Trail Review - Hoegee's Campground, Arcadia CA
TLDR: This is a fantastic 5-mile round trip hike with plenty of shade and water virtually year round. Sites are first come, first served, so arrive early if going during the weekend or summer months. Parking and fire permits are required.
Directions: From Interstate 210 in Arcadia, exit at Santa Anita Ave. and go north 6 miles to the Chantry Flat Picnic Area. Hike in approximately 2 miles, via the Upper Winter Creek Trail.
Located in the Angeles National Forest, in Arcadia, Hoegee’s is 2.5 miles from Chantry Flat by way of the Lower Winter Creek Trail, 3 miles by the Upper Trail. The site is named for Hoegee’s resort which stood just upstream. The concrete foundation in the center of the campground was a private cabin which burned down decades ago. This campground has 14 sites, each with table, fire ring, and some with wood-burning stove. And best of all, this site has shade year round with perennial water (depending on drought conditions in CA). The campground is very popular with Boy Scout troops and locals in general, especially during the summer months. It is illegal to take wood and water from the nearby cabins. Please observe quiet time, 10 pm – 6 am, and, as always, please pack out your garbage.
For toilet facilities, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has closed the restrooms, as of 2017, due to a restriction on open-pit toilets. The USFS apologizes for the inconvenience. For restroom visits, please choose a dispersed location outside of the campground, at least 100 feet from the stream, and nowhere near any cabins. Dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and bury your waste. Please Be sure to pack out your toilet paper waste. I find a large ziploc back is great for storing waste paper and trash.
Campsites are first come-first serve only. Stream water must be boiled or filtered. You can get a free fire permit from the pack station Friday to Sunday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. Alternatively, there is an Angeles National Forest Headquarters located on Santa Anita Ave., just south of the 210 Freeway. Additionally, a parking permit is required for parking in this area. You can buy a day pass at the pack station, or an adventure pass at the nearby REI Arcadia