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Not OP, but this is how most people do it:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/skyline-trail-cactus-to-clouds

https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Permethrin-Clothing-Repellent/dp/B001ANQVYU?th=1

They sell it at most outdoor stores. Lasts 6 washings or 6 weeks. Treat shoes, socks, pants, shirts, backpacks, hats.

Note:Keeps cats away while applying and from damp clothes until they dry-it's very toxic to them. After it dries it's ok.

Holy Jim Falls Holy Jim Falls is a relatively easy OC hike that is a fun time - extra points to the Forest Service road covering the last couple miles to get there; it’s an E Ticket in itself.

The Waterman Loop Trail is 6 miles. alltrails link
Says he was found in Devils Canyon and drank stream water.
I'm guessing he ended up descending down the Waterman Mountain Trail that takes you to the saddle below Twin Peaks?
Maybe he headed west from there down Devils Canyon.
I dunno. Just spitballing.
In any case, the hiking group he was with needs to wake the hell up.
Glad he was found in good health.

9 miles in and out, so 4 or 5 hours if you're walking.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/east-fork-trail-bridge-to-nowhere

I heard there was a swiming spot under the bridge. I missed that when I went. Interesting place though, gold miners live on the river. Some amazing valley views.

AskReddit: “What made you decide not to commit suicide?”

Redditor: “I drove to suicide rock but it was closed.”

A good hike I always enjoyed was Backbone Trail

Mount Baden-Powell (Alltrails) is your guy. 2,700ft gain, 9 miles, with half of that being spent above 8k. It's a nice hike, too, shaded and north-facing even if you don't get any views until the top.

Someone's gonna suggest Cucamonga Peak, and while it definitely meets your length requirements, it doesn't spend meaningful amounts of time at high elevation

Great collages and it looks like a really fun trip - the stars must have been amazing :)

Solar charger that you can throw on the top of your backpack and tie in place with some paracord can help with that battery thing.

Solar Charger 25000mAh SOARAISE Solar Power Bank with 4 Foldable Solar Panels and Dual Outputs, Portable Phone Charger for Camping Hiking Compatible with Smartphones and Tablets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SZD62NX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_RWKGGHGC4S25ASTDQP8Y

The Twin Lakes trail in the Sequoias is gorgeous. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/twin-lakes-trail

There's a lot of connecting trails out there and the rangers might be able to help you pick some spots to do a through hike or loop. Start at Lodgepole. I'm not sure if the Georges Fire is affecting anything in that area right now, though.

1. Don't skimp of your trail shoes/boots. Happy feet = happy hiker.
2. Look into hiking poles. It will help.
3. Start with the sunrise to beat the heat.
4. Always tell a friend/loved one where you're going and when you're expected back.
5. 57 Beginner Hikes in the Inland Empire

Trail Summary: Distance of 10.2 Miles, elevation gain of 1,263 feet, and total time-on-trail is 3 hours, 28 minutes.

Definitely worth checking out this place!

For more trail info, see AllTrails link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/tomales-point-trail--640

Crag R Carey's book on the LPNF is excellent.

It's also on a crazy sale right now for like 7 bucks.

Sandstone Peak via Mishe Mokwa Trail

No permits, no fees, and if you're there before 8 AM you'll find parking in the lots.

First off, the concerned keyboard warriors will be here any second telling you how terrible you are for wanting to get some air. They'll tell you about the need to reserve medical services and all that. But if you look through them, you can drive to Josephine Peak and go for a nice walk.

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/josephine-peak-trail?ref=sidebar-static-map

Happy birthday and remember that fucking Chipotle is still open and that tens if not hundreds of thousands of people will go to grocery stores as families and that you are not helping spread the virus by going for a hike as long as you don't touch people or break your leg.

There's a equilibrium with your sanity and the need to do what's good for public health. You've made your decision independently, I'm just here to answer your question not tell you what to do.

This is the loop trail that he was taking I figure. (based on the quote that it was a 6 mile trail)
He ended up in Devils Canyon just south of waterman so he definitely took a wrong turn.
You can't see any roads from the south side of Waterman.

I've hike the trail from 3 points to twin peaks...the trail that starts 4.2+ miles west of that waterman loop and ends up on the southern slope of waterman then goes south at the junction to the saddle below twin peaks....anyway i've hike it before and seen nobody at all on that trail all day long. Other times i've seen dozens of hikers on it. With bad luck and no knowledge of the trail it could be easy to take a wrong turn and then panic a bit I'm sure.
I've never hiked in Devils Canyon but that Waterman mountain trail that heads south from the loop hits a saddle that seems to be Devils Canyon. So maybe he hit that saddle where the maintained trail ends and headed west from there?

