Welcome Back to the Canyon!
In September 2020, the Bobcat Fire devastated the Big Santa Anita Canyon and the surrounding mountains, destroying parts of Sturtevant Camp and creating a hazardous environment that has kept the Canyon and the Camp closed to the public for the past four years.
We are gratified to announce that the Canyon is now open to the public, and with it, historic Sturtevant Camp.
This is good but limited news: the Camp is not quite ready yet for overnight guests, but the historic Lodge will be open every Saturday and Sunday. Volunteers will be present to welcome hikers and show the Camp as it continues to recover from the Fire and subsequent record rainfalls.
Click here to see stories of the recovery work over the past seasons, and here to see how you can help the Camp fully recover and fully open.
We look forward to welcoming you to Camp now as a hiker, and as a guest starting in 2025. Check out everything about the Camp here on-line, until you can get off-line and up the trail. See you soon.
The Board of the Sturtevant Conservancy
Established 1893
Sturtevant Camp is located in the upper reaches of Big Santa Anita Canyon, in the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California. We are a hike-in camp dating back to the “Great Hiking Era”. The trail in is a little over four mile hike from the parking lot at Chantry Flat, north of the City of Sierra Madre, California. Just like it was in the “Great Hiking Era”, the only way to get to camp is to hike. No motorized vehicles. Although a person could ride a horse or mule, there are none locally to rent.
The camp is open to the public with rental cabins and rooms available for 2 to 32 people.
For your trip to this rustic location, the friendly donkeys of Adams’ Pack Station can take your personal items and food at the current per pound rate. Contact Adams Pack Station for schedules and rates. Keep in mind that the only way that supplies, equipment, food, and personal items arrive in camp is to carry them on a person or a donkey.
Read more: Camper Info
Camp Amenities
Lodging consists of three roomy guest cabins, each sleeping eight, the cozy Honeymoon Cottage for two, and the homelike, self-contained Retreat Cabin for up to 8, and the Lower Lodge room for two. All lodging includes mattresses, bedding, blankets, and pillows. In cool weather, cabins are warmed by propane wall heaters. The bath house has flush toilets and hot showers for women and men.
Common facilities include the historic dining hall, an commercial-grade kitchen, and a game room with fireplace and piano. We also have an outdoor chapel/gallery for presentations, entertainment and spiritual services.
Keep in mind that the Camp is a step back in time. Although there are electric lights in the evening, there are no electric outlets, no wi-fi, no cell phone access. Please be prepared to be off the grid for your stay. You will find that it is quite relaxing.
Read more: The Cabins • Sturtevant Lodge • Fireplace Room • Camp Kitchen
Activities at Camp
Activities at Sturtevant Camp includes volleyball, badminton, ping-pong, shuffleboard, horseshoes, croquet, the Big Swing, games, self-guided nature walk and, of course, splashing in the creek. The natural surroundings provide many sightseeing opportunities: the iconic Bigcone spruce trees, ferns, chaparral and wildflowers. There are dozens of bird species to spot and vistas to enjoy by hiking to Mt. Wilson or Newcomb Saddle.
Read more: Camp Activities • Chapel/Gallery • Canyon Trails
Wilderness Setting
Sturtevant Camp is located in the true wilderness of the Angeles National Forest, yet it is just miles from Lols Angeles. The forest is a host to a multitude of wildlife. Come and enjoy creatures such as the gray squirrel, fox, racoon, and skunk. We have several varieties of snake such as rattle, gopher, racer, and California king snakes. Only the rattlesnake is poisonous and mostly seen off trail, so please stay on the trail. There are both mountain lions and bobcat that are occasionally seen during the day, mostly during the night. The most interesting are the black bears that are actually more brown in color. People are most concerned about these larger animals and really should not be if some caution is used. They are just as afraid of us as we are of them. If you encounter a bear, retreat if possible. Otherwise, stand your ground, make yourself big by raising your hands. Making noise will also move him/her on.
Volunteers and the Camp
Every aspect of the Camp is in the hands of volunteers: it is operated by the volunteer Board of Directors, and volunteer Hosts welcome, guide and supervise guests; repairs, improvements as well as trail work are all done by volunteers. Guests are also an integral part of the care of the Camp and the its environment: together, we are all stewards of this enchanting wilderness experience.
Parking
Parking is at a premium in the public lots at Chantry Flat, and all of the road coming up to Chantry. You must display an Adventure Pass on your car for each day you the vehicle is parked. Passes are sold at Adams’ Pack Station, located next to the Chantry Flat parking lot. Day passes are $5 a day, or you can purchase an annual pass for $30. On weekends, parking is extremely difficult to find unless you arrive by 6:00 or 6:30 am. Alternatively, you may reserve a parking spot in the private lot managed by Adams’ Pack Station for $30 per night.