Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
My friend Long Beach Joey and I, have been talking about a new hike for awhile. This weekend we went for it. Parked at Devils gulch and went down to the canyon floor. Then headed east up the river that begins near the helicopter pad at the waterman/twin peaks saddle.
It starts off like any other creek but a couple miles in, turns into a gigantic boulder hopping/fallen tree obstacle course. The recent rains caused the normally foot deep creek to make a debris line, 20' off the bedrock floor! There were dams we had to climb 15' high, with boulders bigger tan cars and trees 4' around, 60' long. It must have been crazy down there.
About 60% in, we hit a waterfall, (1 of over 20 this trek) but although I was able to scale the 1st of 3, I was stuck. No way up, no way down. I was so lucky I brought 100' of 550! I went around a root and threw the 2 ends down. Made it safely and recovered my rope. We had to backtrack and go up into the buck brush to the north. We heard a chainsaw, then saw crop watering hose. And someone tending a pot farm, cooking on open flame. Crazy stuff.
Climbed back down above the falls and 3 more hours, hit family territories. Then to the saddle, then to 3 points. Sun gone, walked a couple hours back on the road hoping to catch a ride. DENIED! It was only roughly 18 miles BUT the terrain was unlike anything I've ever experienced in the Gabriel's.
Closest thing to it is the boulder hopping to the tungsten mine off Coldwater, below Baldy. A man is LUCKY to average 1 mph.
My friend Long Beach Joey and I, have been talking about a new hike for awhile. This weekend we went for it. Parked at Devils gulch and went down to the canyon floor. Then headed east up the river that begins near the helicopter pad at the waterman/twin peaks saddle.
It starts off like any other creek but a couple miles in, turns into a gigantic boulder hopping/fallen tree obstacle course. The recent rains caused the normally foot deep creek to make a debris line, 20' off the bedrock floor! There were dams we had to climb 15' high, with boulders bigger tan cars and trees 4' around, 60' long. It must have been crazy down there.
About 60% in, we hit a waterfall, (1 of over 20 this trek) but although I was able to scale the 1st of 3, I was stuck. No way up, no way down. I was so lucky I brought 100' of 550! I went around a root and threw the 2 ends down. Made it safely and recovered my rope. We had to backtrack and go up into the buck brush to the north. We heard a chainsaw, then saw crop watering hose. And someone tending a pot farm, cooking on open flame. Crazy stuff.
Climbed back down above the falls and 3 more hours, hit family territories. Then to the saddle, then to 3 points. Sun gone, walked a couple hours back on the road hoping to catch a ride. DENIED! It was only roughly 18 miles BUT the terrain was unlike anything I've ever experienced in the Gabriel's.
Closest thing to it is the boulder hopping to the tungsten mine off Coldwater, below Baldy. A man is LUCKY to average 1 mph.
