Objective: Summit Mt. Lawlor, San Gabriel Mountains, California
Distance: 6 miles (out and back)
Peak Elevation: 5,957′
Elevation Gain: 1,300′
Difficulty: Moderate

The trail hovers just above the Angeles Crest Highway and then it gradually climbs to Lawlor Saddle. The western ridgeline connects the saddle to Lawlor Peak. From the saddle, you can also hike to Strawberry Peak.

Directions to Trailhead

From the 210 East in La Cañada, drive 14 miles on Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2). Park at the Red Box parking lot.

Directions to Summit

Trailhead: From the Red Box parking area, hike east along Angeles Crest Highway for 100′.
100′: Cross the street and start hiking the Barley Flats Trail.
0.75 miles: At the junction, turn left onto Strawberry Peak Trail, which heads northwest.
1.0 mile: The Strawberry Peak Trail crosses a ridgeline use trail connecting Red Box with Mt. Lawlor. Continue past the use trail.
2.2 miles : At Lawlor Saddle, turn right (almost 180 degrees) and head east up the ridgeline firebreak to the summit.
3.0 miles : You have reached Mt. Lawlor. Turn around and head back.

Trek Highlights

The first part of the hike follows the Barley Flats Trail, which runs parallel and above the Angeles Crest Highway. The trail then turns northwest to Mt. Lawlor. At the first junction, follow Strawberry Peak Trail, which heads northwest and wraps around the southern flank of Mt. Lawlor. (In a quarter mile, the trail crosses a use trail connecting Red Box and Mt. Lawlor via a ridgeline. You could climb the extremely steep Class 2 use trail from this point.) When you reach Lawlor Saddle, you can hike to the top of either Strawberry Peak or Mt. Lawlor. If you are climbing Mt. Lawlor, turn right at the junction (almost a 180-degree turn). Head east on the western ridge straight up to Mt. Lawlor. If you are climbing Strawberry Peak, turn left at the junction. Head west on the eastern ridge straight up to Strawberry Peak.

Red Tape

Display your adventure pass.

Factoids

Mt. Lawlor was once known as “Little Strawberry Peak.” Oscar Lawler was a lawyer who actively hiked the San Gabriels. When the peak was officially named after Lawler, the name was misspelled on both USFS maps and USGS topos. The misspelled name persists to this day.

Red Box was named for the red box that once contained fire fighting tools and supplies. A campground and a cultural center for the Hahamog’na people are located at the site.

Photos