Cucamonga Peak is a good option. Here's a time lapse of the clouds I took a few weeks ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwLCSdO1vLU

Dude I felt like I was having a stroke looking at that zoomed in AllTrails link you posted. I just did the "Aliso Canyon" trail https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/aliso-canyon a few weeks back, and I was so confused trying to get my bearings on your map because nothing was making sense lmao

Finally zoomed out and realized what had happened

Have you not considered the Angeles National Forest? Depending on where you’re at, it’ll be a lot closer than Sespe.

To pick a trail, use the AllTrails app or website. It’s a very useful source of trail information. If you can provide more info about your fitness level and whether you’re looking for lots of elevation gain, waterfalls, or grand views, this sub can better help pinpoint suggestions.

For a nice 4-hour hike, I’d recommend hiking from Crystal Lake to Windy Gap to Mt. Islip. You should be able to park on the side of the road without a parking pass (Adventure Pass).

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/windy-gap-to-mount-islip-to-big-cienega-trail

Or you can hike from Icehouse Canyon to Icehouse Saddle and back. That hike will take you along a nice creek. Parking in the lot requires an Adventure Pass, but parking on the side of the road is free. If you start early on a Wednesday, like before 8am, it’ll be uncrowded.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/icehouse-canyon-to-icehouse-saddle

Short answer: because I messed up

Longer answer: because they're using the openstreetmap dataset, which is contributed by the public. Sometimes the public makes mistakes. Somebody complained ealier today, and I already fixed it. Revision that broke it:

https://www.openstreetmap.org/changeset/78859291

Revision that fixed it:

https://www.openstreetmap.org/changeset/86680347

I encourage everybody to participate to improve our map. If it's still not right, you can fix it!

Not lately! An amazing young person named Edgar McGregor has been personally clearing the trash out of Eaton Canyon every day during Covid, and has over 18 thousand lbs of trash over 589 days. It's now one of the cleanest hikes around.

He just went off to college, but there is now a community group going to take up the cleaning mantle in his absence. Very inspiring. But also agreed with you on the bros and bong rips.

https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=197313809&comment=635794955&init_source=search

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/08/974901455/climate-change-activist-spends-589-days-and-counting-picking-up-litter-in-calif

This is more east coast, but:

Yellow blazing: hitching rides instead of hiking the whole trail (the yellow line in the road)

Pink blazing: hiking slow or fast to catch a girl

Aqua blazing: using a waterway instead of hiking the trail

Future blazing: hiking along flagging destined to become the new trail

Blue blazing: taking the easy route (as often blue blazed trails are secondary trails that go around peaks and not over them)

PUDs: Pointless Ups and Downs

Turd: the first log down in a lean-to campfire set up. source

"Dilution is the solution to pollution"

LNT: Leave No Trace

Zero: a day off from hiking

Nero: night in town

Marathon: a hike around 26 miles or more

Edit: a few more

I've done Trail Canyon Falls twice in the last month. It's becoming one of my favorite hikes. Still lots of water up there: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/trail-canyon-falls

Hope you don't mind me suggesting something outside your guidelines, but The Needles is a short, fun hike with an absolutely breathtaking payoff.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/the-needles-trail

Ten Lakes in Yosemite is great. It's up in the high country so it's not as crowded. I went last year on fourth of July weekend and we had the place to ourselves pretty much. There is a campground near there that you can do day hikes out of too.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/ten-lakes-trail--3

Unigear Traction Cleats Ice Snow Grips with 18 Spikes for Walking, Jogging, Climbing and Hiking

Me, my husband and 4 of our friends all bought this brand from Amazon for around $30 and love them. They provide great traction and are easy to get on and off. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKHQ71C/ref=cm_sw_r_u_apa_i_n5Z.FbCD7334E?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

As u/Negred says, start with AllTrails. It will tell you where your dog-pal can join you. Happy hiking!

I think Sespe hot springs is what you’re looking for. It’s 1-2 hours to the trailhead from LA. It’s rated as a hard hike according to AllTrails. Good luck! https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/sespe-hot-springs-via-alder-creek?p=-1

Trail information:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/upper-rustic-garapito-loop-trail

It was already filling up by 6:40am when I got there. Go early for this one if you want to get a parking spot.

