The Practical Sturtevant Camp
What the Camp provides for you:
- The Camp provides potable water to the public, and in the main Lodge, Retreat Cabin and bathhouse.
- The cabins include covered propane wall heaters, bunks or beds with covered mattresses, plus blankets and pillows. (Linen service, providing sheets, will be available later.)
- The bathhouse and Retreat Cabin have hot showers and sinks, flush toilets, toilet paper and paper towels.
- The Lodge kitchen is commercial-style with everything needed to serve groups up to 50, including plates, silverware, drinking glasses and hot beverage mugs. There are two propane refrigerator/freezers, a six-burner stove top, two ovens, and a grill top. Also included are pots, pans, skillets, casserole and brownie pans, oven safe cookware and gloves/potholders, etc. Cleaning supplies are also on hand.
- There is also a good supply of salt & pepper, most common spices, olive or vegetable oil for cooking, paper towels, hand towels, hot mitts, dish soap and trash-bags/containers.
- In the evenings starting by sunset, electricity is generated to light buildings until bedtime. (No hair driers or other appliances are allowed.) After the electricity shuts down around 9:30pm, it’s all flashlights and headlamps.
- The Camp is fully off the grid, in the wilderness: there’s no free wi-fi, in fact, we’re wi-fi free!
- A supply of firewood (for safe use in season) is maintained with the help of guests.
- Trash: your normal trash will be packed out on the burros.
Five things every person needs to bring when staying in the guest cabins:
- Sleeping bag and pillowcase, or sheets + case for a single bed.
- Change of clothes, matched to the season and predicted weather.
- Toiletries, including shampoo and soap (+ towel for a shower).
- Flashlight or headlamp.
- Bug spray (spring and summer).
What your group needs to bring:
- Food and drinks besides water.
- Depending on your menu, you might need stuff for preparing your food.
- Sometimes there are left over staples such as condiments, syrup, cooking oil, coffee, etc. Check with your Host before you shop.
What you DON’T need to bring:
- Your cell/smart phone, because it won’t work (Verizon sometimes catches at the heliport, but is NOT reliable.)*
- Anything that needs to be plugged in or re-charged: both electricity and outlets are extremely limited.
- Anything related to your job.
- Firearms, catapults, scuba gear, etc.
* Check with your host about emergency communications.
Also, no dogs:
- Much as we love dogs, for their safety (snakes, bears, tics, etc.) and the safety of others guests, and including through-hikers and their dogs, dogs are not allowed as guests. Insert frowny face.
What’s available in Camp:
- The Big Swing, badminton / volleyball, shuffleboard and horseshoes; ping pong, various board games, and of course, unlimited hiking.
- Also: the outdoor chapel, and the nature trail out to the canyon overlook, which is excellent for night-time stargazing (also pretty dramatic at sunrise.)
What YOU do for the Camp:
- Sturtevant Camp operates like a hostel: you do your own cooking and kitchen clean-up, and you’re asked to clean-up your cabin before check-out so the next guests can thank you.
- Check-in & out: Friday check-in starts 3pm; on Saturday and other days by arrangement with your host (usually after 12 pm works); Sunday check-out starts at 10am and is final by noon.
- Group leaders and parents: the Camp is located in true wilderness, and operates under special conditions. Therefore the Host will meet with you on arrival, and set a time for a brief orientation with your group or family. The purpose is insure a safe, positive experience that sends you home healthy and happy, and leaves the camp in good condition for the next group.
Packing In / Out of Your Items:
- Contact Maggie Moran at Adams’ Pack Station about having your food and personal gear packed in on the burros: https://adamspackstation.com/ or call 626-447-7356.
- The burros only go to Camp on Fridays. You need to have your items to the pack station by 7:30 am the Friday of your weekend stay. You are welcome to bring the items up during the week or the weekend before. The Pack Station can store everything and refrigerate any perishable items.
- Items you want packed out come out the following Friday.
Check-In / Parking
- Check-in at Adams’ Pack Station prior to hiking in. They will contact the Host at Camp to let them know you are on your way. This also means that your group must check-in prior to 5 pm. Plan for at least a two-three hour hike.
- Parking is highly competitive on the weekends (if you come on Friday, you should not have a problem parking). Purchase an Adventure Pass for $5/day from the pack station (one for each day of your trip). If you arrive on Saturday, you’ll need to purchase an Adventure Pass for both Saturday and Sunday ($10 total) and park in the parking lot. NOTE: as of November 2024, it is illegal to park along the road and cars are being ticketed.
Check-Out
- Check-out starts at 10am on the last day of your reservation, and it final at Noon when the bathhouse (restrooms) and cabins are locked.
- Check-out includes sweeping out and cleaning up your lodging space for the next guests; final disposal and pack-up of any remaining food and trash; and shared sweeping and re-setting of the Lodge.
- You are welcome to linger in Camp and enjoy the Big Swing until you’re ready to hike out.
Directions to Camp
- If you have not been to Sturtevant Camp before, start by studying this map.
- Next, besides following a map, from the time you leave the Pack Station you will be looking for signs toward Spruce Grove Campground .
- Begin your trip just below the parking lots and restrooms at the white pipe gate; the fresh dirt road drops steeply down into the Canyon to Robert’s Camp (site only, no buildings remain). Cross the stream and head right past the restrooms. From this point on you will follow the stream up the Canyon, sometimes close to it, other times high above it– but always UP the Canyon.
- After another mile along the stream, with a cluster of private cabins in view, there will trail signs: follow either trail– the Gabrielino trail to your left has a more gradual gain, rising away from the stream along the Canyon hillside. Or the Top of Falls trail goes to your right: this is prettier (closer to the stream and waterfalls) but steeper and tricky in spots. So the trail to your left is a better choice for most families, and both come together at Falling Sign Junction anyway.
- Continue more steeply up toward Spruce Grove; at Falling Sign junction, you’re about halfway to Camp. Soon you will arrive at Cascade Picnic Area, cross the stream and take a break at the picnic table.
- In another mile you will arrive at Spruce Grove Campground; keep going through the campground and after one more stream crossing, you’ll arrive at Sturtevant Camp (at 3241 ft).
- The full trip is a little over 4.2 miles. The trails are moderate to difficult, and most people don’t have a problem if they take their time. Also, we see children do just fine – with appropriate supervision for their safety.
The volunteer Host at Camp will welcome you and orient your group to being at Camp and in the mountains.