Visited: 8/26/11 6:38am. Here's a constructive review of Mt. Baden-Powell. As a first-timer to this one, precautions must always be taken. Always purchase your adventure pass in advance. It's good to have a few spares sitting in the glove for trips like this. $5 each daily pass at Big5 Sporting or $30 for an annual (in which you can pay an Additional $5 for a 2nd annual pass to split the full cost with a buddy). Food/supplies: Trail mix, energy bars, oatmeal cookies, small sandwich, 3 liters of water in my Camelbak, extra water and food in the car's cooler, knife! (as explained below), sunblock, mosquito repellant, hat, light windbreaker Routes available to the trailhead: From La Canada (210 West to Angeles 2) From Pomona (210 E to 15 N to 138 W to 2 W) Route I took Arrived at the Trailhead early (and only one). Upon arrival to the parking lot entrance marked "Vincent Gulch Divide (ELEV. 6565ft)," a coyote was running around about 100 ft from my car...thus I stayed in the car for an additional 15 minutes until he was not visible in the area. If he popped out again, I was SOMEWHAT ready to throw down with this fella! After the pre-hike drama, I started my way on to Baden-Powell Summit (4 miles, each marked on the trail. The signs you will see along the way include: M1, LAMEL Springs (which you will ignore and keep going up the mountain), M2, M3, and the Mt. Baden-Powell Junction sign (3.9 mile marker just before you ascend the last tenth that is definitely quite steep. I can tell you through most of the trail, if you do not like heights...you will not be happy. Most of the trail is about 4 ft (maybe 5 on some area) wide with the slanted edge going down quite a bit of ways. If you just focus on the trail ahead, you will be fine. A lot of loose gravel on the trail so alertness is key. To combat any dizziness and alt. sickness, I just continued to sip on my water to fight any signs of dehydration. Right before the 3.9 mile marker along the final ridge, yes there is a section where both the left and right side of the trail edges over. Very cool to see how far you've come, but very scary as well to many. At the Baden-Powell junction, you will not immediately see a sign because a very large tree has fallen down on what looks to be the original trail. You can go around the right of it (BE VERY CAUTIOUS) as the trail slants down and consists of sand/rocks OR you can climb over the fallen tree. Once you're through with that part, take the trail up the mountain for a 1/10 mile and you'll see the Baden-Powell commemorative site. Not much shade up there by the time I made it around 9:30am, but it was a clear day with a bit of a cool breeze. Enjoyed the view for a good 30 minutes while loading up on carbs and protein. Made it back down to the trailhead at 11:30am. Full round-trip comes out to about 5 hours for the 8-mile hike (2,834ft) with 40-ish switchbacks. Enjoy! read more

I disapprove of the implementation of the Adventure Pass, so I encourage people to purchase the annual National Parks Pass instead. It costs $80 instead of $30, but it not only can be used whenever an Adventure Pass is required such as Cleveland/San Bernardino/Angeles, but all BLM (Bureau of Land Management), national monument, national parks, as well as all U.S. Forest areas from Hawaii to Puerto Rico and Alaska, and all U.S. administered areas in between. It can be purchased at the Forestry Visitor center where Hwy 2 passes Mountain High. By the way, there are multiple flush toilets for public use across the street from the center. For those of you planning to take the 210 to the 2 Angeles Crest, and driving 46 winding mountain miles, don't do it (80% of the mountain, only motorcyclists do it, for recreation). I drive mountains every weekend and yet this path is too much. Take the 210E to the 15N to the 138W, then 2. Or, take the 5 to the 14 to the 138 and get to the 2. Everyone should make a stop here just to use the toilet, because the pit toilets at Vincent Gap, well, they don't lock, there's usually no toilet paper, and by 10am in the summer, its filled with flies and very smelly. When you see the sign for Lamel Spring, and you decide you need to top off your water container, don't use the itty bitty puddle of water from this spring unless you are able to treat the water. I've hiked this particular trail over 80 times in recent years. I don't recommend this trail for beginner hikers or those with low cardio fitness. Instead, such persons can take the trail to the left, around the large yellow road gate. Then, at the first trail sign, veer left and follow the trail downhill. (don't go to the mine shaft, its a horrible, sun-exposed trail devoid of life or scenery) The trail I describe is very shady, and follows a gentle decline. Nobody knows about this trail so its quiet, and I don't know where it leads or what its called (didn't read the sign I speak of), but I jogged it for about 2-1/2 miles and it was well defined, well maintained, and provided abundant flora and fauna found in mountain ravines (as opposed to mountain peaks). I later took my 10 and 12 yo daughters and my very unfit wife, and they all enjoyed this alternate trail. read more

