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Last updated: May 15, 2013 at 19:58 pmSummary: Little Santa Anita, or LSA as it is generally called, is one of the most popular canyoneering routes in the San Gabriel Canyons. Just off the Mt. Wilson Trail this canyon has flowing water year-round. Unfortunately, due to a recent fire and subsequent land slides many of the pools and slides the canyon was known for were filled in. The extremely wet winter of 2010/2011 did an amazing job of restoring the canyon almost back to its pre fire state.
Due to its relatively short drops and easy access this is a great canyon for beginners and even first descents.
ACA Rating: 3C II
USGS Topographic Map: Mount Wilson
uCanyon Beta
Little Santa Anita Canyon is a pretty straight forward canyoneering adventure. There are many small drops all of which are pretty straight forward rappels. The canyon can be done using natural anchors for most of the rappels, however years ago the canyon was bolted.
Click on the images below for the full resolution beta in jpeg form. You can get the beta in PDF form here. If you want to wear the beta, you can find shirts with this and other beta on them here.
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Approach and GPS
The approach to Little Santa Anita Canyon pretty much as straightforward as they come in the San Gabriel Valley area. The GPS track below takes you up the Mount Wilson trail from the trailhead to the first water marker. Once you reach the marker the trail splits, take the fork that heads down to the stream bed.
Download the KMZ file for the uCanyon Beta
Updated on 8/09/2011
Photos
Little Santa Anita Canyon -- 3C II
[img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_lsa_early_creeking_20110529_small.jpg]00LSA Creeking
THe first piece of LSA is alot of creeking, small slides. This is the largest of the slides which most will bypass [img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_lsa_1st_rappel_20110529_small.jpg]00LSA 1st Rappel
[img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_lsa_cloged_chokstone_20110529_small.jpg]00Rappel 3
Prior to the fire that caused the slide that filled in this area of the canyon you used to swim under this chock stone. [img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_lsa_4th_rappel_20110529_small.jpg]00The 4th rappel
[img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_lsa_lower_rappels_20110529_small.jpg]00Longest Rappel
This rappel is one of the longest, by rope length. [img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_lsa_exit_20110529_small.jpg]00LSA Exit
Note the small pile of stones, cairn, on the right. [img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_little_santa_anita_canyon_3cii_beta_20110809_small.jpg]00uCanyon Detailed Beta
[img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_little_santa_anita_canyon_3cii_drop_map_20110809_small.jpg]00uCanyon Drop Map
Other Beta
Chris Brennen Last Update January 1, 2005
ACA Canyon Database: Basic beta and forum discussion on the canyon.
Trip Reports
Notable trip reports or accident reports for this canyon.
![[img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_lsa_entrance_20110529_small.jpg]00Little Santa Anita Entrance](http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/lsa_entrance_20110529_small.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_lsa_early_creeking_20110529_small.jpg]00LSA CreekingTHe first piece of LSA is alot of creeking, small slides. This is the largest of the slides which most will bypass](http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/lsa_early_creeking_20110529_small.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_lsa_1st_rappel_20110529_small.jpg]00LSA 1st Rappel](http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/lsa_1st_rappel_20110529_small.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_lsa_cloged_chokstone_20110529_small.jpg]00Rappel 3Prior to the fire that caused the slide that filled in this area of the canyon you used to swim under this chock stone.](http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/lsa_cloged_chokstone_20110529_small.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_lsa_4th_rappel_20110529_small.jpg]00The 4th rappel](http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/lsa_4th_rappel_20110529_small.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_lsa_lower_rappels_20110529_small.jpg]00Longest RappelThis rappel is one of the longest, by rope length.](http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/lsa_lower_rappels_20110529_small.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_lsa_exit_20110529_small.jpg]00LSA ExitNote the small pile of stones, cairn, on the right.](http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/lsa_exit_20110529_small.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_little_santa_anita_canyon_3cii_beta_20110809_small.jpg]00uCanyon Detailed Beta](http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/little_santa_anita_canyon_3cii_beta_20110809_small.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/thumbs/thumbs_little_santa_anita_canyon_3cii_drop_map_20110809_small.jpg]00uCanyon Drop Map](http://www.ucanyon.com/wp-content/gallery/little_santa_anita_3cii/little_santa_anita_canyon_3cii_drop_map_20110809_small.jpg){kind=link}
From DA on FB: Ran LSA last night. Still dry at the bottom but I was glad for my 3mm suit at the top.
Day in LSA – April 2012 from Fourchinnigan on Vimeo.