No tips really needed since it's all along a wide fire road. At most just bring microspikes in case the thaw freeze cycle turns parts of the road into ice. For the most part, the snow will likely be gone for the first half of the hike. Also bring chains in the car in case it's icy on the road in the morning just in case.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/josephine-peak-trail

It's a great conditioning hike with exceptional views.

Here's a link:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/whiting-woods-motorway-trail

It is rated as moderate. I would call it a serious moderate.

Check out this trail on AllTrails. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/backbone-trail-to-sandstone-peak-and-mishe-mokwa-trail-loop

This one is near L.A. (if you're looking for proximity). It's one of my favorites and is absolutely stunning with the views.

Happy (early) Anniversary! I've done around 30 different hikes around Southern California this year so if you have any other questions or need other recommendations with specific wants, feel free to message me.

According to a hiker's report on AllTrails it reopened Oct 9th. The most recent hike report from there was just yesterday.

I’ve always enjoyed Mishe Mokwa to Tri-Peaks and Sandstone Peak, but I’m not sure about fire damage in SM Mountains. Sandstone Peak has some shorter routes around it if you want something shorter. It’s a nice sequence of beautiful views.

If you’re doing the Ski Hut/Baldy Bowl trail up to Baldy and down the Devil’s Backbone trail, you’re looking at an 11.5-mile loop with 3,940’ of elevation gain. It’s one of the most common routes of ascending/descending Baldy.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/mount-san-antonio-mount-baldy-notch-trail

I prefer doing it clockwise: up the Ski Hut/Baldy Bowl trail, and down the DBB trail.

Bring plenty of water (2 L/person), keep your dog on a leash, bring a jacket for the very windy summit, and watch out for crowds on the narrow stretches of the DBB trail. Also, to get on the Ski Hut trail, keep a lookout for a path and sign on the left at about .7 miles from where you start.

For ski hut you're just taking that trail out & back, there's no alternate routes really unless you're going way farther. If you're summiting baldy I'd suggest the loop with ski hut + backbone.

Another option nearby could be Ice House Canyon, you can take it all the way to the saddle or stop a bit earlier.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/icehouse-canyon-to-icehouse-saddle

A couple people have asked for mileage, here is my AllTrails recording. There’s a fair amount of wandering around camp and by the front country but it shows the general path we took

If you want secluded, you'll need to do the shit that demands more effort than most people are willing to put in.

Here's my Alltrails recording of a 12mi out-and-back Topanga Canyon hike. I hadn't been on a decent hike for months and it kicked my ass real hard. It was awesome.

Safety

• Lots of people near the trailhead--the trail is quite narrow at the start and most people are half-assing it with the masks, more often than not failing to cover their faces by the time you're walking past them. Plan accordingly.
• After the first mile or so the trail widens to about 8ft so social distancing is not a problem.
  
• Wide trail except for the entirely avoidable loop section that goes into some smaller trails at the halfway point. So risk of a snake encounter seems about nil.
• Only safety concern would be associated with the heat and the sun and the local air quality but that's true everywhere. Lots of shade during the first mile, after that you can find some shade here and there from the cliffs and some trees but it does get sparse and there are long sections with no cover.

Seclusion

• High amount of traffic near the trailhead.
• Once I went past the 2mi mark though, I went almost 4 hours without seeing another human. I think one trailrunner dude ran past me. Then when I came back again and was within a mile or so of the trailhead, lots of people again.

Beauty

• Great views of the coast for the first and last 1/4 of the hike.
• Not sure what the URL looks like on a phone but on a computer you can scroll down on the left to see a handful of photos I took.
• Lots of lizards, a few birds here and there in the shade, a few hawks cruising in updrafts.

If you haven't hiked Old Mt. Baldy Trail yet you should. It's a brutal 1000 foot climb per mile (11.3 mile there and back, 5800 ft elevation change). This was the last trail we hiked prior to summiting Whitney in a day and it was the physically most demanding trail in our training. Whitney was easy in comparison.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/old-mount-baldy-trail

That's a completely different/coincidentally named spot.

