While the path leading to Dawn Mine from Millard Canyon may be officially closed, an alternate trail leading to the abandoned gold mine has reopened in the past few months.

Hidden deep within the canyon, Dawn Mine is a great destination for an upward trek and small loop, if one chooses.  Currently, Millard Falls is fenced off and by last accounts, Millard Canyon Trail leading to Dawn Mine may be unofficially open but I chose to  venture down to the mine using an alternate route, avoiding Millard Canyon Trail altogether.

Keep in mind, the alternate path does require a steep one-mile climb down and back up Dawn Trail, which was built in the early 1900s for mules to carry ore to Dawn Station to be transferred to rail cars.

The trailhead starts at the top of Sunset Ridge. To get there from Altadena take Chaney Trail up from West Loma Alta Drive toward the mountains.  Drive up Chaney Tr. and pass the Millard Canyon Gate, which opens at 6 a.m. and closes to all entering and exiting vehicles by 8 p.m. Once past the white gates, keep driving till the road forks into two directions and make a right, parking near the gate to Mount Lowe Railroad Trail.

Once on the road, it isn’t before long until the trail leads to the Sunset Ridge trailhead, which comes into view in less than a hundred yards or so. A sign marking the trail reads “Sierra Saddle 1.5, Echo Mountain 3.2 and Mt. Lowe Trail Camp 5.8.”

You can either take Sunset Ridge at this point or climb further up the main road to catch the trail up ahead. Both directions have their benefits. The Sunset Ridge Trail offers canyon views and the delightful sounds of the waters on the canyon’s floor. Also, the trail moves through a lush area of chaparral growth and recovering big cone trees from past fires.

Alternately, one can go past the first trailhead for Sunset Ridge and move up the main road. Using the main path increases elevation but decreases distance somewhat. The drawback is that it’s not shaded and although some feel that it’s not as scenic, it does offer open vistas of the metropolis down below. However, one can still catch the Sunset Ridge Trail off of the Sierra Camp site by veering left at the next split.  

Once on the Sunset Ridge Trail, the passage narrows and zigzags along the ridge line further up the mountain. Pockets coyote brush, elderberry bush, buckwheat and even wild cucumber litter the side of the narrow path, which also moves through canopies for Bigcone Douglas-fir before opening to spectacular views of the sandstone of the Cape of Good Hope. The sandstone formation is named after a point in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa, which the Portuguese ship San Gabriel sailed past, thus establishing the first real sea route to India.

Once on the main path, head left and try to catch a small side trail going around the Cape of Good Hope for extra views and some bushwhacking. From here, the Dawn Trail leading to the mine is on the left. Look for the historical marker because the bench that was once at the trailhead no longer exists.

The one mile journey down to the mine is very difficult at points. Certain portions of the trail were buried beneath rocks from previous slides and others required scrambling over loose, cracked rock on the narrow ledge, which could be a fairly steep fall if one slips.

Staying on the zigzag will lead down to the base of canyon. Cross the creek to find the tunnel located near some abounded mining equipment. Someone has unnecessarily spray painted arrows on the rock face pointing to the tunnel, which make it even easier to find.

Once you’ve done your exploring at the bottom of the mine you can either climb up the trailhead leading in from Dawn Station or follow Millard Canyon, which is “officially” supposed to be closed.

Although I decided to go back up the same way I came in, a pair of hikers I met went down the Millard Canyon Trail. I assume they made it because their car was gone from the trailhead at the starting point. Travel Millard Canyon at your own risk, but avoid the fenced-off Millard Falls.

Hike at a Glance

Distance: 6-7 miles.

Elevation gain: 1600 feet

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult

Usage:  Hikers, and dogs okay on leash.

Environment: Woodland canyon forest, chaparral. 

Features: Cool mine,  history and tunnels if one dares.