Marshall Canyon Trail

10.5 miles - Moderate Effort
4-5 Hours (Total)
1,310 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 2,424 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

Tucked into the suburban sprawl of Los Angeles, the Marshall Canyon Trail hike offers a shaded oasis along Marshall Creek. The hike climbs into the foothills Marshall Canyon Regional Park, does a lollipop-loop with great views, and then descends back along Marshall Creek. This hike offers a little bit of everything: moderate distance, reasonable climbing, and lots of scenery. Keep your eyes open for deer and wildlife that are using the creek to hydrate. This route takes you about 10.5 miles, but there are opportunities to cut the distance and climbing down with a simple out-back turnaround. It's a great trail for beginners looking to get some distance in without super-tough conditions, and also a great options for experienced hikers who want a change of scenery.

In this Guide:

Where is Marshall Canyon Trail?
What to Expect on the Hike
Turn-by-turn Hike Directions
Marshall Canyon Trail Maps & Video

Quick Links: Marshall Canyon Regional Park - NOAA Weather Report - Top Gear Picks (Sep 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

Where is Marshall Canyon Trail?

Technically speaking, Marshall Canyon Trail is a 7.8 mile trail that starts in La Verne, CA, and makes it way up to Marshall Canyon Regional Park. This hike covers the most popular route, which starts at the Oak Mesa Park, follows the trail north, and then comes back.

Use this trailhead address: Oak Mesa Park, 5400 Wheeler Ave, La Verne, CA 91750

There are bathrooms and water fountains at the ball field next to the parking area. Oak Mesa Park is a short walk to the actual trail, but most folks park here because of the lot and bathrooms.

You'll share the trail with runners and bikers. Get there early to beat the crowds.

Gear for the Hike

Although you could get away with doing this hike with fitness gear as many trail runners do, I strongly recommend using proper hiking gear. Don't let the fact that this isn't a big mountain hike fool you, it's long and has tough sections. There's a decent amount of shade on the hike but there are also exposed sections that can get very hot. There can also be flies and mosquitos, so bring insect repellant.

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Marshall Canyon Trail Maps

This popular hike route actually covers a few parks. It starts the Marshall Canyon Trail, which then enters Marshall Canyon Regional Park, which then enters Claremont Hills Wilderness Park and becomes the Cobalt Canyon Trail, then heads back on the Marshall Canyon Trail. So all that happens. There are a lot of trails in these parks, and if you want to go off the guide to explore, there are many opportunities. But again, this route is the most popular one and a good starting point for your first hike in the area.

The route is an out-and-back with a lollipop at the end. If you want to hike less distance, just turn around anywhere before the lollipop loop. Turning around at the start of the loop makes this a 7.2 mile hike.

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

Best Smartphone Apps to Navigate: AllTrails | GaiaGPS | OnX

Marshall Canyon Trail 3d — The hike makes it's way up through a developed area and then does a loop in larger parks.

Marshall Canyon Trail Topo — The Marshall Canyon Trail follows Marshall Creek until it gets to Marshall Canyon Region Park, where there are more ups and downs and you can see by the topo lines.

Marshall Canyon Trail Elevation — The elevation chart is deceiving. The hike climbs gradually to the foothills, and then there are some ups and downs. This is not a tough mountain climb.

Marshal Canyon Trail Hike Directions

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Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 2 — There's plenty of parking at Oak Mesa Park. Bathrooms are water fountains are by the baseball field.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 10 — Getting from the parking area to the trailhead requires a little urban hiking. Here's the route.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 3 — Follow the sidewalk through the field and schoolyard.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 4 — Go up the steps and head right.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 5 — Cross the bridge.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 6 — After the sidewalk from the bridge, head right on Los Robles.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 7 — At the end of Los Robles, make the quick right....

