Angeles National Forest High Country Trails Brochure

This brochure is only an introduction to the many, varied hiking experiences you can enjoy in the High Country.

Buckhorn to Cooper Canyon and Littlerock Creek

1.9 miles to the Pacific Crest Trail

Elevation change: 900 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

District: Los Angeles River Ranger District

This is one of the most beautiful hikes in the San Gabriels. Enjoy the wide variety of forest trees, ferns, wildflowers and birds.

Eagles Roost to Littlerock Creek

7 miles round trip

Elevation change: 1,100 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

District: Los Angeles River Ranger District

This hike traverses some of the most beautiful forested area of the high country.  Lush forests of pine, fir and cedar, and tiny waterfalls are only part of the reward.  This is an excellent place to enjoy a primitive area and true solitude.

Chilao to Devil’s Canyon

7 miles round trip

Elevation change: 1,500 feet

Difficulty: Moderate (downhill) Strenuous (uphill)

District: Los Angeles River Ranger District

If you really want to “get away from it all,” this trail will lead you down into the rugged San Gabriel Wilderness. Spring and early summer are the best times of year to enjoy this hike, as the

small streams are usually dry in summer and fall.

Charlton Flat to Vetter Mountain

1.5 miles one way

Elevation gain: 400 feet

Difficulty: Easy

District: Los Angeles River Ranger District

This trail winds its way up the ravine to the site of the former Forest Service fire lookout, and is a great family hike.  You’ll encounter a variety of forest trees, birds and flowers along the way, and can enjoy fine views in all directions once your reach the top.

Chilao to Mt. Hillyer via Horse Flat

3miles one way

Elevation gain: 1,000 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

District: Los Angeles River Ranger District

Enjoy the beautiful yuccas blooming along the lower portion of the trail during the spring.  As you gain elevation, you’ll leave the dry chaparral and enter beautiful stands of Jeffery Pine and Incense Cedar.  This is great picnicking as well as hiking country.

Waterman and Buckhorn

1.8 miles total

Elevation gain: 3,700 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

District: Los Angeles River Ranger District

This is a beautiful hike along the northern boundary of the San Gabriel Wilderness. Enjoy the outstanding views, varied landscape and solitude. You may be lucky enough to glimpse a Bighorn Sheep.

Buckhorn to Mt. Waterman

7 miles round trip

Elevation gain: 1,300 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

District: Los Angeles River Ranger District

Although Mt. Waterman is best known to skiers in the winter, it offers a pleasant hike through open pine and fir forest the rest of the year. When you reach the top, notice the beautiful Sugar Pines with their long, hanging cones (as long as 18 inches).

Islip Saddle to Mt. Williamson Ridge

4.2 miles round trip

Elevation gain: 1,600 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

District: Los Angeles River Ranger District

From Mt. Williamson you can enjoy spectacular views of two unique geological formations. The infamous San Andreas Fault can be seen directly below Mt. Williamson (to the north) extending along the base of the San Gabriels. The other unique feature is the startling, jumbled rocks of Devil's Punchbowl, also the north.

Dawson Saddle to Throop Peak

4 miles round trip

Elevation gain: 1,200 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

District: Los Angeles River Ranger District

This short trail is located on a ridge from Dawson to Throop (pronounced "troop") Peak. The open, pine forest and excellent views all along the trail make this an excellent short hike.

Islip Saddle to Little Jimmy and Mt. Islip

6.5 miles round trip

Elevation gain: 1,250 feet

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

District: Los Angeles River Ranger District

This is a pleasant hike to Little Jimmy Trail Camp, then on the Mt. Islip with its spectacular views over the San Gabriel Mountains, the desert to the north and the San Gabriel Valley to the south.

Vincent Gap to Mt. Baden-Powell (elev. 9399 feet)

8 miles round trip

Elevation gain: 2,800 feet

Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous

District: Santa Clara/Mojave Rivers Ranger District

This is one of the most popular hikes in the High Country. The excellent trail winds its way through open forests and finally to the gnarled 2,000-year old Limber Pines near the top. Across rugged San Gabriel Canyon looms Mt. Baldy, the highest peak in the San Gabriels.

