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    Mt. Wilson Trail

    4.6 (303 reviews)

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    Leeza D.

    Mt. Wilson is such a great and fun climb. It's long but not overly challenging or technical. I was looking forward to the cafe at the top, but they were closed for the winter. A couple of people told us they spotted bears. The descent towards the parking lot seemed long. The hike is about 15 miles with 4,400 ft of elevation gain. My favorite part though and the primarily reason why I would do this hike again and again is the amazing ice cream shop in town! Mother Moo Creamery has the most amazing homemade ice cream and pies and anything and everything they make. I will do anything, absolutely anything for good ice cream. Easy parking and there is a very disgusting bathroom at the trailhead. Come and create your own adventure.

    Entrance
    Karina C.

    It's my 5th time doing Mt Wilson Peak with my husband and we love it every time. It's a hard hike, be prepared you need Good hiking shoes Water Electrolytes Hat if its hot Hiking Poles Crampons if there's snow. Snacks and a sandwich. Better to be prepared than sorry later we saw many people without water and with the wrong shoes dying. Park at these address not need an adventure pass. 189 E. Mira monte ave. Sierra Madre. Ca 91024 There are bathrooms at the park next to the entrance and at the top of Wilson Peak. Enjoy the trails and please leave no trace.

    Map
    Juanwen C.

    This is such a nice hiking trail, and the view is epic. It was quite challenging to me. I love that they have many fun points along the trail. I know some people can hike from early morning to sunset since this trail can go for more than 15 miles, but we chose the shorter one. We hiked to the Little Fall, and it took us total 2 hours for the round trip. We parked on the side, and there was plenty of parking since we started at 5 pm. I would definitely come back again and hike for a longer duration. Haha! Oh, make sure to bring enough water and some snack, the trail is steep, would burn more calories.

    Jinan L.

    Have visited the Mt Wilson Trails more than five times. The last four times I can only make it the first water. Today I make it to the second water, 3 miles away from where I started. Along the trails you can see a good view away and go through the small creek. It's getting challenging after first water and it's getting humid when you climb up. We started at 11:30 and finally were back in 3:10 PM. Easy street parking. Mind the gap and you might see a little snake in your way. But overall it's quite worth a visit for the hike. We will be back for another season.

    Danny P.

    Amazing views, beautiful trails a great getaway for a day a great hike, keeping your mind and body fit. We had a great time and stood long enough to watch Sunset. It was my first time visiting, but surely I'll be back again soon.

    Entrance
    Isobel L.

    Trigger warning: if you have vertigo or are sensitive to accounts of anxiety-related deaths by bizarre means, please be advised that this review contains sensitive content on these topics. Reader discretion is advised. Falling to my death off a precipitous cliff. Being killed in a landslide. Being trampled by a rampaging mule deer and *then* falling to my death off a precipitous cliff. These were not things that I imagined worrying about as I planned for a calming, lovely hike in nature. You know, going out into green space to relax, improve my mental health and reduce stress. That's what you're supposed to do, right? It all started out just fine. I found the trailhead easily with Yelp directions, parked, and took off with my phone, water bottle and daypack including a whistle (just in case. I thought I was being paranoid.) The trail starts out in residential Sierra Madre, so it felt like a typical urban hike in the Los Angeles area. You are surrounded by houses, start off at the trailhead, and begin the adventure. Up, up, up. Then, all of a sudden, you're far above the city and the buildings start to look like dollhouses down below. You realize that the San Gabriel Mountains have a well-earned reputation as one of the steepest mountain ranges around. You notice that there is no guardrail between you and a fall to certain death, with only yucca and buckwheat to save you. You peek over the edge and wish you hadn't. You begin to get dizzy. You then hear a noise behind you. You turn slowly to see rocks falling from the mountain side above directly onto your path. You realize that there has been a sizeable landslide right in that very spot and that the mountainside could actually give way at any moment. One good shaker (this is California, after all) and you're toast. You decide to sit down on a nearby boulder and have a snack. Feeling refreshed, you focus on the gorgeous wildflowers of spring. You decide to make it to First Water, stopping along the way and trying not to look off into the abyss. First Water is gorgeous, with lovely trees and (true to billing) running water. Coming back, you almost run headfirst into a deer galloping down the trail and up the mountainside. (I am not sure why I switched into second person but let me just say this is all true. I am not sure who was more scared, the deer or me. If I had been a few feet closer, the deer would have run into me and I might have fallen off the edge.) You thank your lucky stars and march straight back to the trailhead. I notice that quite a few of the locals carry cowbells with them. They can be heard up and down the trail, making it feel like you're up on a dairy farm in the Swiss Alps. I asked one of them why and they said "In case of an emergency." See? It's not just me. Even the locals are aware that they could fall off the trail and be stranded like a Swiss goat. I have been on steeper trails, it's true, but this trail is something else with the precipitous falling away sides of the trails down cliffs. The trail is very well maintained and well-marked. It's absolutely gorgeous in spring. But if you have even a touch of vertigo (which admittedly I do, my DNA report even said so), consider yourself warned. Five stars for natural beauty and well-maintained hiking trails. Free. Free street parking as well. P.S. Make sure your shoes have good tread! (And that your affairs are in order. Just kidding.)

