
- Features
- Easy front-range waterfall · Low-commitment rappels · Great for practice · Close to Monrovia
Worth knowing
- Hazards
- Flash-flood risk — check weather · Park closures (fire recovery) — verify access · Slippery, mossy rock · Cold water early season
- Beginner friendly
- Yes
Canyoneering detail
- Character
- waterfalls · rappels
- Water
- pools
- Commitment
- 1
- Descent notes
- A small, accessible front-range canyon above Monrovia centered on a mossy waterfall — a short, low-commitment descent with a rappel or two, good for practicing skills close to town
- Stats note
- ~1–2 short rappels; easy approach; a few hours
- Wetsuit
- No
- Intl tip
- A short, accessible, low-commitment canyon above Monrovia centered on a pretty mossy waterfall — an easy place to practice rope skills close to town, with just a rappel or two and a gentle approach. Well suited to newer canyoneers under experienced supervision. Monrovia Canyon Park has seen wildfire closures and recovery in recent years (2020 Bobcat Fire) — check current park status and access before going. Mossy rock is slippery, and even small canyons flash-flood — never go with rain in the forecast. A handy local training ground.
- Directions note
- Park at Monrovia Canyon Park (entry fee; check open days)
The guide
Monrovia Canyon, in the small park of the same name above Monrovia, offers a short, accessible, low-commitment canyon centered …
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Monrovia Canyon — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 34.18, -117.98