Welcome to living history in mountain beauty!
Sturtevant Camp first welcomed guests to the San Gabriel Mountains in 1893; today it continues to welcome sturdy hikers to its historic Lodge located along a running stream, and six rustic cabins under a cathedral of trees in the upper Big Santa Anita Canyon.
Accessible only by hiking 4.2 miles of mountain trail and served by burros carrying supplies, the Camp offers sleeping accommodations for up to 34 people with bunks and several full-size beds, all with heat and linens. Hot showers and flush toilets are nearby, and a full size commercial kitchen with refrigerators serves guests for their own cooking hostel-style.
The Camp lives in the wilderness: open every weekend all year ’round, seasonal weather and trail conditions determine the Camp’s final availability. We post changes and updates on social media weekly, starting on the “Wilbur Sturtevant” Facebook page. Once you make a reservation to stay, you will be connected directly with the Volunteer Host for your weekend, who will share real-time information for your visit.
Detailed information about the Camp is available across this website, and within the Campspot Reservations system linked above. Be sure to dig into the details, because a weekend in the wilderness requires good preparation, whether in tents or cabins! (Ironically, parking at the trailhead is the first serious challenge.)
Click here to see stories of the Camp’s post-Bobcat fire recovery work over the past seasons, and here to see how you can help the Camp continue to serve and thrive.
We look forward to welcoming you to Camp as a hiker, and as a guest. 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 34 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. 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. Contact Adams Pack Station for rates and schedule.
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 6, and the Lower Lodge room for two. All lodging includes mattresses, blankets, and pillows (sheets and pillowcases are available to rent). 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, a commercial-grade kitchen, and a game room with fireplace and piano. We also have an outdoor chapel/gallery for presentations, entertainment, group services and personal reflection.
Keep in mind that the Camp is a step back in time. There is electricity in the evening for basic lighting, but there are no electric outlets, no wi-fi, and no cell phone access. Please be prepared to be off the grid for your stay: you will find 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 the local trails to Mt. Wilson, Mt. Zion, and 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. Weekend 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.