This is a good training hike for longer and steeper hikes. You're stamina and leg strength will be tested (at least for me it was). The hike has about a 2800 ft elevation gain over 4 miles to the summit. Which, from my experience, is a bit steeper than the typical trails you'll find in the San Gabriel Mountains. I went on a Saturday morning on 7/9/11, and temperatures were in the mid 80s at the trailhead. Switchbacks is what mostly covers the way up to the summit, although I was greeted with some incredible views on the way up. The view got better and better as I completed each switchback, just a little something to keep me going. The trail is very well maintained and signed, so I was able to focus on getting a good workout in, and taking in some phenomenal views, without having to focus on bushwhacking and not slipping down loose gravel and things of that nature. As far as the type of traffic I ran into, there were hikers, runners, and I don't recall any bikers (not sure if they are allowed on this trail). The view from the summit is awesome (9399 ft). You'll see more of the desert and Santa Clarita Valley than you will of Greater Los Angeles, however. I had a total of 4 people and 2 dogs in my party. It took about 5 hours to complete the round trip. I took 48 oz of water, and drank about 40 oz. You'll also need an Adventure Pass to park in the parking area, which is very noticeable, and will be on the left as you're driving down Angeles Crest Highway from Wrightwood. Overall, great hike and well worth the drive from the LA Basin. read more

Great hike but hot. Left the base at 11:30 am back at car at 4:08. Beautiful lunch spot at the top. Worth the climb. Hard hike if you have no experience. read more

Very challenging and rewarding. We did this hike with our Boy Scout troop this (Thanksgiving) weekend , 11/29/14. As others have shared, it's a challenging hike. You will feel it in the glutes - during and after the hike. On this hike I was reminded that mountain weather is unpredictable - Wrightwood temps at the Vincent trailhead were in the low 50's when we started, which is perfect since you will get warmed up pretty quickly as soon as you start the hike. However, if you factor in the wind chill, the temperature felt like at least 10 degrees colder. Some hikers along the trail wore only a T-shirt and shorts, However, myself and most of the scouts were a little uncomfortable in the cold and could not feel our fingers at the summit. If you are (at all) sensitive to the cold, I would recommend a pair of gloves and light layered clothing. (Be Prepared). Another tip - to get the most out of this trip, hike at your own pace so that you can take in and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. I'm 55 years old/140lbs. in decent shape, but I had to go a little faster than my ideal comfort speed so that I could keep up with the young scouts. It would've been more fun if I paced myself. We made it to the summit (4 miles) in only 60 minutes - we had planned for a 2 hour ascent. Good fun ! read more

Just happened to hike this amazing trail on a day that started sunny, but quickly turned snowy. Thankfully, our group managed to make it down to the cafe before things got really slippery. read more

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Beautiful hike! Started from Dawson Saddle, so it was definitely a lot more peaceful than starting from Vincent Gap. You can also avoid the 40+ switchbacks, which the trail from Vincent Gap has. This was our first hike to an elevation higher than 9,000 ft. The majority of the hike is shaded and doesn't get exposed until the last 1.5 miles or so. The elevation gain is very gradual and I don't recall having anything too steep until maybe the last mile. The final ascent is definitely a lot steeper than the rest of the hike, but well worth it! The views at the summit are absolutely gorgeous!! The trail is well maintained and was very easy to follow. Trailhead was a bit difficult to find from the parking area since there really is no sign or marker to look for. Roundtrip 9.4 miles, 2.358 elevation gain. read more

