Mt. Wilson

Mt. Wilson Hike Starting at Chantry Flats

Difficulty: Difficult

Length: 12.6 miles/ 20 km

Duration: It took us 7 hours to complete the loop

Mt. Wilson is a great hike and a SoCal favorite. Mt. Wilson can be seen from the 210 freeway hanging above Pasadena. It is the mountain covered in TV antennas. At the summit you will find an observatory with three high powered telescopes.

There are many trails that lead to the summit of Mt. Wilson (You can even drive to the summit) but the most rewarding (and difficult) is the trail from Chantry flats.

To get to the Chantry Flats parking lot, exit the Santa Anita exit from the 210 freeway and head north on Santa Anita. You will follow that road all the way until it ends. Once the road ends you are in the parking lot.

Chantry Flats is home to many trail heads and is a very busy hiking area. If you want parking you will have to arrive early.

Map Pin Points:

1-Trailhead to Sturtevant Falls

2-Bridge over Winter Creek

3-(JCT) Junction with the Gabrielino Trail

4-Sturtevant Falls

5-Spruce Grove Campground

6-Switchbacks

7-Water

8-Mt. Wilson

9-Mt. Wilson Visitors Center

10-Trailhead

11-Old Toll Road

12-(JCT) Watch for the sign for Winter Creek

13-(JCT) Upper Winter Creek Trail

14-Hoegee Campground

15-(JCT) Across Winter Creek

Mike and I (David) set out to hike the loop on a Sunday. Since it was only a day hike we did not carry much.

Gear list:

18L REI Flashpack

Black Diamond Headlamp

2L of water in a bladder

Lunch

Sweater

Trekking poles