Routes near Los Angeles

[jedijimmy]

Hello,
This is my first post here, so I apologize for the noobie question. Just got back into hiking after many years away. In my teenage and college years I was a climber and hiker. A trip to Mt Whitney last year re-kindled my interest. I would like to start hiking again with my with my wife. My question is this: Do you have any trail / hike suggestions in the San Gabriel or San Bernardino mountains? Would prefer something scenic and not too technical as a don't want to scare off my wife before we get started!!!! I bought the guides by John Robinson to both areas, but would be most interested in all your advice.
Thanks,
j.

[natchez]

Hi Jedijimmy, welcome to the forum :) I hope you will like it here. Not being from the States myself I will first see if there are any Americans on here who have experience in the region you mentioned, and if not, I will try to find as much information about it as possible ;)

[salmonlov]

Hi, Jed,
There are few site you could browse for local mountains! You might find useful!!!

http://www.simpsoncity.com/hiking/
http://www.localhikes.com/Default.asp

and there are some social hiking groups that you could check in:
http://www.outdoorsclub.org
http://adventurers.meetup.com/156/
http://backpackers.meetup.com/129/

I got my own post here and there too. Just got back from Death Valley with group people of 15...spent time hike on Wildrose peak and telescope peak plus tour around all the visitor site of Death Valley! My next trip would be backpacking yosemitte camp at sunraise peak.....Happy Trails! May see you around the trails!!!

I am fairly close to you! Peace!!!

[jedijimmy]

Thanks mates!!! good info there.
j.

[desdemona]

Most hikes are rated (and you can find the ratings on the net or in a book, say at REI-- which, if you are near one, will have a nice selection of local books most likely).

My recommendation is to start with something labeled "easy". I hike mostly "moderate" and "difficult" trails, and I can tell you from experience that they can be pretty challenging with some scrambling (esp. mountain terrain). The difference between moderate and difficult seems mainly in time of the hike. You esp. want to watch out for steep grades, esp getting your wife used to such things. Going down is h***.

Another thing, make sure she has good shoes. I would recommend trail runners as light and more comfortable than boots. But they do give you more stability than running shoes.

Have good hikes.

--des

[jedijimmy]

thanks desdemona will take your advice. We are both in pretty good shape as we are involved in other sports. Both of us wear Asolo light hiking boots also. Will try easy hikes from book though. Looking forward to getting out there again.
j.

[wildbill]

I love Santa Paula Canyon in the Ojai area. The trailhead is St. Thomas Aquinas College off of Highway 150. Check this out bro:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xSLvAfITCuA

[Robvski]

Hey jedijimmy,
Not sure if you have used up all of your resources and have already hiked alot of the San Gabriel range but There's all kinds of trails and a few beginner trails are Chantry Flats, at the top of Santa Anita Blvd. above Arcadia. 5 mile loop. with an optional 1.5 mile in an out of a waterfall.

Or The Sam Merrel Trail at the top of Lake Street in Altadena which goes up to Echo mountain ruins . . . .

Then there's Red Box at the top of Red Box Ranger Station on the way to the top of Mt. Wilson which I believe is a 16 mile one way shuttle drop off hike or hike in from the bottom and go in and out . . . . .We do it on Mt. bikes alot.

Same with the Newcomes Saddle hike/Ride which also leaves from red Box ranger Station up off of Hwy 2 in La Canada. that is also a 17 mile one way hike. and then there;s the Rim trail which starts at the top of Mt Wilson 5700 vertical and a wicked fun downhill Mt bike Ride and a 22 mile hike.

All of these are online or in that book that was mentioned from REI, but from 10 years of riding and hiking them I can tell you they are all pretty cool hikes and Mt. bike Rides, obviously way better during the week instead of the rooky weekends

Hope that helps

Peace Out
Rob

[CindyC]

I think I can suggest a few... Easy hike, very scenic, along Malibu Canyon Creek--see pictures on my site at http://www.caopenspace.org/malibucreek.html

Hiking along the creek or toward the grassland meadows is really easy, mostly flat. I just did this on 7-19-08, really enjoyed it. You can hike for miles up here if you want or you can just stick to the lowlands. Several TV shows and movies were filmed in this area including **MASH**. Check out the links at the bottom of my photo page above to find out more. Enjoy!

[CindyC]

I wonder how many of the trails mentioned below didn't burn in the 2009 fires...I know Chantry Flats is ok, I was just there Nov 2009 and hiked to Sturtevant Falls but I was told just over the ridge was now moonscape. Anyone have any trail condition updates?

Robvski wrote:

Hey jedijimmy,
Not sure if you have used up all of your resources and have already hiked alot of the San Gabriel range but There's all kinds of trails and a few beginner trails are Chantry Flats, at the top of Santa Anita Blvd. above Arcadia. 5 mile loop. with an optional 1.5 mile in an out of a waterfall.

Or The Sam Merrel Trail at the top of Lake Street in Altadena which goes up to Echo mountain ruins . . . .

Then there's Red Box at the top of Red Box Ranger Station on the way to the top of Mt. Wilson which I believe is a 16 mile one way shuttle drop off hike or hike in from the bottom and go in and out . . . . .We do it on Mt. bikes alot.

Same with the Newcomes Saddle hike/Ride which also leaves from red Box ranger Station up off of Hwy 2 in La Canada. that is also a 17 mile one way hike. and then there;s the Rim trail which starts at the top of Mt Wilson 5700 vertical and a wicked fun downhill Mt bike Ride and a 22 mile hike.

All of these are online or in that book that was mentioned from REI, but from 10 years of riding and hiking them I can tell you they are all pretty cool hikes and Mt. bike Rides, obviously way better during the week instead of the rooky weekends

Hope that helps

Peace Out
Rob

[wildbill]

try the Mishe Mokwa near the Circle X Ranger station. Call the Ranger station for a map and directions. It is a 2.5 hour loop with stunning views, including Sandstone Peak, the highest point in the Santa Monica mountains.