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 8 — ... and head caddy-corner across the street to Orangewood Street.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 9 — Shortly after you get on Orangewood St. the Marshall Canyon Trail will be on your left.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 11 — Here's the start of the trail. Not too pretty, but it gets better, I promise.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 12 — When you come to the large wash area, just walk straight through to the other side and you'll see the trail.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 13 — After the wash the trail becomes "a trail" and offers seclusion as it winds through the neighborhoods of La Verne.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 14 — The trail meanders next to Marshall Creek. There are some small stream crossing, but nothing that you can't hop across.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 15 — At this fork, hike to the left.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 16 — You'll see markers on the whole Marshall Canyon Trail. The mileage corresponds to the beginning of the trail, not where this guide started.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 17 — At this fork, hike up to the right. You can go left too but you have to walk through the stream.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 18 — Eventually the trail comes up alongside the golf course. Keep hiking along the trail next to the paved golf cart path.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 19 — After a few minutes the trail dips back down to the creek and nature.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 20 — Soon after that, you'll go through a tunnel. Keep your ears open for bikes and runners.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 21 — The trail is popular and generally well marked. There are small spurs and bifurcations here and there, but in general the trail follows the maps.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 22 — Soon after the tunnel there's a big trail junction. Hike straight through and bear to the left.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 23 — Hike to the left at the fork here.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 24 — And another fork, stay to the left.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 25 — You'll climb a little hill and then come to the junction of the Stephens Ranch Spur Trail (sign to the left here). Go straight through and stay on the Marshall Canyon Trail.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 26 — Keep straight through the large clearing.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 27 — As the trail climbs you'll start getting views of the foothills.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 28 — Avoid the bulldozed cutoff and hike on the trail.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 29 — Keep hiking straight / left through this intersection, where some of the earlier trails to the right rejoin the main trail.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 30 — Okay, here's the beginning of the lollipop section. If you just want the shorter, 7.2 mile hike, you can turn around here. Otherwise make the left up the hill.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 31 — Hike to the left as the trail climbs.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 32 — The Marshall Canyon Trail skirts around Camp Paige. Make the hard right at this intersection to continue on the trail.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 33 — There's a sign at the intersection that confirms this is the way for the Marshall Canyon Trail.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 34 — Hike to the right through the gate. The trail here is a wider dirt road.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 35 — Again, bear to the right to stay on the main trail / road.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 36 — The trail meanders up gradually, with some nice shaded sections.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 37 — At this intersection with a trail board, bear left and hike straight through. The trail board has a nice trail map if you want to take a look.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 38 — Continue hiking on the main trail, avoiding the trail to the right.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 39 — Keep hiking straight on the Marshall Canyon Trail as it passes through and old campground.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 40 — The campground has some tables and old bathrooms if you want a break. The shade makes it a nice halfway stopping point.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 41 — This intersection marks the point where you will leave the Marshall Canyon Trail, which bears off to the right. You should hike straight on the Cobalt Canyon Trail We'll rejoin the Marshall Canyon Trail a little bit later.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 42 — Local equestrians erected this bench which offers a nice photo opportunity with a view in the background.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 43 — Signs mark the end of Marshall Canyon Regional Park and the beginning of Claremont Hills Wilderness Park.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 44 — Hike right as the trail climbs the hill.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 100 — When the trail dead-ends at the gate, make the right.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 45 — The views along this stretch are great.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 46 — If you want a break, there's a little pavilion where you can get some shade with nice views.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 47 — As you continue straight, you'll see the trails of Claremont Hills Wilderness Park before you.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 48 — At the first major intersection, make the right to head back into Marshal Canyon Regional Park.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 49 — Keep hiking on the main (wide) trail, avoiding the side trails that mountain bikers use.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 51 — Welcome back.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 52 — Keep hiking straight. The trail to the right was the cutoff trail from the other side of the lollipop loop.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 53 — Again, more great views. At this point you'll be able to see Camp Paige and the lower sections of Marshall Canyon Trail that you hiked up earlier.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 54 — At this split, bear right to close the loop on the lollipop section.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 55 — The trail is narrow again as you descend.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 56 — At the junction, bear left.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 57 — Bear right and straight at the larger intersection.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 101 — And here you are, back at the start of the lollipop section. Make the left back onto the out-and-back section of the Marshall Canyon Trail and head back the way you came.

Marshall Canyon Trail Directions 58 — After the loop section, the hike back to Oak Mesa Park is a gradual descent where you can enjoy the trail and descent.

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!).

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