There are two Coldwater Canyons in the San Gabriel Mountains. One drains the San Antonio Ridge, right next to Iron Mountain, between Iron and Baldy. This one drains Thunder and Teelgraph Peaks, and is further east.

Coldwater Canyon is a small shaded canyon in the San Gabriel Mountain range. Flanked on the east by Telegraph Ridge, and the east by Thunder Mountain Ridge, this canyon retains snow later into the year, and is shaded and cool during winter days. The canyon begins at the saddle connecting Thunder Mountain and Telegraph Peak, and travels north where it connects with Lytle Creek.

Coldwater Canyon offers access to both Thunder Mountain and Telegraph Peak from a more challenging direction than the typical walkup on 3-T's trail. There are many gullies and couliors leading up to either peak and their respective ridgelines that are great class 3 climbs, whether you've got a day to spend or are training up for climbs in the Sierra Nevada and elsewhere.

This canyon retains snow later in the year, and so offers locals some snow climbing later into the year than more commonly used routes in the San Gabriels. The area is very quiet, and in my experience, few people come through here for anything other than the occasional cross country skiing.

Whether you're looking for a couple quick steep class 3-ish snow climbs in a day, or a nice spot to camp out for a few days, Coldwater Canyon may be the way to go.

Telegraph Ridge

Getting There

MT BALDY ROUTE
210 FREEWAY: From Los Angeles, head east on the 210. Exit MOUNTAIN AVE in Upland/Claremont. Head NORTH. Mountain intersects Mt Baldy Road after a few miles. Make a right turn and head north into the mountains.

Preferred parking is at Manker Flats. From there, take the San Antonio Falls trail to Baldy Notch at 7,802ft.

If you're familiar with the area surrounding Mt San Antonio (Mt Baldy), you can reach this canyon from Baldy Notch. Take the Baldy Road north, where it descends into Lytle Creek and passes by Coldwater Canyon. Exit the road after about 2 miles from the saddle, and head south to reach Coldwater Canyon.

If you continue heading along the road, you will reach Stockton Flat Campground.

LYTLE CREEK ROUTE
210 FREEWAY - From Los Angeles, head east on the 210. Exit onto SIERRA AVE, and head NORTH. Sierra turns into Lytle Creek Road. Pass Lytle Creek Shooting Range.

On the left side, road NF 3N06A heads west and ends alongside a wash. From there, you can travel west and take the obvious canyon south for access to Thunder Mountain and Telegraph Peak.

Coldwater Canyon - Google Earth

Red Tape

Parking in the Angeles National Forest requires a Forest Adventure pass. Passes are available at any Ranger Station. The Mt. Baldy Visitor's Center sells them as well.

Day passes are $5, and annual passes are $30.

Looking into Coldwater Canyon from Telegraph Peak's Northwest Face

Camping

Stockton Flat is the nearest established camping area. Folks often camp wherever they have a flat spot of ground out of the way. Overnight use of the Cucamonga Wilderness requires a permit, which you can obtain at the Mt Baldy Visitor's Center. A little more than half of Coldwater canyon, the southern half, is situated in the Cucamonga Wilderness, so you may not need if depending on where you settle down.

Couliors heading up the three bumps on Telegraph Ridge

Images