A rigorous L.A. classic with
some of the best views in the city.
Location: Mt. Wilson to
Sierra Madre Region: Angeles National Forest, LA River District Distance: 7.0 mi. (one-way)
Difficulty: Moderate (downhill route) to difficult (uphill route) When to go: Year-round Hours: None Phone: 818-790-1151 Elevation Gain: 4,700 ft. descent Are dogs allowed: Yes, on a leash Restrooms: : In the park at the bottom of the trail and at the Red
Box ranger station off Hwy. 2 Parking: Two-car shuttle required. 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.
Street parking at the bottom of the trail is free.
Trail Information
Full Review: There are two ways to do this peak trail: the hard way
and the really hard way. The latter, not surprisingly, is to climb uphill
from the base. But the road that runs all the way to the Mt. Wilson
observatory makes it possible to hike the trail in reverse. Before you
purist peak baggers start rolling your eyes, you should know there's nothing
easy about walking downhill for seven miles. On a hot summer day, when
you're choosing between heat stroke and thigh burn, downhill is the only way
to go.
Once you've completed your car shuttle, start down the fire road just before
the entrance to the observatory. Get going early in the morning to see the
city swimming in fog (or wait until later to watch it fill with smog). In
about a half a mile, a narrower trail starts downhill to the left. Every
junction after that point will be clearly marked with signs pointing you
down the Mt. Wilson Trail to Sierra Madre.
Most of this hike is shaded beneath sycamores and oaks, but there are long
hot stretches in the last couple of miles. When you're walking through some
of the narrower, overgrown sections, keep an eye out for rattlesnakes. The
biggest one I've ever seen was on this trail. One worthwhile detour is the
turnoff to First Water, near the end of the trail. It's a quick drop down to
a shaded part of the creek, where you can dunk your hat and take a rest. At
the bottom, follow the steps down to the right, continuing right past some
homes, and you'll end up at the park.
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