Here's the peak OP & I are talking about.

haha, see you there. I'm expecting mid 80s to 90 or so, based off accu weather forecast at Kelso: https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/kelso/92309/may-weather/342460?year=2021

So, hot. And hot enough to get in trouble if you don't know what you're doing. But if you're prepped and are out and back early, probably fine. At least that's what I'm hoping. Overnight's still in the 60s, so I assume that means camping will be fine, and hiking fine as long as you're done by like 11a or 12p.

I just noticed a lot of them recently. Not so familiar but here is a quick search from Alltrails. Put their app or similar on your phone and you've got a lot of discoverin' to do.

https://www.alltrails.com/us/california/san-dimas

I agree. I was down that way a few weeks ago. I'm sure that this is the sign on the way to San Bernardino Peak.

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/san-bernardino-peak-trail-via-angelus-oaks

Hacienda Hills - 14500 7th Ave Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 (trailhead). It’s about - 1.5-2 hours round trip. Bring a hat and water because there isn’t a lot of shade.

Schabarum Park in City of Industry- https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/schabarum-purple-sage-and-powder-canyon-loop-trail. Parking is $6 since it’s a state/regional park but you can park across the street for free and just walk. There’s also a lot of different trails here instead of what’s listed on the link and is very well trafficked.

Both are my short, go-to trails and I live in the area as well. Both are less than 15 minutes away from Covina.

The Ladder Canyon Trail in the Mecca Hills Wilderness. Hot af this time of the year so I don't recommend going until it cools down. It's absolutely beautiful though and takes about 2-3 hours.

I’ve been researching backpack trips in and around the area of Vandenberg and south for some time but still haven’t done one — so not speaking from experience here, but maybe these might give you some leads:

A high point in Los Padres might be an option (if you search Zaca Peak there’s an article about a hike there.).

There’s also the Manzana Trail but the camping sites on that one seem lower elevation. There are some high hills nearby if you got up early enough.

This beach seems like it might have something but haven’t had time to finish researching camp options:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/jalama-beach-point-conception-de-anza-trail?p=-1

And this one looks like an awesome hike, but no camping allowed on the trail, but maybe there is something in the area? https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/paradise-beach-backpacking?p=-1

I’m interested to see if anyone else comes up with something good or what you end up doing. Seems like there’s gotta be something around there?

My wife and I started backing with trips to Devil’s Canyon and Cooper Canyon trail camp (starting at the Burkhart Trailhead). Both are along the Angeles Crest Highway. There’s little to no water at both sites, so bring plenty for your trip. I’d describe the hikes as moderate to difficult. Devil’s Canyon would be more on the difficult side since it’s about 3 miles down into the canyon, meaning you’d have to do 3 miles up the following day.

Happy trails.

Not exactly what you're asking for- but if you end up somewhere with restrictions, look into this propane fire pit. Obviously a real fire is better, but mine has saved many camping trips as these fire restrictions become more and more common. $60 on Amazon with prime shipping.

Camp Chef Propane Outdoor Portable Campfire https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000L4HSH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9534xbGCNYS18

I use a Garmin eTrex for 90% of my hikes. Rugged, saves phone battery, and replaceable AA batteries.

I use Backcounty Nav on my phone for very short hikes where I want to be ultralight. It is a powerful app, but can be confusing because of so many features. Haven't tried the other apps so can't comment on them.

Also, I recommend getting the peakbagger.com app. Easy to find or identify nearby mountains, download tracks, and track location. Only used the android version, not sure about the apple version.

>fort at altitude is the ability to as someone said, 'put one foot in front of the other for 22 miles'. The good news is that you can do plenty of that without altitude. It sure helps t

One thing I don't see people mention often on here is other preparation for altitude. I have neve had altitude sickness so can't vouch for these, but I do take them a few days in advance. Altitude RX and cloroxygen and day of.

You can take the fire road to South Mount Hawkins. The road probably isn’t very scenic compared to the usual trail up to Windy Gap or down that southbound ridge.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/crystal-lake-to-south-mt-hawkins-trail?p=-1

Mt.Lukens via Deukmajian Park :

https://hikingguy.com/hiking-trails/best-la-hikes/hike-mt-lukens-from-deukmejian-wilderness-park/

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/mount-lukens-from-deukmajian-wilderness-park

Here's our list. We chose a few from the official six-pack of peaks challenge, and a few of our own.

https://www.alltrails.com/lists/rat-pack-of-peaks--3?p=24351732

-Sitton -Mt Hawkins -San Antonio -San Jacinto -San Gorgonio -Santiago

We may have to adjust due to the burn areas, but staying optimistic about the rest. We're excited.

