Monrovia Canyon

I was fortunate enough to spend the better part of my youth growing up in the foothills of Monrovia, California. Many days, especially in the summer, were spent wandering through the canyons and hilltops of our local mountains.

When we first moved to the neighborhood, neither my brother nor I knew anything about hiking, following a trail or about any of the dangers such as poison oak and rattlesnakes. The first weekend spent in our new house found us exploring a small hill that was located not to far away with an abandoned water tower on the top. Rather than follow a trail we hiked straight up the front through brush and weed until we reached about the ¾ mark. My brother who was in the lead slipped and knocked us both back down to the bottom of the hill. Our arms, legs and faces were torn and scratched by the fall. My brother got off easy though. As it turns out I have a severe allergy to poison oak while he can sit in the middle of the plant without contracting a rash. Me if I even look at poison oak I break out, so this was the first of many hours spent scratching my rashes.

For us kids the best part about growing up where we did was our streets proximity to the entrance of Monrovia Canyon.

The canyon is filled with wildlife, hundred year old oaks, streams and a beautiful waterfall.

Originally the canyon was settled by the Rankin family in the late 1800's. They had four children three who died in 1877 from an outbreak Typhoid Fever. In fact there is a memorial that marks their final resting place.

In the early 1900's a gentleman named Ben Overturff built a lodge that was a popular get away spot for about forty years. Mr. Overturff finally abandoned the lodge in the 1940's due to declining health. Today there is a trail that runs past the old lodge that is named in his honor.

None of the above history really mattered to us kids though. The canyon was our own personal playground. We blazed our own trails. We played army and hide and go seek. We chased squirrels and attempted to follow coyote tracks. Some mornings we were lucky enough to see deer wondering through the empty park. Raccoons scurried through the trees, while lizards and snakes could be found warming themselves in the summer sun.

One Thanksgiving while hiking with my cousin we attempted to climb the rock face of the waterfall, we made it about ¾ of the way up before slipping and falling into the water below. We were lucky in those days the water was deep enough to break a fall. Today with droughts and what not the water is rather shallow and we would have broken our bones instead.

As we I older I ran the trails as training for the cross-country team. Rather than moving all the time I began to take the time to sit under one of the old oaks with a good book or just to meditate. Listening to the running water was soothing and always left me with a clear head.

Of course once I discovered girls the canyon became a romantic place to visit for picnics and watching sunsets.

All in all Monrovia Canyon was and still is a great place to escape the stress of the urban environment and still be within ten minutes of home.

http://www.ci.monrovia.ca.us/city_hall/public_works/canyon_park/canyon_park.htm