Day Trips Through the San Gabriel Mountains

The San Gabriel Mountain range delights thousands of hikers every year, with over 100 trails and grand views of the valleys below. The San Gabriel's run west to East for 63 miles from the Los Angeles hills to the Mojave Desert and is also located on the San Andreas Fault. Seven thousand acres await eager outdoorsmen/women and hikers. Trails and climbs range in difficulty from beginners to experienced hikers. There is something for everyone and all are well worth the trip.

Colby Canyon is located between Clear Creek Junction and Red Box Gap on the front range of the mountains. There is a single trail that leads out of the trailhead and heads up in a northerly up the exquisite Colby Canyon. The trail then leads to Josephine Saddle, which is an elevation of 3,470 feet. The entire hike from the canyon head to the end is 2.2 miles.

You can continue on the trail as it winds around Mount Strawberry's north face. You intersect with Strawberry Peak Trail a mile from Josephine Saddle. Strawberry Peak Trail heads to the south. 1.8 miles more and you arrive at the signed saddle between Strawberry Peak and Mount Lawlor which is a stately 5,595 foot peak which is only addition mile hike. It's well Lawlor Summit.

To get to the Colby Canyon trailhead, take the 210 Freeway to exit SR2, or the Angeles Crest Highway. Go north for 9 ½ miles and you will reach Clear Creek Information Station and the junction of the Angeles Forest Highway. Go .08 miles to the dirt parking lot on the left. For many of these hiking spots you will need an Adventure Pass to park your vehicle if you are within the Angeles National Forest. Passes are sold at the Clear Creek Information Station for $5.00 per day or $20 for a yearly pass if you are an avid hiker. Adventure Passes are also sold at most sporting supply stores in the Southern California area. No permits are required to hike on any of the trails.

Another mild to moderate hike is Brown Mountain with an elevation of4,466 feet. This mountain impresses all with its scenic views of the other surrounding higher peaks. It is a long summit that rises between two canyons, Millard Canyon and Bear Canyon. An interesting fact about this mountain is that it was named for John Brown, the 19^th century abolitionist. Two of his son's lived nearby and spent much time exploring the mountain range in the 1880's. To honor their father, they named the mountain after him.

There are several trailheads that lead to Brown Mountain. The routes that wind their way by the streams and up Millard Canyon then down Bear Canyon to Brown Mountain's east ridge are pretty narrow passages. They are quite adventurous when the water in the streams is running high as is the usual case in the spring. Another aspect that makes climbing this mountain challenging is that one can ascend the mountain from the east and west ends of the mountain. This can be done by going along firebreaks instead of utilizing the regular trail. If you choose the west ridge, you will be doing a little brush removal. If you choose the east, you will have to negotiate several false summits, before you reach the real one. The west can be tiresome if one is not used to hiking uphill for some distance. The northwest approach to Brown Mountain is approximately 6 miles round trip, but it is the steeper of the two. If attempting the summit from the east from the picnic grounds at the trailhead to the summit is about 13 miles round trip.

To get to the trailhead, follow the directions for Colby Canyon, except go ½ miles past the ranger station. Make a right turn at the sign that says Switzer Picnic Area. Drive ¼ mile to the parking area. The Adventure Pass is also required for Brown Mountain.

Cucamonga Peak is located in San Bernardino County, instead of Los Angeles County like the two above. It is part of the Cucamonga Wilderness area of the San Gabriel Mountain Range. Although Cucamonga Peak is open to hikers all year, the typical hiking season is between May to November. This is hike is more strenuous and you do need to be in decent physical shape to hike to the top.

The simplest route is 12 miles round trip. The outing starts at the parking area at the head of Icehouse canyon and progresses 3.5 miles to Icehouse saddle which is at an elevation of 7,580 feet. Icehouse saddle is along the Icehouse canyon trail, which heads east/southeast. It is often cold and windy at this elevation so bring or wear appropriate clothing for windy conditions. From this point there are multiple trails branching off to other peaks. To take the Cucamonga trail, that goes south and around Bighorn Peak. Once you reach Cucamonga Saddle, you will start into switchbacks which will last until you reach about 8,600 feet. You will find a marked trail at 8,600 feet that will bring you to the peak via a steep gully. This gully has been known to still have snow on it in May.

To get to Cucamonga Peak, go east on I-10 to Mountain Avenue. Go up Mountain Avenue until you come to Mount Baldy Road. Take Mount Baldy Road about 9.5 miles through Baldy Village. Once you arrive at the fork in the road for Icehouse Canyon, bear right. You can park in the lot to the left. The trailhead starts off at the end of this road. Again, you will need an Adventure Pass. There is camping at this particular location. It is located at the northeast of Brown Mountain, about 2 miles from the base of the east ridge at Tom Sloan Saddle. It can be reached from taking the trail starting at Tom Sloan Saddle and then following the stream until you reach the campground.

Mount Islip (pronounced eye-slip) commands attention from its towering 8,250 foot peak. Mount Islip is a must-hike peak for those that like a bit of challenge and are in good physical condition. It is the second highest peak in the San Gabriel's. The prize for the highest peak belongs to Mount Baldy. Hikers won't want to miss this panoramic view in every direction. The summit separates arid Crystal Lake Basin on the south from the dryness of Mojave Desert to the north. The Forest Service to advantage of the height of Mount Islip's summit by building the first fire tower, in 1927. In 1937 it was moved to South Hawkins. However, the concrete footings of the tower as well as the stone cabin shell remain atop the summit today. The mountain's name is credited to George Islip, an early pioneer that built several homesteads in the San Gabriel Canyon in the 1880's.

A variety of popular routes or combinations of routes offer varying degrees of difficulty to the summit of Mount Islip. This is the shortest hike of those available. It begins at the trailhead at the curve on Highway 2. It is a direct route up the ravine to Windy Gap, which is about a ¼ mile. Then follow the trail another mile to the peak. If the weather is clear the view from Mount Islip summit is awe-inspiring. The height of the peak provides heart stopping views of both the Los Angeles Basin all the way to the ocean to the west and to the east the Mojave Desert.

The trailhead for climbing Mount Islip is located at Islip Saddle, along the Angeles Crest Highway, approximately 53 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Another trailhead is at the Crystal Lake Recreation Area, north of Azusa. Take the 210 Freeway to exit SR2, the Angeles Crest Highway. Go north to Islip Saddle Station, about 41 miles. Continue another couple miles to mile marker 66.37. If you're driving on Hwy 2 from the east, the mile maker is 66.38, a few miles past Dawson Saddle. Parking turn-outs are available on both sides of the road adjacent to a ravine. As with the above, a National Forest Adventure Pass is required.

When hiking please always remember make safety your first priority. Also, come prepared for the varied conditions of Mother Nature. She is temperamental and can change in an instant. Utilize the Boy Scout motto: "Always be prepared."

http://www.summitpost.org/

http://hike-socal.com/hike_mount_baden-powell_trail.html

http://www.trails.com/

http://www.simpsoncity.com/hiking/tips.html/wildernesspress/hik_ange.htm