St. Francis Dam-Ruins of Collapsed Dam

Nice walk with hardly any people around. Great for dogs just keep your eyes open for snakes, we have seen a few rattlesnakes.

Once you pass the power plant on the right but before the stop sign to continue on San Francisquito there is a small area (room for 2 or 3 cars) on the right with a concrete blockade that marks the old San Francisquito road.
Approximately 2 miles from start to finish and back you walk along the mostly paved trail. Occasionally we see other people, but for the most part we have the entire trail to ourselves.
It’s a very easy flat walk that is great for kids and dogs. There are even a few areas that you can explore where you might find water.
You don’t get a full feeling of being in the wildermess because of the cars you can see driving on the road above you across the now dried river bed but it is picturesque none the less.
Watch out for snakes because we have seen them and be sure to bring drinking water because it can get hot.

DAMn! THAT’S A LOT OF DAM-​AGE!
I know… what the heck??? Hike reviews are always 5 stars. Well, there’s a reason for the madness that this one is only four.
Typically me and The Crew start our day with a hike, well, on this day we are ending the day with a hike. This is a very very sad place to come, this is where poor architecture caused the lives of over 600 people. You see, the damn dam collapsed and flooded everything in its path, people, wildlife, flora and fauna, from this location all the way to the ocean. Sad, so very sad. Over the years, DWP has been removing remnants/​reminders of the devastation. Why? In hopes people will forget? Nah, I don’t think so.
Anywhoo, we parked along the winding road, and climbed up a very steep hill, see pics, literally on hands and feet. Once on top we could ascertain where the damn dam used to be, as well as a few bits of concrete. Hmmm… where’s the rebar to hold the damn dam in place? Not one piece of rebar or any indication rebar was even used.
Once at ground zero, we traced the course of the water flow, when the damn dam collapsed. On our return to the cars, we did some bushwhacking, just to make it a true Crew hike.
NOTHING TO HOLD:
This was more of a walk in history, a time of remembrance and observation, in nature, with The Crew. This hike can be as easy or as strenuous and you like, just keep calm and hike on.
DISCLAIMER:
Hiking is not something that can be taken lightly. It can be life-​threatening as you see and hear on the news, people die or get lost all time. Please, if you are going to hike, never go alone and prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Remember when going for a hike, no matter how short you think it may be, always be prepared. Carry at least two liters of water for every five miles (more if the weather is warm), protein bar, nuts, and electrolytes. Wear sturdy lug sole shoes and protective clothing. Some areas the weather can change quicker than a fireman can put on his gear. It is also very important, always always always let a family member or friend know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Lastly, have fun when you hike it up.

A California Historical Landmark… From a historical aspect this place is very interesting, and if you live close by or you are on a mission to visit all the CA historical land marks, definitely take the time to visit this one… Such a tragic event took place it is hard to image… Make sure you stop and get a picture of the historical plaque, but then keep driving another mile and half to the actual spot of the dam. Park your car and just follow the abandoned road… The journey on this road is gorgeous. the whole road is lined with trees that create a canopy… this road is also a little scary. It looks like the scene from a horror movie… Normally I am not such a coward when hiking… but I just had this odd feeling, I kept waiting for something to pop out and eat me… (on the return journey I had to run, walking and waiting patiently for my own personal tragedy was just not cutting it) however the only ferocious beast that made their present obvious was a miniature reptile… a lizard.
Once you make it through the trees, you will immediately be able to visualize the location of the old dam. take a few moments to take it all in, It is a really peaceful location… it must have been an amazing site…
As far as hiking, I did not end up hiking here. I only walked from the car to the dam spot and back. It does seem like a really neat place to explore, in fact there seems to be a ton of options for hiking up and down the whole road (San Francisquito) however, if I have come back I would want to come more prepared…

«At two and a half minutes before midnight on March 12, 1928 the dam failed catastrophically and the resulting flood killed up to 600 people.»
This is one of those places where the tragic event and the history of the location are more fascinating than the actual location. Before coming here be sure to read the various sites that describe in great detail the tragedy that occurred as a result of the dam collapse. Stand in awe as you picture what used to be the dam and imagine the fear the people must have felt as they woke up to realize that they were being hit by a giant wall of water.
Like I said, not much to see here except for some concrete ruins but it’s still makes for a nice little hike and worth a visit.
This is also a California Historical Landmark NO. 919. The plaque inscription reads:
ST. FRANCIS DAM DISASTER SITE — The 185-​foot concrete St. Francis Dam, part of the Los Angeles aqueduct system, stood a mile and a half north of this spot. On March 12, 1928, just before midnight, it collapsed and sent over twelve billion gallons of water roaring down the valley of the Santa Clara River. Over 450 lives were lost in this, one of California’s greatest disasters.
Location: San Francisquito Power Plant No. 2, 32 300 N San Francisquito Canyon Rd, 9.2 mi N of Saugus.