Temperatures are cooling down and the days are getting shorter, which means one thing: nature is calling. The San Gabriel Mountains offer a variety of hiking trails to waterfalls that are perfect for autumn.
Located in the San Gabriel Mountains, the trailhead to Monrovia Canyon Falls is near Foothills Boulevard of the Arcadia/Monrovia border. Parking was rather easy to find, and it costs five dollars. Depending on where we parked, a round trip hike would have either been 1.6 miles or three miles. Unfortunately, we did not know and parked at the bottom, leaving us no choice but to take the three mile hike.
After about half a mile, we decided to go down the Self Guided Nature Trail. I squealed, thrilled at the chance to find my own way or get lost trying. However, the name was actually quite misleading, for the trail turned out to be very easy to navigate. Nonetheless, seeing more nature was definitely a plus. The best part about this trail was definitely my lucky encounter with a bear.
The uphill slopes were undemanding, especially because they were gentle. Hearing autumn leaves crunch and trees rustle as I strolled up was very calming, and I began to appreciate Mother Nature more. This area was unique, in that it felt more peaceful, more realistic and less crowded—the kind that makes me think, How would life be if I left home and lived here? On the way, I encountered a cute baby black bear on a hill above me. I gazed at it as it chewed roots harmlessly, glancing back at me. This lucky experience marked the peak of my entire day.
Time sped by as I marveled over the environment, and I arrived at the waterfall. Knowing that the past heat would not have treated the water well over the summer, I expected nothing grand, like a rock fountain. However, I was proven wrong. Needless to say, the water was not abundant. It streamed harmoniously, mesmerizing me from the moment I laid eyes on it.
The way back was a breeze, since a majority of it was downhill and the weather was pleasantly cool. The trail was so short that even an inactive person like me would enjoy exercising. Monrovia Canyon Park gives people a chance to see the splendor of nature and the peaceful sight of waterfalls. I was a first time hiker, and it already opened up my eyes to how great nature is. As high school students, many of us do not experience the outdoors and are surrounded by computers and phones. If a chance ever pops up, visit a waterfall sometime, whether to relieve stress, have fun with family, or just go outside.