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Absolutely my favorite trail thus far. Went yesterday (February 12th) and 98% of the mountain was covered in snow. Which made the trails very difficult to see. Thanks to the fresh snow it wasn't as hard as it could have been. But it was by no means easy. There was a lot of ice covered by snow. I think in Sping/Summer weather this hike is perfect. Good amount of distance, the right amount of challenge. However, the winter requires a lot of caution if you're doing it without crampons. My friend and I weren't the only ones attempting it, but those who did have crampons moved much quicker. Because the weather turned quickly we were forced to turn around. If you haven't reached summit by 1pm, it's safe to say you need to turn around. (This is during the winter months only). You don't want to risk coming down the very steep inclined switchbacks in the dark. Most Important things to remember: 1. Get your adventure pass from your local sporting store the day before you come. You coudn't buy them there, and you will get a ticket if you don't have it. ($5 at Big 5). 2. Wear water proof hiking shoes 3. Crampons were not needed, but it nearly doubled our time up and down the mountain without them. And I still fell several times even after being extra cautious. I'll definitely have them next time! 4. Hiking poles are a nice addition but not necessary. 5. Take your time with the altitude. You don't want to get sick. Bring a camera. Views are absolutely spectacular. read more

I've done this trail many times, in all four seasons, and have always found it to be a good workout with a nice payoff. Also one of my favorite backpacking spots in the forest. (NO campfires). But for anyone reading the reviews who might be still getting their hiking legs yet wants to summit, or just appreciates some variety, I'd suggest taking the Dawson Saddle Trail instead. It's roughly a mile further RT but offers much more varied terrain and about 700 ft. less of elevation gain. A lot of ridge hiking, some killer views on the way up and I've found this trail to be much less crowded in the warmer months. A suggestion if you're day hiking is to start a little later because the sun setting on the way back turns the forest orange. Spectacular. The Dawson Saddle Trail starts at approximately 8K and heads (roughly) 2 miles up to the junction of the PCT. At the junction, which is obvious, you'll take a left and begin a (roughly) 400 foot descent before beginning to gently climb through the forest. On another day I also suggest taking a right at the junction as this section of the PCT is a real treat. You can catch Throop Peak via the use trail just steps from the junction as well if you want. A short, steep climb to the summit. If you're looking for a real workout, after you summit Mt. Baden Powell just continue walking on the use trail. You'll lose significant elevation quickly but you're pretty much guaranteed solitude. Go as far as you want and it will be like bagging two summits in the same day...even if it's the same one. read more

Mount Baden-Powell Trail - Sunset past the summit. - Hiking Near Me

Most amazing hike I've ever been on. Very challenging but worth the hike to the top. This time of year I would recommend hiking boots and trek poles. Most of the hike up was through snow and black ice so be very careful. The hike to the top was way easier than coming down. This hike I would say is for intermediate/advance. 8 1/2 Miles total. read more

Mount Baden-Powell Trail - Hiking Near Me

This is a great starter peak if you want to work your way up to more challenging hikes- be prepared for TONS of switchbacks! Park at the Vincent Gap trailhead. Very easy to find. Next to the restrooms there are signs for all the trails. The trail sign points right but is actually in front of the trail. The trail starts behind the wood fence. There is only one fork in the trail at Lamel Springs. GO RIGHT! If you go left by accident, it's fine, you'll run out of trail shortly and realize you went the wrong way like I did! As your progress past this point, the switchbacks get more and more difficult mostly due to the elevation. The peak you work towards on the switchbacks is deceiving. There is still a little bit of hiking remaining to the actual summit. The summit is really beautiful. Make sure to wander past the flag (IF the flag is there, it wasn't there when I went) because the 360 views are beautiful!! It's very shaded so this would be a great summer hike. read more

