San Gabriel Mountains - Elemental Quests

Map of San Gabriel Mountains Range

The San Gabriel Mountains shield the LA Basin from the heat of the Mojave Desert while trapping the city’s hazy smog. The rugged lower slopes are thick with chaparral and V-shaped canyons. Rolling peaks and stately conifers top the high ridges.

Explore the vast San Gabriel wilderness by finding a trail hiking guide that speaks to you. Each guide provides detailed turn-by-turn directions, maps, photos, tips, and factoids so you can focus on fun and staying safe.

On this page:
Front Range [ Big Tujunga \| Foothills \| Mt. Wilson Area ] Tweener Area Back Range [ Crystal Lake \| Mt. Baldy Area ] Whitney Training Hikes Large Map of San Gabriel Mountains

FRONT RANGE

The front range is the east-west band in the south of the San Gabriels. It includes the foothills, canyons, and peaks from 5,000′ to 6,000′ between Newhall Pass to the west and Cajon Pass to the east. Mt. Wilson, with its famous observatory and broadcast towers, is prominent from much of LA.

Big Tujunga | Foothills | Mt. Wilson Area

Big Tujunga

The Big Tujunga area is mainly west of the Angeles Forest Highway and the Big Tujunga Dam. Trail Canyon, Stone Canyon, and Big Tujunga Canyon rise up from the slopes above Sunland and La Crescenta.

Mt. Lukens (via Stone Canyon)

8.2 miles | 5,074′ | 3,272′ gain

Fox Mountain #2

12.6 miles | 5,033’ | 3,000′ gain

Mt. Gleason

18.4 miles | 6,502′ | 2,490′ gain

Rabbit Peak & Iron Mountain #3

9.5 miles | Rabbit Peak: 5,307’, Iron Mountain: 5,040’ | 2,730′ gain

Round Top

12 miles | 6,316’ | 2,100′ gain

Granite Mountain (via Mill Creek Summit)

9.5 miles | 6,600′ | 1,765′ gain

Pacifico Mountain (via Mill Creek Summit)

13.4 miles | 7,124′ | 2,208′ gain

Mt. Emma and Old Mt. Emma (via Mt. Emma Road)

6.2 miles | Mt. Emma: 5,273’, Old Mt. Emma: 5,063’ | 1,633’ gain (Mt. Emma: 1,380’, Old Mt. Emma: 253’)

Cole Point

2.8 miles | 5,604’ | 1,500′ gain

FOOTHILLS

From the foothill communities by Pasadena, there are many trails you can explore with minimal driving.

Echo Mountain

5.4 miles | 3,176’ | 1,400′ gain

Arroyo Seco

13.5 miles | 2,948′ | 2,200′ gain

Mt. Wilson Area

Before Mt. Wilson’s antenna forest, Hubble’s discoveries here supported the Big Bang Theory and Michelson measured the speed of light. As you cruise along the early stretches of the Angeles Crest Highway, there are many trails to explore around Red Box and Eaton Saddle.

Mt. Wilson (via Little Santa Anita Canyon)

15 miles | 5,710′ | 4,800′ gain

Josephine Peak (via Colby Canyon)

8.2 miles | 5,558′ | 2,100′ gain

Strawberry Peak (via Colby Canyon)

6.3 miles | 6,164′ | 2,650′ gain

Mt. Lawlor (via Red Box)

6 miles | 5,957′ | 1,300′ gain

Barley Flats (via Red Box)

6.2 miles | 5,600′ | 1,000′ gain

San Gabriel Peak, Mt. Disappointment (via Red Box)

4.34 miles | San Gabriel: 6,161′, Disappointment: 5,963′ | 1,500′ gain

Mt. Deception (via Red Box)

4.75 miles | 5,796′ | 1,100′ gain

Mt. Markham (via Eaton Saddle)

3.2 miles | 5,742′ | 628′ gain

Mt. Lowe (via Eaton Saddle)

3.2 miles | 5,603′ | 494′ gain

Occidental Peak

2 miles | 5,732′ | 400′ gain

Mt. Sally (via Shortcut Saddle)

2.2 miles | 5,408′ | 600′ gain

TWEENER AREA

The middle stretch of the San Gabriels runs between the front range and the Crystal Lake area of the back range. Near the Mt. Waterman Ski Lifts, you will start seeing the large conifer trees as you leave the chaparral behind. At the big bend in the Angeles Crest Highway, Newcomb’s Ranch is a roadhouse with many motorcycles parked in front.

