Manzanita Trail

The trailhead, or pair of trailheads actually, is at a location on the Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2) called Dawson's Saddle.  There are a couple of parking areas along the side of the highway, and each of the pair of trailheads begins at either end of this parking area.  The trailheads aren't marked, but once parked, it's fairly easy to see them and the switchbacks that rapidly climb above the h...

What a hidden gem! A martian landscape full of faultline desert rock formations and joshua trees against a mountainous backdrop of the San Gabriels. Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area features a 1 mile well-marked, well-maintained single track loop trail inside the Punchbowl (great for kids) and a 7 mile trail to the Devil's Chair, a fin rock formation that offers panoramic vistas of the valley flo...

Take Hwy 2 out of La Canada north along Angeles Crest Highway. Follow this for quite some time enjoying the fine views in all directions. After traveling through two consecutive tunnels continue to the Islip Saddle parking lot (on left). There will be a vault toilet & a picnic table. Display your Adventure Pass ($5 at ranger station or Big 5 Sporting Goods). Your trailhead is across the hi...

The trailhead is immediately off of Angeles Crest Highway CA-2 at Islip Saddle.  It's just a touch over 2 miles to reach the summit, through which you'll be hiking among the pine tree forest practically the entire way up (part of this trail doubles as the Pacific Crest Trail).  The summit is largely devoid of trees, which provides for excellent views in all directions.  The trail continues if y...

This well maintained and well traveled trail is a popular route with day hikers, backpackers, and Pacific Crest Trail through hikers. Since the trail is on the face of the mountain, snow may linger late into the season. The Pacific Crest Trail is clearly marked on the western corner of the Vincent Gulch parking lot. The trail is mostly shaded by pines as it switchbacks up the mountain at mode...

If you decide to head over to Wrightwood for some skiing during the winter, make sure to get a hike in while you’re at it. There are several trail systems along the Angeles Crest Highway (Hwy 2), and one of them is scenic Big Horn Mine Trail. The end point of the hike is the historic and abandoned Big Horn Mine, discovered by Charles Tom Vincent in the late 19th century. The trailhead is access...