Here's our list. We chose a few from the official six-pack of peaks challenge, and a few of our own.

https://www.alltrails.com/lists/rat-pack-of-peaks--3?p=24351732

-Sitton -Mt Hawkins -San Antonio -San Jacinto -San Gorgonio -Santiago

We may have to adjust due to the burn areas, but staying optimistic about the rest. We're excited.

Try this one!

I don't think it's it to the tee I veered off where it split between "front of sign" and "back sign". Can't miss it!

Trail

Rabbit and Villager

Rabbit Peak and Villager Peak Trail - California | AllTrails

​

You need to be comfortable with off trail travel, the way up often the trail goes away and you just go up the ridge, but if you are ok with paying attention to where you are its not hard to figure out where to go.

I didn’t hike today because of the rain, but I’m hiking Zuma falls in the morning! The trail is mostly sand, so I’m curious to see if it’s a washout when I get up tomorrow and go out there.

Cleveland was genuinely spectacular. I did Garnet Peak, which I would not recommend to anyone new to hiking as it’s quite narrow and rocky (I saw you mention favouring an afternoon proposal and would add I absolutely did not want to descend from Garnet with my dog after dark, so I turned back a solid thirty minutes before sunset to be clear of those rocks; great hike, brilliant views, just not for newbies or when you’re breaking in some new boots, imo; very easy to twist an ankle). If you opt for it — and as a heads up, there’s snow in the forecast there for the next few days, so dress VERY warm and wear sensible shoes / bring spare socks, etc., and also be aware of possible road closures and tricky driving conditions — I’d recommend one of the Laguna Lake trails. They’re open meadows, which means low-grade and relatively easy to navigate as long as you have a flashlight and download the map via AllTrails. Something like this would be short, safe, easy, and pretty, imo: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/little-laguna-lake-and-big-laguna-lake

I love the Sandstone peak hike! It’s the highest point for miles and you can see so far! I think that hike is about 3 miles and it is up hill a good bit but I’d still say moderate in difficulty. It is heavily trafficked sometimes, during the early day on Monday perhaps it will be less or if you get out there early AM. There’s a lot of fun Boulders and such you can monkey around on as well.

If you decide to do Sandstone but it seems super busy, there’s grotto falls right down the road from there that’s a lot of fun too! Less overall views but you’re hiking along a creek and then the grotto at the end. It’s a neat spot. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/grotto-trail

Good luck and have fun!!

I recommend Anza-Borrego: Sheep canyon be sure to do your research, bring extra water, tell people where you are going and when you plan to be back. It’s a fun adventure but not recommended for beginners

Forest Hill

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/forest-hill-lizs-owl-alpha-and-conservancy-loop

I've always liked the George F Canyon trail (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/george-f-canyon-nature-trail). It's short, but suprisingly peaceful once you get a ways in, and there's a nice view of the LA basin at the top. Go early or late enough and you'll probably be the only one there.

I just slept in my RV when I went there so not 100% sure on camping rules, but I think it's basically "walk a bit away from the road and set up wherever" like Joshua Tree seems to be (again could be wrong there too since I haven't camped it yet lol).

As far as trails I'm definitely looking at this one for the next time I go back: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/cottonwood-marble-canyon-loop

But on my first time there, I just did a lot of aimless wandering / little baby trails to/from notable spots and whatnot. And will definitely be making a separate trip for Telescope during a time that's a bit hotter where I wouldn't want to be doing multi-day stuff there (since right now it's perfect for that, but don't want to deal with the snowy Telescope route yet since I have no experience there)

It's just a really neat stretch of land in general and great for kinda aimless wandering, other than the lack of water/supplies. Joshua Tree obviously 100x more convenient since at any point you can just swing out of the park and grab Del Taco or something in town lol. Death Valley is kind of a commitment!

Here’s an all trails write up for stubbe springs loop. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/stubby-springs-loop it is combined with the crht in the area you were hiking but there should have been a fork at some point that allowed for you to go left to the standalone portion of the stubbe spring loop before it eventually rejoins the crht further west towards black rock. I’ve done the loop twice years ago as a day hike from Ryan campground. Extreme solitude (saw no other hikers either time on the stand alone portion of it) and the trail can be very difficult to follow as it keeps entering and exiting washes. There is another offshoot trail called fan canyon overlook or something like that which adds another .3 miles each way if I remember right and it gives you a similar lower elevation view as keys view. I didn’t see any running water but noticed more vegetation and I believe a few palms and such where the spring was located on my map.