If you're up for a challenge and you've got 4 hours to kill, then this is for you. The Mt. Baden-Powell Trail is a strenuous Hike. It's 8 miles round-trip from Highway 2 to the summit and back. There is 2,300 feet of elevation gain over 4 miles with great views of the ocean, mountains and the desert. To get there start at the trailhead 9.2 miles west of Wrightwood on Highway 2 at the Vincent Gap parking area. The trail switchbacks up the forested north-east slope of Mt. Baden-Powell. The hike may take up to 3-8 hours round trip dupending on your speed. I tend to hike quickly and the first time I did it in 2 hours and 15 minutes. Like an idiot I decided to run the trail from the top to the bottom. Not the smartest idea being that I lost my footing a couple of times. Carry lots of water and clothes for cool, windy conditions at the summit. read more

This was a difficult trail with all the switch backs and inclines of the mountain. I had 12 other people hiking with me, but they gave up (which saddened me because we were half way to the top. I'm thinking of coming back to do this hike as I found it breakthtaking and challenging. I'm coming for you Mount Baden!!! read more

Be forewarned, this is a tough trail, pretty intense elevation gain from the outset. If switchback, after switchback isn't your idea of a good time, head to another trail. The actual trail is fairly narrow with a few patches of loose gravel, but well maintained. Just be sure to stay away from the edge of the trail and keep your dogs away too! Both of the dogs I had with me got too close to the edge and slid a good15-20 feet down a portion of the loose gravel. It was a little scary, but they made it back up and didn't seem to be half as concerned about the situation as I was. Make sure to bring PLENTY of water, you'll need it. Between myself and the two dogs we drank the 3 liters I brought with me. Some snacks will come in handy too. All that being said, the views are amazing on the way up!! It's filled with I'd estimate 60% shade along the trail. I believe the temp at the parking lot was probably about 83ish, but you could definitely feel the cool air even a mile into the hike. I was feeling a little under the weather the farther up the trail I got, I think I made it about 2.75 miles up the 4 mile trail, and ended up telling the rest of my group to go on without me. I took my and my friend's dog back down the trail and waited for them at the bench which is about a 1 mile up the trail. My friends said the view from the summit was awesome! I'll just enjoy their pics :) read more

Enjoyed this hike over 2013 Memorial Day weekend! Had a perfect day! Not hot, not windy, not crowded, wonderful views! I enjoyed the view from the ridge, just before the peak. Not having hiked at this altitude for quite some time, the ascent was an effort, hence finding references to "moderate" in other internet reviews. read more

Mount Baden-Powell Trail - Approaching the peak. - Hiking Near Me

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My sister and I hiked this on on 4/28/2012. It was an excellent hike, with lots of views. The trail is clean and well maintained, though blocked in several places by drifts of snow left from the storms earlier in the year. The final 3/4 to 1 mile of the trail was almost completely covered in snow and we ended up following the footprints straight up the mountain. This hike is definitely not easy, especially at altitude. It took us 4 hours to get to the top. Its definitely worth doing though. read more

let me start with the basics. 8 miles round trip. 2800ft elevation gain. takes about 5 hours. it's very nonsense. all uphill all the way. no plateau to speak of and the trail can get rough at a couple of spots depending on the wear and tear of the snow and rain. but..... the views are incredible. this is the 4th highest peak of the san gabriel range so you can imagine just how much and far you get to see from the summit. speaking of the summit there are tons of pens and pads on a small steel box for you to write your name and time of visit. that is, if you can get your hands to write in the freezing cold. expect the weather to be 15 to 20 degrees higher than when you started. it is very very windy up there. it's nice in the summer time but in the fall definitely wear warm clothes and of course don't forget to bring plenty of water and snacks. it's a must hike for anyone willing to take on the challenge. for directions on how to get there best without getting lost i suggest you check out this site: http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/BadenPowell_4472.asp read more

