Twin Peaks

Overview

There’s a certain type of hiker that’s always on the look out for the toughest trails around. The San Gabriel Mountains are absolutely not wanting for tough trails, and depending on who you talk to, you’ll get different recommendations, different hikers’ “fishing stories” of blisters and bleeding and scrambling half-trails and other kinds of ‘Type II Fun.’ There are many routes in this mountain range that can lay claim to the title of “toughest trail in the San Gabriels,” but for my money, this route to Twin Peaks is probably the toughest trail in the San Gabriels that you’d still actually want to hike. Unlike some other competitors for that title, the route to Twin Peaks features some of the most exemplary wilderness scenery in the entire San Gabriel Mountains range, plenty of shade and solitude, fantastic views, and even some potential water sources provided we’ve had a decently wet winter.  Don’t underestimate this, though — this is still a challenging and somewhat brutal full-day excursion that you should only do if you’re in excellent shape, can navigate unmarked trails, know how to read a map and compass, and are OK with heights and some incredibly steep inclines and declines. Also, you’re not going to get a break on your way down from the summit — in my book Day Hiking Los Angeles, I describe this route as “one of those up then down then up then down then up then down again hikes you’ve heard so much about.” And that middle stretch includes 1130 feet of gain on a mostly unmarked use-trail in about 3/4ths of a mile — at an average grade of 28%. Needless to say, you will feel this trail for a few days after you do it. So train, stretch out, find a good, long day, and then set your sights on this epic backcountry journey right in L.A.’s backyard.   This route begins at the backcountry wilderness board for the San Gabriel Wilderness, just north of the Buckhorn Day Use Area. There’s a sizable parking area nearby (for the Mt. Waterman ski area when it’s operational), but if it’s full (or if you want to shave a

Trail Stats

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