Rock Climbing beta for Chilao
Elevation: 4,600' - 5,300+'
Seasons:🍁, ❄️, 🌸
Chilao is a big place. There are two campground loops, two reservable group camp sites, the Chilao Fire Station, the Chilao visitors center, a bunch of abandonded and VERY MUCH NOT ABANDONDED buildings. Use common sense and DO NOT GO on someones private property. If it looks like a home, it is, don't get too close. You can drive in the south or north entrance but all the rocks are on the south side.
How Chilao got it's name, allegedly! "It was said that Jose Gonzales was guard for the camp and stock, living in a little log cabin near the present site of Newcombs Ranch Inn; that he battled with and killed a big bear when armed only with his knife, and this gained for him the nickname of "Chillio," or as we today would say it, "Hot Stuff." In those days the area was known by that name but down through the years the spelling has been changed, by those who did not know, to the Chilao of the present time." -Will H. Thrall "The Haunts and Hideouts of Tiburcio Vasquez," 1948
Driving Directions
From the Shell gas station in La Cañada head north on the Angeles Crest Highway, aka The 2, for 25.3 miles and turn left into Chilao.
GPS for the entrance: 34.319017, -118.009922
History
"The number of settlements with ties to Japchibit was greater than with any other settlement north and west of the mission. Most other settlements have many ties with two or three settlements. Japchibit had few ties with any settlement except the apparently close Jajaibit and Tomijaibit but had ties to many different settlements. It appears that Japchibit was a political center of the San Gabriel Mountains.
The settlement of Japchibit was probably centered at the archaeological sites on Alder Creek near Chilao Flat. People from sites such as Chilao Flat may have often been baptized as members of the Japchibit community. There are three places or small communities listed in the San Gabriel registers that are places associated with Japchibit. They are Jamamcovit, Jombit, and Jajaibit. One of these places may be Chilao Flat.
Japchibit was one of the principal communities that participated in the planned October 25, 1785 uprising led by 27 year old Toypurina (Gb 1408 [3-8-87] Regina Josefa) of Japchibit Northwest Economic Associates 75 and Nicolas Joseph of Sibapet. Japchebit and Asucsabit were the two named of five Serrano communities said to be involved in the uprising."
Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians. "Upper Los Angeles River and Tributaries Revitalization Plan." Volume 2, Chapter H. 2 March, 2020, pp. 74-75, https://upperlariver.konveio.com/chapter-h.