After Fires Devastated the Area, This 131-Year-Old Camp Has Finally Reopened
After four years of closure, Sturtevant Camp is accepting reservations starting November 1.
One of the largest fires in LA Country history ravaged Angeles National Forest in 2020, burning 115,997 acres of land in the San Gabriel Mountains over the course of nearly three months. Now, after four years of restoration, the forest’s most beloved hiking spot and nearby lodging area are reopening.
Chantry Flat, a popular hiking area in Angeles National Forest, officially reopened its gates on October 2 and is now open to the public from 6 am to 8 pm daily. Sat on the ridge of Big Santa Anita Canyon, Chantry Flat’s picnic site leads to an array of trails ranging from two miles to a whopping 28.8 miles. Currently, only five of the trails are open.
One of the area’s restored (and most trekked) routes includes Gabrielino Trail, a 4.2 mile hike from the Chantry Flat picnic site. The trail leads to Sturtevant Camp, another cherished section of the forest that is officially reopening October 5 after the fire damaged its water system, bunkhouse, and trail. Sturtevant Camp, established in 1893 during the Great Hiking Era, consists of six cabins, a bathhouse, a kitchen, and a historic lodge fit with a dining room and cozy fireplace room. Once referred to as a “hotel in the mountains,” Sturtevant Camp has long been an idyllic retreat for travelers. The area doesn’t have WiFi, making it the perfect place to disconnect and bask in the area’s massive red bark trees, wildflowers, and gurgling waterfall.
Currently, the camp’s historic lodge is only open for visits on weekends, but reservations will open November 1 for stays beginning in January 2025. Also note that the camp does not permit cars and is only accessible via trail.
As for Chantry Flat, the area’s Zion Trail, Sturtevant Trail to Mount Wilson, and trails north of Sturtevant Camp to Newcomb Pass are still closed, with volunteers working to restore them as soon as possible. Visit the US Forest Service’s trail map of Chantry Flat for updates.