    Anna-Marie T.

    Great hike if you are looking for a challenge! My hiking crew came on 4/16 and the conditions were perfect for a long trek; cloud coverage most of the day, light mist and moderately trafficked. When you do this hike, there are going to be times when you want to quit, but just remember, a cafe/snack bar awaits you at the top. Highly recommend brining snacks, 2L of water and tracking poles on the hike. Enjoy!

    Beware! Yucca spikes protruding into narrow trails.
    Quinn N.

    tl,dr: Fantastic exercise training! Dangerous moments along the trail. Grateful for a cafe with various food at the peak. Observatory's aite. 9/10 would do again. Likes: + Spectacular strenuous exercise. + Very considerate cafe at the summit. With restrooms and water refill. + PLENTY of shade throughout the trail. + Predominantly one way up and down; can't really get lost. Just a couple forks overall, but follow the online guides. Non-likes: - Dangerous moments. Occasionally you'll have to hop across a very narrow ridge. Cliff wall on one side, a steep drop on the other. Watch for loose footing! - Yucca plants galore. The one pictured below stabbed my left temple as I was tryna squeeze through the narrow trail and keeping an eye on the ground to avoid stepping on the rocks. At Mt Wilson Observatory, a kind lady explained various astronomers' contributions to astronomy and Mt Wilson's history behind them. Another guy was unclear about how I could access the 100-inch telescope, which was closed in the middle of the day for no apparent reason...

    Gorgeous waterfalls here! (Yes we have the same shoes - total coincidence lollll!!)
    Hannah S.

    This trail definitely made it into my top 5 for the area! Yeah it packs quite an incline on the way up - but it's no worse than Echo Mountain. Actually might be slightly less than Echo. We just did the First Water Trail and ended up at 4.4 miles and had gained 1180+ feet - but the incline is all on the way in and downhill all the way out, which is how I like it! I'd call this trail moderate. There's a split off about halfway with a sign - go left for "Charlie's New Trail" or right for the "Old Mt Wilson" trail. We were feeling adventurous and explored Charlie's New Trail!! It was awesome - waaaaayyy less traffic - the regular trail was packed - but it was Sunday morning so no surprise there. We took the Old Mt Wilson trail back down. I think Charlie's New Trail may be just a tad longer but the inclines seemed similar. There's also another fork in the road at the end of this First Water trail - go left for Orchard Camp or right for "First Water" where you'll find a nice bench and a lovely area with lots of small falls and pools, tons of trees and shade and boulders - and if you're brave and venture to the left past the falls, the trail is just like a fairy land! I loved it! Peaceful and serene! Great place to take pics too. The trail is pretty narrow and can be rocky. We didn't use any poles - but I highly recommend decent hiking shoes. It's well marked so you won't get lost. There are some steep drops in places so just be aware of your footing and of passing trail runners. There's some shade in places, especially at the start and at the First Water area - but you'll for sure need sunscreen - I'd say the trail has about 30-35% shade overall. Parking is street parking in the residential area and gets super busy - I highly recommend you come early. We got there before 8am Sunday and had to park waaaay down. There is a bathroom in the city park nearby but it was out of order on our visit this past Sunday (1/31/21). Looks like there's a couple of cute museums near the city park part by the trailhead too!

    Yolanda S.

