More than 100 years ago, an ambitious man by the name of Thaddeus Lowe began planning for a scenic mountain railway that would take passengers from Pasadena to the crest of the San Gabriel Mountains. Explore the historic Mt. Lowe Railway on this hike.
Mount Lukens is the highest peak within the city limits of Los Angeles and the westernmost peak in the San Gabriel Mountain Range. Standing tall above the Crescenta Valley, Mount Lukens provides spectacular views of Greater Los Angeles Area, Tujunga Canyon, the San Fernando Valley, and the Verdugo Mountains.
Bastard Ridge is a hike that truly lives up to it’s name. Starting out in Sierra Madre, this hike starts on the Old Mt. Wilson Trail. The level of difficulty is sheerly a byproduct of the nearly unrelenting uphill slog to the top of Jones Peak and beyond. In this guide I will provide photos, my trip GPX, maps, and a description of the hike.
The hike to Potato Mountain via Every Canyon Trail is one of my favorites for quick local outings. At 4.4 miles with 1165ft of climbing, it’s a great way to train for more demanding hikes and backpacking trips. Gaining all 1165 in one mile, this route is a real leg burner!
The Claremont Hills Wilderness Park 5 mile loop is one of the most popular and well known trails in the Inland Empire. I’m fortunate to live a few miles from this trail, which allows me to use it as my backyard playground.
Most hikers making their way to the summit of Mt. Wilson begin their journey from Chantry Flat. The Chantry Flat hike is very pleasant, but can be a real nightmare when it comes to finding parking. An alternative, and the subject of this guide, is my favorite route to the summit of Mt. Wilson, The Mt. Wilson Trail.
Turnbull Canyon is a loop trail located in Whittier and part of the Puente Hills Reserve. The cooler months during winter and fall are the perfect time to enjoy Turnbull Canyon, as they offer pleasant daytime temperatures and captivating views of the snow capped San Gabriels.
For winter adventurer’s looking for an introduction to mountaineering, Mt. Baldy offers the steep and challenging Baldy Bowl route. I cannot stress enough the importance of safety on this route. Do not attempt this hike without the proper gear and training.
South Hills Park is a 200 acre park located in the city of Glendora. South Hills Park has a trail network used by hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. There are a few access points with trails to enter South Hills Park, but for this hike I started at South Hills City Park on Mauna Loa Ave.
Peter F. Schabarum Regional Park is a 575 acre park with an easily accessible trail network. For this hike, I linked up the Schabarum Trail, Purple Sage Trail, and Powder Canyon Loop for a 10 mile hike. In this guide I will include directions, a map, and a hike description with photos.