Eaton Saddle / Brown Canyon Loop

This is an 18-mile loop through a scenic section of the San Gabriel Mountains located about an hour away from downtown Los Angeles, California. This loop follows mostly singletrack trails and can be completed in a day or used as part of an overnight backpacking trip. This trip is suitable for running, hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking. 

Approximately 8 miles of the loop are downhill, followed by 8 miles of moderately graded uphill, and the final 2 miles are a descent from the top of San Gabriel Peak. Along the trail, you will cross scenic ridges lined with chaparral and traverse deep canyons with large stands of oaks and bigcone Douglas-fir.  The route takes you through several backcountry campsites and historical sites, including the Mueller Tunnel, Mount Lowe Railway, and the Tom Sloan Trail, which used to connect two popular mountain resorts, Mount Lowe Tavern and Switzer’s (the resorts have been closed since 1936). 

TRAILS USED

Eaton Saddle Trail → Mount Lowe Trail → Tom Sloan Trail → Bear Canyon Trail → Gabrielino Trail → San Gabriel Peak Trail → Eaton Saddle Trail.

MILEAGES AND DESCRIPTIONS

00.00 - Eaton Saddle Trailhead

00.50 - Markham Saddle

01.20 - Junction for Mount Lowe Summit

02.60 - Junction for Mount Lowe Trail Camp

02.90 - Tom Sloan Trail

04.87 - Tom Sloan Saddle / Bear Canyon Trail

08.17 - Gabrielino Trail

09.56 - Colby Canyon

13.56 - Red Box Picnic Area

14.00 - Mount Wilson Road → Bill Reilly Trail

16.00 - Mount Disappointment Road Briefly

16.01 - Junction for San Gabriel Peak summit trail

17.50 - Junction for Eaton Saddle Trail

18.00 - Eaton Saddle Trailhead

ALTERNATES

To decrease the overall mileage you can skip the out-and-back’s to Mount Lowe summit and San Gabriel Peak. 

TRAILHEAD INFO 

• Trailhead is located at Eaton Saddle off of Mount Wilson Road.

• Small parking area located on both sides of the road. 

• Eaton Saddle Trailhead information can also be found at https://www.summitpost.org/eaton-saddle/227096. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Eaton Saddle Trailhead: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/angeles/recarea/?recid=41856.

Red Box Picnic Area: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/angeles/recarea/?recid=41980. 

Switzer Picnic Site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/angeles/recarea/?recid=41830.