    Quick tips: 1) Don't come with an empty stomach, hiking here is real! There's no place for you to sit or rest or relax, only if you make it to first water(1.5+ miles). Pack yourself enough water + Eat something first! 2) Don't come when you're too full. (Lol!) All uphill, it is a nightmare to hike when you're completely stuffed! (Oh yes, I struggled!) 3) The hike starts at Mount Wilson Trail Park. The bathroom is the building in the back. (But we didn't find it) Try to go before you come here. 4) Again! All uphill! The view is amazing along the trail but keep in mind, not the easiest for beginners! It can be challenging even just hike to first water! Get prepared! 5) Some rocky roads! Hiking shoes/boots are needed for safety in my opinion! And, if you're planning to hike up to Mt. Wilson, (7 miles) hiking gear is much needed! 6) Free parking on the street, only takes a few minutes to walk to the trailhead. (But if you get here late, you've gotta park farther away.) 7) There are quite a few restaurants for you to explore after hiking in Sierra Madre! It's a cute lovely town! The Mt. Wilson trial, first constructed in 1864, is one of the oldest trial that offers really beautiful views for runners and hikers! Highly recommend to someone who's not afraid of heights. (So beautiful! It's a hidden gem!) All residents, hikers and runners were pretty friendly here. Dog friendly is a plus! But I feel like this is not the safest trail for kiddos (the path is kinda narrow) and doggies(leash is needed for safety), since there are no fences or any protections along the trail, it can be scary at times; nonetheless, the view is unbeatable, still one of the best in my opinion! Worth exploring!

    Mahmut E.

    This review is only for the hike up to orchards, which is almost half way to the top of the mountain Wilson. Parking is really easy, you can find street parking with no limitation. There is a small park and a tiny museum at the trailer entrance, park has very clean restrooms. It is very easy to find the trail head. A quick warning that this is a very difficult hike and it is constantly uphill. Second warning is that if you have a fear of heights, a good portion of this Hike is walking at the edge of the mountain next to Cliff which is very high. This is a very, very beautiful hike, especially if you're doing it during spring or fall seasons when the weather is nice. Be careful in summertime, a portion of this hike may get extremely hot. Make sure you have hiking poles, they helped a lot.

    Mount Wilson trailhead
    Scott H.

    This is an amazing trail, however parts of it are almost vertical. Today I accidentally hiked this trail for the second time in the wrong direction. I zigged when I should have zagged and ended up going straight up a sandy water torn embankment. Around 1,200 ft ascent over a very short distance. Parts of the trail are quite doable Even with a child in tow.

    Trail signs and river instructions
    Nirali P.

    I went during the winter right after a good rainfall. We started the hike around 1:00pm and it was still not too hot. We hiked to the Lower First Water Junction. I would recommend bringing some water and snacks to be able to enjoy at the stream. It is also a nice place to hang out for lunch. The stream is super cold but refreshing after a hike. I would recommend wearing some warm clothing because it was cold when going back down the mountain. Please take your trash with you to keep Mt. Wilson clean for others to enjoy.

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    5 months ago

    Gorgeous views, clean fresh air. I highly recommend this place. Come during weekday if you can. My dogs loved it here.

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    Beautiful came here after my amazing hike at Eaton canyon! Awesome views and pretty clean area. The drive up to the trail was cute

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    Page 1 of 8

    Mt. Wilson Trail Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mt. Wilson Trail

    Is this open as of January 2022?

    Hi please i need to know ASAP if this trail is open?

    The city of Sierra Madre's website says it's open. At least the lower half is open. You can't hike to the top. The upper half has been closed since last summer and won't reopen until next year 2022. All national forest are closed until Sept 17 2021… Read more

    Is this trail open?

    Yes it's open :)

    Is here dog friendly?

    Yes it's dog friendly

    Is there snow currently now?

    Yes. FYI. Mt. Wilson was a webcam online. You can visually check there to see if there is snow. Check the camera as well to confirm.

    Do you need a parking pass here?

    Yes the forest pass you can get at a ranger station it it's open or Big 5 :)

    Does anyone suggestions or tips for first time hikers on this trail?

    Bring plenty of water!!!

    View All 8 Questions

    Review Highlights - Mt. Wilson Trail

    7 mile hike to first water, and that is tough., Then It goes harder to Orchard camp, then manzanita ridge.