>https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/mount-san-antonio-mount-baldy-notch-trail

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but for the Ski Hut / Baldy Bowl 11.5-mi trail, which way (clockwise or counter) is easier on the knees during descent for you guys? Thanks!

Baldy might be a miserable experience if they aren't used to high elevation and steep terrain, even if they proceed slowly. In fact, hiking slowly seems to prolong the misery during the last mile up to Baldy. However, if they specifically want to hike to Mt. Baldy despite the 4,000'+ of elevation gain, then I'd say go for it.

Mt. Baden-Powell is probably the best alternative to Baldy for its views, high elevation, and not too punishing ascent.

Another option is South Mt. Hawkins at 7,786' from Crystal Lake. It's just outside of the closure zone, isn't too steep, and has amazing views from the old fire lookout. The main negative aspect is having to hike 3+ miles on a boring dirt road.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/crystal-lake-to-south-mt-hawkins-trail

i would check out the La Jolla Valley hike-in campgrounds and surrounding trails. The campgrounds are very secluded because each spot is surrounded by large thicket brush.

The surrounding area is mostly chaparral but you can hike up the nearby hills and get amazing views of the ocean.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/la-jolla-valley-loop

When I read the title, I jumped right to 'books'...silly me.

Anyway, this is a very good guide book: Climbing California's Fourteeners: 183 Routes to the Fifteen Highest Peaks

So reading the comments holy shit ha I can't tell if you are in the denial or bargaining phase of mourning.

I agree with the consensus, no stoves or esbits or sneaking in fire breathing circus people since it's not explicitly banned or whatever.

I love a coffee when I am peak bagging in the forest so it kind of sucks but whatever I will avoid the stove so my ke in the forest when I'm dead. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children and all that.

Here's an Amazon link for MRE heaters, takes about 10 minutes but you can buy them separate (MRE's suck) and it's what I will use to heat my freeze dried meals and coffee on all day/multi day hikes until it snows and I can use my stove again.

Put the coffee in a Nalgene and pop it in a bag and you'll have 100 degree coffee in ten minutes. Not the greatest but better than burning down the forest or getting fined by the forestry department.

I agree with above. I would suggest doing something like the So Cal Six Pack Challenge to get a sense of hiking, your fitness level and if you enjoy it. I have fortunately never had altitude sickness, but I always use Altitude RX starting a few days before, just in case.

My advice, pass on the big one until you know you can do the smaller ones. There is a lot of joy and accomplishment in the local mountains while you find yourself.

I did San Gorgonio two weeks ago today and suffered a bit because the pace set by my son in-law; and on a backpacking trip this week, did Langley on Monday and Whitney (from Guitar Lake) on Wednesday, at my pace.

Do you have any camping gear? If not I'd recommend figuring out what your budget is. If you can borrow or rent a few things to try it that's a great start. Try a few nights where you car camp at a tent only site you can try out your gear without being stuck somewhere 5 miles in without getting your tent set up correctly. If you get a new tent set it up in your backyard or a tent where you can look up instructions if you get stuck/grumpy. (This 100% saved my marriage once)

Anyway there's a ton of campsites you can hike a tiny bit to, find them in this book:

https://www.amazon.com/Moon-California-Camping-Complete-Travel-dp-164049619X/dp/164049619X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

My favorite tiny hike to a campsite is Santa Rosa island which is one of the channel islands national park. It's just over 2 miles to the campsite and there's running (bad tasting) water and flushing toilets so it really eases you into the program.

There's a book on the subject

https://smile.amazon.com/Plan-Trans-Catalina-Backbone-Trails-long-distance/dp/1943126089/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=trans+catalina+trail&qid=1646896863&sprefix=trans+catali%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-1

Day Hiking Los Angeles: City Parks / Santa Monica Mountains / San Gabriel Mountains by Casey Schreiner

https://modernhiker.com/hike-finder/

This is one of my favorites in the area. Just be careful as we came across a herd of cows and there were people trying to take selfies with some calfs. There was a large bull staring at them.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/bishop-peak-trail-from-highland-drive-trail

There are lots of trails around for beginners. Take a look at AllTrails, find an interesting one near you labeled "easy" or "moderate" and give it a try. Don't get too ambitious for your first hike. Use sun protection (SPF and hat!) and carry plenty of water. Scroll back through r/socalhiking for tips and recommendations.

