Little Fox Creek
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| | Difficulty:3A II (v3a1 II) Raps:4, max ↨160ft
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34.3158, -118.1726
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Introduction[edit]
A short tributary of Fox Creek (Great Falls of the Fox), Little Fox Creek has a similar yet slightly shorter approach and while not as impressive, is worth the effort. There are three multistage rappels in quick succession before it joins Fox Creek. You will also hit the final rappel of Fox Creek just before it joins Big Tujunga Creek, for a total of four rappels.
Approach[edit]
Park at the locked gate to the dirt road (3N27) off Big Tujunga Canyon Road; (this is the same trail head as for Fall Creek, Classic Canyon, Great Falls of the Fox, and others) 34 17.82'N 118 10.20'W Do not block the gate to 3N27, your vehicle will be ticketed. Follow the dirt road as it drops into Big Tujunga Creek and then back up the other side of the canyon. When it crosses Big Tujunga Creek it more or less disappears as it is no longer maintained, however you should be able to follow a use trail as it crosses the creek and meets the road as it begins to climb up the other side of Big Tujunga Canyon. It follows the same approach as the shortcut route to Great Falls of the Fox until you leave the road. You will drop off the saddle into the drainage, keeping to the left seems to be easier. You should see a white slab that usually has a rust colored stain, this is it.
Rust colored white slab:
Descent[edit]
Follow the creek as it winds down through varying levels of brush. There are a few small downclimbs before you hit the top of the first rappel.
Rappel 1: Bush anchor down canyon left, 20-30 feet from the lip. Interesting 3 stage rappel. You can downclimb into the top bowl (1st stage) but there isn't a readily available anchor here.
A few hundred feet down canyon you come to the top of rappel 2.
Rappel 2: Bush anchor dcl (up the slope a little). Another multistage rappel into a beautiful cliff lined bowl. Watch out for rockfall here! It can ricochet off the walls.
Rappel 3: Bush anchor dcl about 30 feet from the lip, up about 10-15 feet. Another multistage with gradually increasing brush as the canyon gets a little wetter.
Follow Little Fox Creek down to the junction of Fox Creek. Turn left and head down the creek.
Rappel 4. Vertical waterfall anchored to a horizontal tree dcl.
Exit[edit]
Follow Fox Creek to the intersection of Big Tujunga Creek. Make a left and head upstream. Above you there are power-lines. The furthest power-lines are about how far you need to go upstream before you take a right to head up the ridge. Turn right at the ridge, the area opens up a bit and the last waterfall of Josephine will be ahead of you. Keep going until you see the first possibly way up the ridge. The lower portions of the trail on the ridge are pretty much gone. There is however a use trail that heads straight up and eventually starts switching back. Be careful, this trail is no longer maintained and the rock is loose.
Once you are on the trail do not be lead into cutting the switchbacks higher up. It may seem easier/faster but it is considerably harder. The trail winds around back to where you parked your exit vehicle.
This canyon shares the same exit up the ridge as Great Falls of the Fox, White Oak, Kafer, Josephine Creek, Napoleon Falls & Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
11/9/14 - Very heavily overgrown throughout the canyon. The brush was so thick in some parts that we had to test every step, as what appeared to be solid ground could be matted down foliage covering a 3 foot hole. Merely a trickle of water at the drop in location and dry for the first two rappels. Much wetter down canyon where the water from Great Falls of the Fox converges. Poison oak city. Total time to complete was 9 hours. -Charles L
Background[edit]
First known descent by Alden Anderson and Ron Lebfrom. The descent was done at night.