    Mentioned in 65 reviews

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    Bailey Canyon To Hastings Peak - Purply

    Bailey Canyon To Hastings Peak

    4.3(54 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Amazing Hike but it's not for beginner hikers here!! Steep but rewarding!!!…read more I would say this is moderate to advanced-level hiking. This is our first time hiking at Bailey Canyon to Jones Peak. Bailey Canyon trail is located at the Bailey Canyon Park in Sierra Madre. We parked our car at the parking lot at around 8 in the morning. The parking lot is so small so make sure to get there early. (We got lucky and found a parking space). We were planning to hike to the "Old Foundation" because it was our first time to hike there so we didn't want to overdo it. This trail is considered a challenging route because it's a very steep and narrow climb all the way. We started from Bailey Canyon Park and passed the small reservoir before hiking uphill into the foothills. We saw the map and the "Old Foundation" should take about 2.2 miles but we hiked more than 2.8 miles and still didn't see the sign. We almost gave up and wanted to take our return route. Glad we saw and asked other hikers when they came back down and they told us that we passed the "Old Foundation" for a while and we had almost arrived at the Peak (Jones Peak) in less than 15 minutes. We were very surprised that we were close to the Peak so we got motivated again. The views were breathtaking and absolutely beautiful. The weather was so perfect. When we arrived at the Jones Peak, we saw the beautiful and colorful rocks in heart shape and gorgeous panoramic breathtaking views. We finally got to Jones Peak at 3375 feet!!!! The map said it's about a 5.7-mile out-and-back trail near Sierra Madre and it takes an average of 4 h 2 min to complete. I checked my Strava app (I forgot to wear my Apple Watch that day) and it shows that I hiked 6.7 miles and we finished our hike around noon so it took us about 4 hours. We were so proud of ourselves. Make sure that you bring plenty of water, and you can also bring trekking poles if you have them. They'll help on the steep slopes. (We didn't use trekking poles this time but I'll probably prepare it for next time)

    This a nice, less crowded hike in the area. Although signs says beware of the Sun we found plenty…read moreof shady areas in the early part if the trail- plus a lovely,small stream. Also, the variety of plants, flowers, and beautiful vegetation made it more pleasing. Nice views, too. Worth checking out.

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    Bailey Canyon To Hastings Peak
    Bailey Canyon To Hastings Peak
    Bailey Canyon To Hastings Peak

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    Kersting Court

    Kersting Court

    4.8(4 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Sierra Madre is well-known for it's local art community, with such talents living here as Ed Harris…read more(Actor), Howard Whalen (Sculptor), Howard Miller (TV Writer), Rolf Forsberg (Filmmaker), and Anais Nin (Writer). Sierra Madre is a small town in the foothills, north of Arcadia, which has been isolated from the main stream life of Los Angeles for nearly a hundred years. Before the construction of the 210 Feeway in the 1980s, Sierra Madre was a hidden gem that no one ever came to. Now, with the easy highway access, Sierra Madre is THE destination location in the San Gabriel Valley. It has a lovely town center filled with outdoor cafes and dog friendly walks. There are galleries, boutiques, home-grown food emporiums, and a liquor store that has sold lottery tickets worth many millions in local winnings (Happy's Liquors - creating wealth for its patrons almost to the point where it seems unfair to the rest of Los Angeles). And Sierra Madre offers so much more - including a nearly crime-free environment, a town that a young person can easily get around in by merely walking, and a place with good schools, plenty of hikes, a wonderful park with a pool, an 80 year old Catholic Monastery offering retreats, and streets filled with kids who congregate in a healthy and independent way after school is out. It is no wonder that artists flocked here to practice their craft and raise their families.

    Kersting Court is a cute, charming, quaint little plaza off Sierra Madre Blvd, the main street of…read morethe foothill town. My husband wanted to check it out since it was used as a location in "Halloween 2", a little trivia for movie lovers. During our research, we found out that the original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was also shot here, so we need to watch it! The plaza is cute, it has a few nice stores around, a cool pub, coffee-shops, ice-cream parlors. We checked it out during the Wistaria Festival and it was really lively and crowded. Kersting Court has the charm of an old timey main street, but it is modern and well maintained in the same time. Hard to miss if you walk around!

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    Kersting Court
    Kersting Court
    Kersting Court

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    Mt. Wilson Trail - parks - Updated May 2026

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