Toypurina Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A III (v3a1 III) Raps:max ↨180ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle: Vehicle:Passenger | |||
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| Condition Reports: | 26 Mar 2024
"The approach was fine. Its a very long approach but the trail is good for the most part. You descend all the way down into the valley and hike basica |
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34.3149, -118.1536
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Introduction[edit]
Note: The KML file is from me (Anhad) in March 2024. The approach went off without a hitch. On the descent, I found the first two rappels but called it off after that so the descent KML is incomplete. See my trip report for details.
Approach[edit]
There are a few ways to get into Big Tujunga Creek to access this canyon. You can either park at the white gate at 34.29744, -118.16985 and follow the fall creek fire road or you can drop in via one of the canyons: Overlook Gulch, Overlooked Gulch, Camp Five Canyon, Lower Lucas Creek. Dropping in via one of these canyons requires a short (5 minute) shuttle. Parking at the fall creek fire road gate does not.
Once in Big Tujunga Creek/Canyon continue on the fire road as it climbs the opposite side of the canyon. When you reach the bench (old camp ground) around 34.3075, -118.1601, leave the road and head up wherever it's easiest. There is an old trail that climbs up the mountain but is not displayed on the USGS map and is incorrectly labeled on the forest service topo. However from the fire road it is fairly easy to see some of the old support structure for the trail if you look up at the side of the mountain. Follow this trail as it switches back and climbs higher.
You will come around a ridge and see Toypurina below you. Drop-in somewhere around 34.3152, -118.1541 where you see a more or less clear path to the canyon bottom. Be careful here to avoid poison oak and to not get cliffed out on your way down. It is steep and loose. The trail does cross the canyon a few hundred feet further down the trail, but on the initial descent this looked pretty overgrown and poison oak infested.
Descent[edit]
Rappel 1: 35' from a bush LDC.
Rappel 2: 45' from a bush LDC.
Followed by a section of down-climbing that may also be broken up into a few rappels if needed. Eventually you will get to a point where you need to rappel. We went from a bush RDC.
Rappel 3: 80-90' from a bush RDC.
Rappel 4: 150' off a small tree, down some ledges. This could be broken into 2 rappels if desired.
Rappel 5: 35' using a tree LDC. Short overhang then into a crack.
Rappel 6: 30' from a cairn anchor LDC.
Rappel 7: 180' extended from a boulder LDC. Great views here into Big Tujunga. Best rappel of the canyon.
Exit[edit]
Once in Big Tujunga Creek head down canyon until you arrive at the old Fall Creek fire road. It's kind of brushy so keep an eye out. You may see the old concrete bridge. Head up the road LDC and follow it back up to your car.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
Toypurina (1760-1799) was a Tongva/Gabrieliño Native American medicine woman who opposed the rule of colonization by Spanish missionaries in California, and led an unsuccessful rebellion against them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toypurina
First canyoneering descent on 06 June, 2014 by Steve Sieren, Dave Red and Alden Anderson.