Oh mama, this was a challenge. Super hot, but a large part of the trail was covered, so I definitely enjoyed the shaded areas. Well-groomed trail at about 9000 elevation. Some parts of it kinda creeped me out (dead, broken branches and fallen trees), but luckily, you can't get lost. Or at least it would be very hard to get lost. Ah, the top. Such a feeling of accomplishment. Used the Panorama feature on my phone to capture the moment. Spent some time to soak it up, but it wasn't before long that we headed back down, which took a LOT less time (yeah, really). Highly recommend this for intermediate hikers. read more

May I suggest Vincent Gap Trailhead hike to Baden Powell. Did it last Sunday in the snow, and it was a nice 8.8 mile out and back. You will definitely need microspikes if you're going in the winter or early spring, but it's an awesome trail :) read more

This is an excellent training trail which is almost exactly 4 miles from the trailhead to the summit. There are bathrooms at the trailhead but no running water, so make sure to bring some! If you're in relatively good shape you should be able to summit in a couple hours or less (this most recent time, without jogging, I made it to the top in an hour and 18 minutes). The trail is well-marked and it's not hard to follow. The views from the top are spectacular though there's really not much shade at the summit. The rest of the trail is on the north-facing side of BP so you'll get lots of shade year round. read more

Wow talk about a hike..... This is the best hike I have ever been on. The hike is all up hill and it does test your endurance. I am personally not used to the elevation and that definitely made it harder to get used to it. My heartbeat would immediately get high so i just slowed down and maintained a slow pace. It took us about two hours to reach the top and once you get to the top it is all worth while. The views are spectacular. The weather was amazing it was not too hot. I recommend this hike to those who enjoy a challenge. read more

did this hike in late april, and there were only light patches of ice, and i had no problems with just running shoes and no equipment. in other years after a wet winter, it might be more treacherous around this time of the year. i saw about 18 people on the trail on a weekday. it took 2:30 hours going up and 1:15 hours coming down (had to break into a light jog to make it down that quickly). it's about 40 switchbacks, and it helped me pass the time to count them. about 2 hours going up, the top looked so close, but it just kept going and going. it wasn't overly strenuous, and i kept up a slow steady pace without stopping, although the altitude and the early morning hike did get me feeling a little funny. you reach the wally tree, and you see the 360 degree view of palmdale and san gabriel mountains. there are views of palmdale/antelope valley going up, but it's all the more cool at at over 9300 feet up, although there's nothing amazing about antelope valley, hehe. another brisk walk, and you get to the very top with the monument. the only drawback for me was that it was cold and very very windy. actually, the cold was bearable, but it was strictly the wind. i don't know what the measurements were, but it must have been 30 mph winds, close to blowing my hat off several times. i had a selfie-stick/monopod with me, but i didn't use it because i didn't trust my footing. right at the wally tree, there are big drops on both sides, and i could picture myself stumbling, going after my hat or cellphone. i'd be careful with little kids or dogs up here. it was about a 6.5 out of 10 on a scare factor, but i think it would be about a 2 out of 10 on a day with no wind, and absolutely beautiful to hang out and have lunch. read more

I loved it although, I think they would have made a better job with signs. If you visit early in the year it is easy to get lost and hard to back track read more

Awesome, closest thing you can get to the Sierras within 90 mins of LA - however, wait for the thaw and clear trails. I just ascended this route today and there were significant amounts of snow and ice on the trail starting about 1/2 mile past the 2 mile PCT marker. 1/2 mile more and no more trail, just straight-up the mountain. As long as ice and snow persist, yak-tracks (or crampons, which I had + trekking poles) HIGHLY recommended though trail runners made it up in the AM before it got too slushy. Awesome views! read more

Great hike! Great scenery. Well worth the drive. The view from the summit was amazing. Hiked it today and much of the trail is covered in snow and slippery so make sure to bring your poles if you are going within the next week or so. I just had on trail runners but it was a slippery. Much of the trail is shaded so it takes a while for the snow to melt. Make sure to buy your adventure pass. I bought mine at Big Five. read more