Mt. Wilson Toll Road

The Mt. Wilson Toll Road was built to transport gear to the observatory on the summit. It operated from 1891 to 1936, by which time it was rendered obsolete by the newly opened Angeles Crest Highway. The roadbed still exists, climbing nine miles from Altadena to Mt. Wilson. Just under a third of the distance is Henninger Flats, a popular destination for camping and as a moderately strenuous day hike. Hikers who want more of a challenge however can set aside a whole day and climb the road in its entirety. Compared to the routes from Sierra Madre and Chantry Flats, the fire road might seem a little monotonous at times, but it does take in excellent views of the L.A. basin (pending good visibility) and of the San Gabriel front country. Additionally, the ease of navigation and lack of steep stretches or difficult terrain make it a good training hike. If you visit on a weekend between April and November, you can have lunch at the Cosmic Cafe atop Mt. Wilson, where there are also full-service restrooms and a water bottle filling station. Additionally, water is USUALLY available at Henninger Flats. This enables hikers to not have to carry as much water and food as they might on other hikes of this level, making things a little easier.

Still, it’s 18 miles.

The easiest starting point is from the corner of Bowring and Pinecrest. Follow Pinecrest to a gate on the left side of the road which allows access to the upper end of the Eaton Canyon Natural Area. (Note that the gate closes daily at sunset; if you arrive after it is locked, you’ll need to hike down to the nature center entrance and back up Altadena Drive and Pinecrest, adding about two miles.) Descend to a bridge crossing Eaton Canyon and then follow it up 2.7 steadily ascending miles to Henninger Flats. The trail is exposed, but if you get off to an early start, the ridges will likely block out much of the sun. For more details on the trip to Henninger Flats, click here.

Above Henninger, you pass a turnoff for a heliport and the trail bends east, heading into an attractive oak woodland. At 4 miles, you reach an unsigned junction with the Idlehour Trail. The road continues through the woods before emerging at a saddle, where a bench beneath an oak provides good views to the southeast. This is the approximate halfway point.

The trail bends north to cross the saddle with views of San Gabriel Peak and Mt. Lowe to the northwest. On the north side of the saddle, you get a distinct view of the antennas atop Wilson. This may be an encouraging sight, but your work is far from over. After crossing a shaded, north-facing slope, you begin a morale-testing stretch as the trail ascends steadily on an exposed south-facing slope. The good news is that you have more panoramic views of the L.A. basin.