Big Dalton Canyon Campground

The hike to Mystic Canyon is 9.6 miles roundtrip with 2,217′ elevation gain/​loss. It is not a difficult hike in general, but there are a few areas that are fairly steep.
The trail is wide at points and also single file with loose rocks under foot. The entire trail is without shade. At the start of the hike for about a mile, the ascension is pretty steep. But after this portion, the climb is pretty steady. Unless you choose to take Punk out Trail.
Punk out Trail is clearly marked and is a detour to the right of the main path. If you want a better and more difficult workout, this is the way to go. It will also shave about 1 mile off the total trip. Once you climb the steep ridge and arrive at the landing/​trail above, go right and continue up the trail to your destination.
Views of the mountains and city are nice. Mt Baldy and Iron Mountain are easily seen from this vantage point.
parking — free lot across from the trail head

We came here because we were just out for a Sunday drive, lo and behold we ended up list going up the mountain it had plenty of nice views going up and I love that it passes by to reservoirs. The only thing I didn’t really like was thay there is absolutely no signal around there what so ever, guess it’s a good place to get lost or drop a body

With the Colby Fire taking out both Garcia Trail and Colby Trail, it has been a bummer not being able to go hiking locally. But man, I was excited to find this hidden gem called Mystic Canyon and Punk Out Trail through Instragram Feeds. The entrance to the trail is located on Big Dalton Canyon Road, approx .5miles east of Glendora Canyon Road as you head into Angeles Forest. When you enter the trail stay to the path on the left as it splits and it will quickly begin a steep climb for approx .25miles up (this portion reminds of the steepness of Garcia Trail). The next .75 miles up is a series of steady inclined switchbacks which is very manageable to jog and run. At about the 1mile mark, you meet the intersection of Poop Out Trail, Lower Monroe Trail and Mystic Trail. Here you can rest and enjoy a nice elevated view of Glendora and surrounding area. You still can get cell phone reception at this point and a handful of hikers and bikers are in this area, which seems to be the turn around point for most that I saw. But I choose to continue to climb up and took the Lower Monroe Trail to my right. Once again this a nice steady climb up, perfect for jogging or running. Within a .25 you will hit the Punk Out Trail Marker. That is the coolest trail name ever, isn’t it? From there you can decide to go the steep route up the hill or stick to the left for a steady climb up. Past the Punk Out Trail marker, it is a lonely road, so do not go unprepared without enough water or running partner. This trail is not nearly as popular or crowded as Garcia Trail or Clairemont Wilderness Trails, but it offers a good, go between of the two trails.

Big Dalton and Colby trails are pretty easy. Moderate to easy. Great view of the mountains and a nd overall a fun Hike. Did all trails except 3 determined to do the other ones. Great for kids where tables are set up for a picnic.

My wife and I have been visiting this park every month or so, and it’s been a really nice sanctuary to go be in nature. it’s very accessible, and there’s plenty of gravel parking along the road.
I like the way the campground area feels — tall Coulter pines and fresh, clean, cool air coming up from the creek that runs past. Today, we even came across the trail cleanup crew, keeping the trail spotless for hikers like us! Thanks guys!
However, I should mention that the infrastructure has fallen into disrepair. The water fountain heads are twisted off and hanging, there are small holes in some of the bridges, and a good many of the historic oaks are suddenly dying off.
There’s a building a little further up the trail that says «nature center», but it looks more like a boarded-​up shed with no windows. I’ve never seen it open. Does anybody know if it’s open at some point? There’s a bench in front of the building, but it’s falling apart too.
One more good thing: The rotary club has supplied some nice maps of the park to the trailheads.
We’re a fan of the park, and we’ll certainly keep coming, but I think that it needs a little more love from our community.

I’ve been coming here for so long and gone through so much in this canyon, so I’ll try and keep this as objective as possible.
In all, Big Dalton Canyon is home to a solid seven or eight hikes ranging from tough and strenuous (the Fire Trail) to meandering and modest (the Waterfall Trail). I was a camp counselor here for some years and we had our own names for these trails, so I’m not sure what they’re exact names are. If you’re looking for something to do for a half day, this is the place for you. Years of being a camper and camp counselor at the day camp that takes over the area from June to August each year has clouded my objectivity a bit (I’ve hiked each and every one of these hikes hundreds of times over the past six years as a counselor and countless years as a camper). That being said, I don’t come here to hike any more. The hikes are great, as I discovered this past weekend after a two year hiatus, but there’s not too much to offer here. Unlike Chantry Flats in Altadena, the water is all but gone here so there’s no meandering stream to dip into. The hikes aren’t all that long either. The longest are the First Trail (first trail on your left as you enter the canyon) and the Waterfall Trail (from the day camp spot, veer right a bit and follow the trail until it splits, then keep going straight). If you’re looking to hang out and wander, you can do that here. If you’re looking for intense hikes and spacious beauty, I suggest the Bridge to Nowhere or Chantry Flats.
There are drinking fountains by the Boy Scout cabin, Girl Scout cabin, and day camp cabin.
There aren’t any restrooms available, so empty your tanks before embarking on these nature treks.

One of my best nature shoots to this date was taken at Big Dalton Canyon Campground.
Located in the city of Glendora, this area is frequented by hikers, campers, and families who love to picnic. You will pass by many residential homes before you reach the actual campground. So don’t fret, just follow the address.
On my quest to find unique spots to shoot in and around Los Angeles, my friend mentioned a hiking trail that showcased a beautiful creek, natural rocks, and a variety of plants. This place didn’t disappoint.
When we came here, it was at least a blazing 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The sun was not our friend and lighting conditions were extremely tricky. But lucky for us, this place was well shaded.
If you ever decide to shoot here, I recommend bringing good shoes/​sandals, as footing can be very tricky, especially in and around the creek. Make sure to bring plenty of water and oil blotting sheets. Lastly, unlike other places, I recommend shooting when the sun is high but not at it’s peak (I shot approximately 2 – 3 hours before the sunset).
Good luck and happy shooting!