July 15, 2020
Brown Mountain Dam
Brown Mountain Dam is on Arroyo Seco whose watershed is the area north and west of San Gabriel Peak and flows through Pasadena(including by the Rose Bowl) and on to meeting the LA River just north of downtown LA. The dam is named for the nearby Brown Mountain to the east. Brown Mountain was named for John Brown the abolitionist by his sons(known locally as "The Brown Boys") who lived in a cabin in the hills above Arroyo Seco. The dam was built in the early 1940's and it's intent is not hold water but debris. Some of the water that flows towards the dam stays behind the dam creating a lush landscape. The remaining water flows over the dam, creating a lovely manmade waterfall. This was the goal of this hike.
There are two ways to get to Brown Mountain Dam, park by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and hike up though the canyon, or park by an electrical substation and hike down into the canyon and cut off half the distance, I chose the later which meant that I'd have to climb out of the canyon at the end of my hike. Once you reach the canyon there's a good sized campground along the arroyo. Heading north you pass a number of crumbling foundations of houses that used to line the arroyo, most falling victim to fire and floods. Unlike the sun baked hills flanking the arroyo, the foliage is lush by the stream with many flowers. After passing a couple of picnic spots and stream crossings(no bridges) you arrive at Paul Little Picnic Area and was greeted by a woodpecker hammering a tree with it's beak. Heading north a few yards you begin to hear the sound of falling water and know that you're close to the goal.
Read MoreBrown Mountain Dam is on Arroyo Seco whose watershed is the area north and west of San Gabriel Peak and flows through Pasadena(including by the Rose Bowl) and on to meeting the LA River just north of downtown LA. The dam is named for the nearby Brown Mountain to the east. Brown Mountain was named for John Brown the abolitionist by his sons(known locally as "The Brown Boys") who lived in a cabin in the hills above Arroyo Seco. The dam was built in the early 1940's and it's intent is not hold water but debris. Some of the water that flows towards the dam stays behind the dam creating a lush landscape. The remaining water flows over the dam, creating a lovely manmade waterfall. This was the goal of this hike.
There are two ways to get to Brown Mountain Dam, park by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and hike up though the canyon, or park by an electrical substation and hike down into the canyon and cut off half the distance, I chose the later which meant that I'd have to climb out of the canyon at the end of my hike. Once you reach the canyon there's a good sized campground along the arroyo. Heading north you pass a number of crumbling foundations of houses that used to line the arroyo, most falling victim to fire and floods. Unlike the sun baked hills flanking the arroyo, the foliage is lush by the stream with many flowers. After passing a couple of picnic spots and stream crossings(no bridges) you arrive at Paul Little Picnic Area and was greeted by a woodpecker hammering a tree with it's beak. Heading north a few yards you begin to hear the sound of falling water and know that you're close to the goal.
Arroyo Seco
Arroyo Seco runs from Mt. Lowe, though Pasadena and converges with the LA River just north of Downtown LA. This portion of the arroyo is about 2 miles north of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
