Descending into Powder Canyon on the Purple Sage Trail
On the Schabarum Trail
Text and photography copyright 2011 by David W. Lockeretz, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers hike at their own risk, and should be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, walking and other outdoor activities. The author does not take any responsibility for injuries sustained during hikes or walks on the routes described here. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.
Schabarum Loop from Powder Canyon
- Location: La Habra Heights. From the 60 freeway, take the Fullerton Road exit and head south for 1.9 miles. Bare right to stay on Fullerton Road (it continues as Harbor Blvd.) and go 0.4 miles to the entrance to the park. Take a right and drive on a dirt road to the parking lot. You can also reach the park from the south via Harbor Blvd, taking a hard left on Fullerton Road.
- Agency: Habitat Authority/Schabarum Regional Park
- Distance: 4.4 miles
- Elevation gain: 900 feet
- Suggested time: 1 hour
- Difficulty Rating: PG
- Best season: October – June
- USGS topo map: La Habra Heights
- More information: Park map here
- Rating: 5
Here, you cross a bridge and make an ascent. Stay left at a junction 0.4 miles in and continue your climb, shaded in some areas and exposed in others. The views get better as you ascend, so there’s plenty to see when you stop to catch your breath. After a mile of ascent (1.5 miles from the corral and 2.7 from the start), look for an unsigned junction. Your route goes left (the Schabarum Trail continues to the right), continues its climb past some antennas and soon meets the Purple Sage Trail. Here, you bare left and begin your descent back into Powder Canyon. (Stay left at the a junction with a fire road that connects with Skyline Drive.) After a mile, you reach the bottom and take a right and retrace your steps.
If the layout sounds at all confusing (and some of the signage can be a little inconsistent here) make sure you bring the map; it makes things clearer. While this is not a trail for wilderness solitude, it’s very convenient for San Gabriel Valley, Puente Hills and north Orange County residents, and makes a good training hike for enthusiasts all over the L.A. area.
Really happy to find your blog – just started my own hiking adventures out of Orange County! Just had a question about your trail ratings: What does the “PG” stand for?
Hi Yvette, thanks for reading, glad you’re enjoying the blog. I rate the trails by difficulty kind of like how movies are rated: “G” is easiest, “PG” next easiest, and so forth. Most PG hikes, such as this one, are pretty easy if you’re already pretty athletic. They might involve some distance or some climbing. Have fun on the trails.
DL
Thought I’d link my write-up from last year.
Definitely print out the maps from the Habitat Authority if you hike in the Puente Hills.
NOBODY HIKES IN L.A!
There’s more to So Cal than theme parks.
Yes! Thanks for reading, happy hiking!