Portuguese Bend has some okay trails. I've gone a few times.

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/portuguese-bend-reserve

Agreed, that'll do if Chantry is closed. The Chantry Flats area is nice, but the route via the Trail Inn has its unique features too.

Here's a map of the route for reference: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/mt-wilson-via-little-santa-anita-canyon

People usually do it the other way starting from the Baldy Visitor Center. Google "Baldy Three Ts" and you should get some results.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/old-mount-baldy-to-three-ts-loop

It was very warm considering. 65F at the peak. 44F low temp at camp. Here are a couple of resources: https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/San-Gorgonio/forecasts/3505

Also, https://www.wunderground.com/weather/us/ca/forest-falls/KCAFORES69 is the weather station near the trail head. Look at the high and low temps, then subtract 4F for each 1,000ft gain in elevation-this will give you a ballpark of how it will be at whatever elevation you camp/hike at. The parking lot is about 6,000ft elevation.

They're cheap Chinese crampons. I guess they would be fine to use a handful of times to see if you want to get into mountaineering. I wouldn't use them heavily though.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-BRS-S1A-fourteen-teeth-long-teech-bundled-crampons-ice-gripper/32537346101.html

Switzer Falls towards Bear Canyon camp has a multitude of swimming holes. However, you will be amongst a ton of people if you go on a weekend.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/switzer-falls-and-bear-canyon-camp-via-gabrelino-trail

Bulldog Loop (Malibu, CA) - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/bulldog-loop

Gridley-Pratt Loop (Ojai, CA) - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/gridley-trail-nordhoff-ridge-and-pratt-trail-loop

I’ve done both of these loops. I’d give them both 4/5s. Bulldog is a fire road but it’s a pretty nice long hike especially considering its proximity to LA. Gridley-Pratt is a 5/5 in the early spring when there’s fog and it’s a rich green with the wildflowers in bloom. They’re better in the winter due to elevation/heat, but they’re perfectly doable in the summer as well if you start at dawn.

PS the Mt Wilson loop sucks. Just do the sturtevant Trail to Mt Wilson and back. Winter Creek Trail is a snooze.

Punch Bowls was getting trashed and graffitied. People were walking out on the curvy 150 and one girl got hit by a car. Search and rescue was getting calls almost every day. It was necessary. The top reviews on AllTrails tell a fuller story.

River Preserve is only closed Friday-Monday so that local users can still access it. Same thing was happening on a smaller scale: trash, spraypaint, habitat destruction, etc.

We got to Chandry flats yesterday (Friday) at 8am, and as expected, the parking lot was full. We did park a quarter mile down the road. We did this loop. There were a lot of people before we pass the Sturtevant Falls, mostly free afterwards and crossed a few people on the way up. Once we reached Mt. Wilson at ~12:45, a ranger told us we couldn't walk on the Observatory premises if we didn't wear masks (thankfully all of us had one). We grabbed lunch at one of the picnic tables and rested for ~1 hour, filled up our battles at the station next to the Cosmic Cafe (cafe was closed), and made it back to Chandry flats at ~5pm. We met a few more people on the way down but that probably was because it was during the afternoon. It's probably better to hike during the week to avoid crowds.

Black Mountain Trail's the one to take. I went there a couple years ago and the sequoias are beautiful. They're not as old as their northernmost cousins, but are still impressive.

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/cottonwood-marble-canyon-loop?ref=sidebar-static-map

About 4.4m round trip. Did this over 3 days in November. I wouldn't risk a low clearance vehicle once the road enters the wash. Not worth having to get towed.

We had a Jeep specifically so I wouldnt have to do the road walk. Let me know if you have questions.

I think this is a good and challenging one. Classic overnighter, water at the end, dispersed camping, great views.

It's called Upper Bear Creek Canyon. You're in southern California so you're going to have to deal with elevation. The AllTrails link will show 18 miles, but you don't have to do that much. The hike starts with 5 miles of gradual switchbacks that work up to Smith Mountain. After that it's a gradual walk back down the other side all the way to Bear Creek. Once you get there you can camp anywhere and go as long as you want down the side of the creek.

If you make it to the creek and keep going just a bit and camp, turn around the next morning it's about 4 hours hiking each way, 10 miles or so. Only downside is sun exposure on the way up Smith Mtn and elevation.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/upper-bear-creek

Hmm are you talking about the West Cucamonga Truck Trail?? If you check out the map you’ll see a trail that snakes further up the mountain and can allegedly take you an alternative way up to Cucamonga Peak.