Vincent Gap to Prairie Fork

8.8 miles round trip

Elevation loss: 2,000 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

District: San Gabriel River Ranger District

This trail descends down Vincent Gulch to Prairie Fork, which is a majority tributary of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. The hike down is pleasant and easy, but the return, uphill trip is strenuous. This trip is a favorite of fishermen looking for trout.

Crystal Lake to Mt. Islip

8.5 miles round trip

Elevation gain: 2,200 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

District: Santa Clara/Mojave Rivers Ranger District

This entire hike is through beautiful forest, with opportunities to enjoy trickling springs, glimpses of deer, birds and other wildlife. If you pick a clear day, you can enjoy views from the top over the desert, mountains and even the ocean. One half mile from Windy Gap, Little Jimmy Trail Camp is a good spot to stay for the night, if you plan to camp.

Crystal Lake to South Mt. Hawkins

10 miles round trip

Elevation gain: 2,800 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

District: San Gabriel River Ranger District

This moderately difficult hike is rewarded with beautiful views of the Crystal Lake basin and the mountains beyond. A Forest Service fire lookout is located at the top of South Mt. Hawkins.

Icehouse Canyon to Icehouse Saddle

7.25 miles round trip

Elevation gain: 2,600 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

District: San Gabriel River Ranger District

The lower portion of this trail was damaged by a forest fire in 1980, so check on local conditions. The upper portion has some beautiful stands of Pine and Incense Cedar. Icehouse Saddle is a major trail junction with routes leading in four directions.

San Antonio Falls Road to Baldy Notch to

Mt. San Antonio

13.5 miles round trip

Elevation gain: 3,500 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

District: San Gabriel River Ranger District

This is the shortest and easiest hike to the top of Mt. San Antonio (Mt. Baldy). The trail follows a dirt road past spectacular San Antonio Falls to Mt. Baldy Notch for about 3.5 miles. As you gain elevation, notice the change from pine forest to alpine terrain. Magnificent Mt. Baldy is the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains (10,064 feet) and offers spectacular views of most of Southern California. Pick a clear day to see it at its best.

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail

The PCT is a 2,500-mile trail from Mexico to Canada. In 1932, Clinton Clarke of Pasadena proposed that the Forest Service and National Park Service connect high country trails already existing with new ones to make this scenic trail from border to border. In the Angeles High Country, the trail goes from near Mt. Gleason through Mill Creek Summit, Mt. Pacifico, Sulphur Springs, Cooper Canyon, Mt. Williamson, Little Jimmy, Mt. Baden Powell, and Blue Ridge and on to the Cajon Pass area. The PCT overlaps many of the trails described in this brochure. An excellent way to enjoy the PCT is to hike just a portion of it as a day-hike.

For more information contact:

Angeles National Forest
Supervisor's Office
701 N. Santa Anita Ave.
Arcadia, CA 91006
(626) 574-1613
FAX (626) 574-5207
CRS (800) 735-2922 (Voice)
CRS (800) 735-2929 (TDD/TTY)

http:// www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles

 

Los Angeles River Ranger District

12371 N. Little Tujunga Canyon Road
San Fernando, CA 91342
(818) 899-1900, ext. 221
FAX (818) 896-6727

CRS (800) 735-2922 (Voice)
CRS (800) 735-2929 (TDD/TTY)

 

San Gabriel River Ranger District

110 N. Wabash Ave.
Glendora, CA 91741
(626) 335-1251, ext. 221
 FAX (626) 914-3790

CRS (800) 735-2922 (Voice)
CRS (800) 735-2929 (TDD/TTY)

 

Santa Clara/Mojave Rivers Ranger District

33708 Crown Valley Road
Acton, CA 93510

(661) 269-2808

FAX: (661) 296-2825
CRS (800) 735-2922 (Voice)
CRS (800) 735-2929 (TDD/TTY) 

Issued 4/11