Bear Canyon Front Country Loop

This loop is a hefty one in the front country of the San Gabriel Mountains, near Altadena. The route begins and ends at the parking area for the Mt. Lowe Road Trailhead near Millard Falls, and utilizes a number of trails including Mt. Lowe Road, Tom Sloan Trail, Bear Canyon Trail, Gabrielino Trail, Ken Burton Trail, and Brown Mountain Truck Trail. This route is a significant undertaking, and should be attempted by experienced adventurers only. It is a possibility to make this an overnight trip by camping at Bear Canyon Trail Camp or at Oakwilde Trail Camp. Research conditions of the trail camps and trails before you go. In the winter and spring, the trails can be wet, and significant water crossings may be unavoidable, especially along the Gabrielino Trail. 

This route will be briefly described in a counterclockwise direction. From the trailhead, take the Mt. Lowe Road to begin the long journey winding up into the San Gabriel Mountains. This is a pretty relentless 6-mile climb, but you can periodically distract yourself with views of the LA Basin and a number of recently-renovated historical signs about the Mt. Lowe Railroad, upon whose former path you are now schlepping. Near the Mt. Lowe Trail Camp (near mile 5), there are pit toilets as well as a stream that often flows late into the season. Less than a mile later (around mile 5.7), follow signs to take the Tom Sloan Trail. This nearly 2 miles of single track is arguably some of the best in Angeles National Forest. Around mile 7.5, the single track meets Tom Sloan Saddle, an intersection of excellent options. Here take the right onto Bear Canyon Trail to descend to Bear Creek and Bear Canyon Trail Camp. This eventually intersects with the Gabrielino Trail; take the left toward Oakwilde Trail Camp, descending further into Long Canyon and Arroyo Seco. At mile 14, our route takes the Ken Burton Trail for a steep climb up toward Wella’s Peak, and where, at the saddle for this final climb, the route becomes the Brown Mountain Truck Trail. This final descent is long and winding, and the hiker and runner need to be aware of the mountain bikes flying down behind them. After meeting Millard Trail Camp, our route finishes just up the paved route.