Mt.Lukens Hike
Location : San Gabriel Mountains, Angeles National Forest
Total distance : 8.6 miles round-trip (out and back)
Elevation gain : 2,800 ft
Peak elevation : 5,050 ft
Tree Cover : No tree cover. Sunscreen highly recommended.
Parking : Free parking lot near the trailhead.
Trailhead : Click here
Satellite map :
Click on the image for an interactive map
Terrain map :
Click on the image for an interactive map
Once you park your car in the parking lot look for this post with a trailhead sign. Walk up the unpaved trail (Dunsmore Canyon Trail) for few minutes. In about 600 ft, keep right at the fork to continue onto Cresenta View Trail. Read the precautions and warnings along the way for your safety.
This mountain was once called Sister Elsie peak. In 1922 the mountain was named after Theodore Lukens, a former supervisor of Angeles National Forest and later, the mayor of Pasadena. Lukens believed that vegetation can be restored in burned over mountains. He helped bring funding to plant Ponderosa and Knobcone pine trees here due to their fire-resistant nature. I guess we should be grateful to him.
Once you get onto Crescenta View Trail and pass the dam, continue straight to stay on Crescenta View trail. On your way up enjoy the views of downtown Los Angeles, Glendale city and the Verdugo mountains. Scroll down to read about hikes in Verdugo area.
Take a break at the wind shelter on your way up and really enjoy your hike. Also this is a very important landmark. Be mindful of the trail you took while going up - it is the one immediately next to the wind shelter. It can be very confusing on the way down as there is a fork. Continue on the trail that gets steeper for a bit until you reach a fork where this trail meets the fire road where you see the marker for 2N76C. Keep left and continue towards the radio towers. Also on your way back this marker will serve as a landmark.
Please disregard the following advice if you have any health issues. Don't shy away from carbs the night before a hike, this will help you maintain good energy levels during the hike. It is a good idea to wear boots with good ankle support as there are a lot of loose rocks and gravel on the trail. And full length pants protect you from the thorny bushes on either side of the narrow trail which will prove to be very unpleasant and painful as they brush against your skin.
Once you are on the fire-road you are two-thirds of the way up. and the path is pretty straightforward, you will go through a couple of switchbacks. When you see the radio towers you know you almost made it!
Gallery
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