Sounds like you're looking for the North Etiwanda Preserve, one of my favorite hikes in the area. You can hike straight up to the waterfall from the parking lot, but I recommend exploring the loop as you get a more intimate experience with the expansive foothills below the Baldy Bowl as well as wonderful panoramic views across the Inland Empire. I highly recommend it.

All trails has some reports from May 2018

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/hurricane-deck-trail

Sounds partly overgrown but not awful?

I haven't made the trip yet, have also been researching. Regarding patrols and ticketing, that's a recent thing - the line was sold, they're building a new customs port west of Campo, and planning to reopen the line for freight sometime soon (per the folks at the rail museum in Campo who run a historic train on part of the route). I've heard patrols/tickets are more likely if you go in from I-8/De Anza Spring Resort, and much less likely from Dos Cabezas side.

The Mortero Palms route is legit, since it's all in Anza-Borrego DSP - only the trestle itself would be on railroad property. It sounds like GPS would be smart, especially if none of you have done the route before. You can download the GPS route from AllTrails, and there are a couple recent reviews on there as well. Good luck, and have fun!

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/goat-canyon-trestle-bridge-from-mortero-palms

Oh yeah this is Morton Ridge Trail. Just take the 38 east outside of Redlands and it’ll take you into the valley. The link should show you where the trailhead is. Also, if you’re interested, there’s a parking lot across the trailhead that’ll give you easy access to Mill Creek, which flows quite nicely down the valley. Should be flowing very well right now. Have fun!

It was great up there! Tomorrow should be really pretty, but I'd make sure to check the roads up if you were thinking of driving up to the peak. Maple Springs Road was closed, so you would be doing the 17-18 mile hike.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/maple-spring-truck-trail

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/cleveland/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5340229

I did Moshe Mokwa to Tri-Peaks and Sandstone Peak a couple weekends ago and would recommend it. Did the side excursion to the Balanced Rock and that was pretty awesome - only person on the trail heading in and out. Also did Tri-Peaks and was the only person going in and out. Getting closer to Sandstone Peak I got a lot of traffic, otherwise only passed three other people on the first 6ish miles. Ended up at about 8.5 miles total w the side excursions.

Yes, the Gabrielino Trail: Jet Propulsion Laboratory to the USFS Dam is under shade most the way, especially in the afternoon and there's lots of creek crossings to cool off when it's hotter.

As others have suggested, the Gabrielino Trail is a good 2 night backpacking trip. I would recommend this itinerary:

Red line - Hollywood to union station Gold line - union station to arcadia Ride share - arcadia to chantry flats Hike 25 miles - AllTrailsalltrails Walk to intersection of Altadena/trailhead Metro bus route 267 - to walnut/Raymond Gold line - short walk to station, then train home

Note that metro bus route has service hourly on the weekends until about 6 pm.

Trail recording. Didn’t have the energy to make it to Santiago Peak so we settled for Modjeska. One of the longest distance day hikes I’ve done. The trails mostly a dirt road so not the prettiest, but one of the few ways to legally get up to Saddleback right now.

I dont know to be honest. Here is the link to the trail to check it out. Im not to familiar with the whitney trail

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/onion-valley-campground-to-flower-lake

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/backbone-trail-to-sandstone-peak-and-mishe-mokwa-trail-loop

Good hike. I find inspiration point to be a better stop than sandstone peak. Less crowded, nice view, nice breeze, it's where I stop for lunch.

You can actually do both! It wasn't particularly difficult, not even 9 miles I don't think. We didn't do too much in the way of mine exploring, but walking along the creek during the actually hot part of the day was really nice. I think it would be fine for a beginner, but not like a "never been hiking anywhere besides up to the Griffith Observatory" beginner. https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map--12480

I hiked Modjeska and Santiago peaks back in March. The Holy Jim trail was closed then and still is now, but we took the Harding Truck trail up. The trail was closed to vehicles, but open to pedestrians. If you really want to get to the peak this is a good option, albeit longer.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/harding-truck-trail?p=23314194

You got it! Let me know if this link doesn’t work

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/santiago-peak-via-cadillac-and-joplin-trails--19?p=-1

To clarify, I hiked to Santiago Peak. This same route would take you to Modjeska by making a left at the saddle.