• Highlights: Top-of-the-world view, waterfall, stream, wooded forest
• Near: Mount Baldy, CA
• Distance: 9 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 3900 ft
• Hike Time: 6 hours
• Difficulty: 7/10
• Trail Condition: Fire road and mostly well maintained trail (faint in spots)
• Trail head map: Click here for Google map
• Restrictions: Adventure Pass required to park
• Rating:

Summary:

The trail is one of the best in the San Gabriels. It starts on the road to beautiful San Antonio Falls and then moves onto a steep trail. Rapidly you’ll reach the Ski Hut (8200′) and cross the bowl. There are a couple of places where the trail is a little difficult to find, but you should be able to manage. The last mile to the top is tough at this altitude. Make sure you start early enough in the day to complete this journey.

Trailhead:

From Los Angeles: 210 fwy (east) to Mountain Ave (left) to Mount Baldy Rd. (right) to trailhead.

Ken at San Antonio Falls

mount baldy ski hut

ken on mount baldy

sunset on mount baldy

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• Highlights: Beautiful ridge along the Pacific Crest Trail
• Near: Wrightwood, CA
• Distance: 6 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 500 ft
• Hike Time: 3 hours
• Difficulty: 3/10
• Trail Condition: Well maintained trail
• Trail head map: Click here for Google map
• Restrictions: Adventure Pass required to park
• Rating:

Summary:

This ridge trail offers great views of both Mount Baldy, Mount Baden Powell as well as the Palmdale area and Los Angeles basin. Following the famous Pacific Crest Trail and hugging close to the Angeles Crest Highway, you are treated to great views as well as beautiful forest.  Set in the ponderosa pines woods near Jackson Lake, Jackson Flat Campground is your destination. You could always make this a longer hike if you like, but I kept it to an easy 6 miles which would be great for the family.

Trailhead:

From Los Angeles: 10 fwy (east) to 15 fwy (north) to Hwy 138 (west) to Hwy 2 (north) to trailhead.

Mount Baldy From PCT

View From Ridge

Ken Relaxing at Jackson Flat

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• Highlights: Geologic Formations, Mountain Views, Tar Pits, Stream
• Near: Santa Clarita, CA
• Distance: 6 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1100 ft
• Hike Time: 3 hours
• Difficulty: 4/10
• Trail Condition: Well maintained trail
• Trail head map: Click here for Google map
• Rating:

Summary:

This trail has variety of sites and smells including strange geologic formations, oily stream beds, tar pits and many different plants. After hiking about a mile, you will encounter a slot-like canyon called the Narrows which contains layers of nearly vertical rock formations. Pass through these narrows, stay left and climb the switchbacks. Topping out at 2500 feet, the trail begins a steep winding descent and includes breathtaking views of lush hillsides and canyons as it heads into Wiley Canyon.

Trailhead:

From Los Angeles: 405 fwy (north) to 5 fwy (north) to Calgrove Bl. (left) to Towsley Canyon Rd. (right).

Fiddleneck flower

Yellow Mariposa

ken by tar pit

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