Situated in the heart of Angeles National Forest, this loop runs from a
wooded campground to a pine-tipped peak overlooking the ocean.
Location: Charlton-Chilao
Rec. Area Region: Angeles National Forest, LA River District Distance: 7.1 mi. loop
Difficulty: Moderate with a steep climb to the peak. When to go: October to June Hours: None Phone: 818-790-1151 Elevation Gain: 1,600 ft. Are dogs allowed: Yes, on a leash. Restrooms: In Chilao Campground and Charlton Flats Picnic Area. Parking: To park anywhere in Angeles National Forest, you must
display an Adventure Pass permit, which you can buy at any open ranger
station. Cost per car is $5 a day or $30 a year.
Trail Information
Full Review: On those rare days when a recent rain or blast of wind
has wiped out the haze from the LA basin, Chilao is the place to go. From
Devil Peak you can peer through the pines onto the Pacific, with Catalina
Island shimmering at the farthest edge of your view.
After parking on the left side of the entrance road, you'll see a Silver
Moccasin Trail marker right in front of you, pointing south. Take the narrow
path uphill, around the back of the campground, then down to a pine-filled
valley. After about a mile, you'll reach a junction with a wide dirt road.
Take it to the left (a trail marker points you to Charlton). This trail
takes you all the way up to Charlton Flats Picnic Area.
When you reach Charlton, turn left on the paved road and follow it all the
way around to the other side. A left turn takes you to the entrance on the
Angeles Crest Hwy., where you'll cross the highway and take a few steps to
the left to find the paved entrance to a dumping station. Keep to the right
as the road splits twice, then turns to dirt. The dirt road takes you back
into the forest.
When you reach a wide, flat area, look for a gated road on the right. Turn
right onto this road and follow it past the observatory to its end in about
a half-mile. Here you'll see a small path leading up from the clearing. Take
it up the hill, following it as it narrows. Its end is Devil Peak. Walk back
down to the gate and turn left to continue the loop. The wide path takes you
downhill, curving toward the highway. Just before the highway, look for a
narrow path on the right that takes you up above Angeles Crest, paralleling
the highway. At the end, turn left on the service road, then right onto the
highway, then left onto the Chilao entrance road, which takes you to your
car.
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