Vetter Mountain (via Charlton Flat)

3.8 miles | 5,911′ | 549′ gain

Mt. Mooney (via Charlton Flat)

2 miles | 5,840′ | 422′ gain

Mt. Hillyer (via Rosenita Saddle)

1.2 miles | 6,200′ | 269′ gain

Waterman Mountain (via Buckhorn)

5.6 miles | 8,038′ | 1,238′ gain

Twin Peaks East (via Buckhorn)

9.6 miles | 7,761′ | 3,300′ gain

Winston Peak & Winston Ridge (via Cloudburst Summit)

4.3 miles | Winston Peak: 7,502’, Winston Ridge: 7,003′ | 1,365′ gain

Mt. Akawie

1.5 miles | 7,283′ | 400′ gain

Kratka Ridge (via Vista Picnic Area)

1.5 miles | 7,515′ | 700′ gain

Will Thrall Peak (via Buckhorn)

11.2 miles | 7,845′ | 3,283′ gain

Pleasant View Ridge (via Buckhorn)

12.2 miles | 7,983′ | 3,900′ gain

Pallett Mountain (via Islip Saddle)

9 miles | 7,760′ | 4,000′ gain

Smith Mountain (via Bear Canyon Trail)

7 miles | 5,111′ | 1,826′ gain

BACK RANGE

The back range is the taller east-west band in the north of the San Gabriels. It starts near Mt. Gleason, heads east, includes the 8,000 and 9,000-foot peaks, reaches the 10,000-foot Mt. Baldy, then ends near Ontario Peak.

Crystal Lake | Mt. Baldy Area

Crystal Lake

The Crystal Lake Recreation Area is at the center of the back range. From Azusa, it is 26 miles north to Crystal Lake along Highway 39 by the north fork of the San Gabriel River.

Mt. Williamson (via Islip Saddle)

5 miles | 8,244′ | 1,604′ gain

Mt. Islip (via Windy Gap Trail)

7 miles | 8,250′ | 2,400′ gain

Mt. Hawkins (via Islip Saddle)

8.4 miles | 8,850′ | 2,200′ gain

S Mt. Hawkins & Middle Hawkins (via Islip Saddle)

13.2 miles | S Mt. Hawkins: 7,783′, Middle Hawkins: 8,505′ | 2,300′ gain

Throop Peak (via Islip Saddle)

10 miles | 9,138′ | 2,409′ gain

Mt. Lewis (via Dawson Saddle)

1 mile | 8,396′ | 500′ gain

Mt. Burnham (via Dawson Saddle)

6.4 miles | 8,997′ | 2,100′ gain

Mt. Baden-Powell (via Vincent Gap)

8 miles | 9,407′ | 2,807′ gain

Pinyon Ridge (via Vincent Gap)

6.4 miles | 6,535′ | 1,100′ gain

Wright Mountain (via Acorn Trail)

9 miles | 8,505′ | 2,525′ gain

Circle Mountain (via Lone Pine Canyon Road)

2.4 miles | 6,875′ | 876′ gain

Mt. Baldy Area

Mt. San Antonio is the tallest mountain in LA County. More commonly known as Mt. Baldy, you can see its snow-covered bowl after a winter storm. From the Notch, you can ski, snowboard, catch a concert, have a bite to eat, or grab a brew. You can hike to Baldy’s summit or another tall back range peak and then take the ski lift down.