Mount Hillyer in the San Gabriel Mountains

Mount Hillyer
in the San Gabriel Mountains

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Mount Hillyer hike Los Angeles San Gabriel Mountains hike Angeles National Forest California Silver Moccasin Trail Chilao Horse Flats Campground

Rising to just over 6,200 feet, Mount Hillyer is actually one of the easier summits to reach in the high country of the San Gabriel Mountains. Beyond its boulder piles and pine forests, the stretched-out summit offers several sweeping views of nearby peaks and canyons. The shortest route to the summit involves hiking 1.33 miles up Mount Hillyer Trail from Horse Flats Campground, gaining 575 feet. A firebreak clears the ridge that runs along the top of Mount Hillyer, and you will want to hike a mile around the summit to pursue all the views. For a longer hike, you may start from a nearby trailhead located between the Chilao Visitor Center and Chilao Campground, and hike an additional 1.25 miles up Silver Moccasin Trail to reach Horse Flats Campground. There is 1,000 feet of elevation gain on this longer venture, spread out over a 6.25-mile round trip hike.

Starting on Silver Moccasin Trail, you will hike north up the dirt single track, gaining 400 feet in the first 0.9 miles as you enjoy westward views over Chilao Campground toward Big Tujunga Canyon. The trail levels out and finds the shade of Jeffrey pines before coming to a marked junction with Mount Hillyer Trail. Turn left here. After a tenth of a mile, the trail passes Horse Flats Campground, where you may meet hikers setting out from the closer starting point.

Looking down over the area surrounding Chilao Campground from Silver Moccasin Trail

From Horse Flats Campground, Mount Hillyer Trail continues through an aromatic forest of thigh-high sage and lofty pines that reach up toward the piercing blue sky. Hop across a small seasonal creek and begin the westward climb to the summit.

The trail rarely gets uncomfortably steep as it ascends over and around granite boulders, and weaves through thick tree trunks. Two-thirds of a mile from Horse Flats Campground, Mount Hillyer Trail passes a clearing on the right that would make a nice spot for backpackers to set up camp. There are interesting boulder formations nearby too. Around this point, the trail becomes a bit tricky to follow in a few places. Stay vigilant and continue up the mountain. To reward the effort you’ll have refreshing views east over pine treetops toward Mount Waterman and Twin Peaks.

Looking down Mount Hillyer Trail toward Mount Waterman and Twin Peaks

The trail breaks out of the forest onto a firebreak, and before you realize it, you’ve reached the 6,215-foot summit. It is hard to tell when you’ve arrived because the highpoint does not distinguish itself by rising far above the rest of the mountain. Instead, there is a long ridge running across Mount Hillyer that crowns at the unpronounced summit. Mount Hillyer Trail angles north across a shallow saddle to another rise on the ridge, a quarter mile up the firebreak. This northern rise is only a few feet shorter then the actual summit. Ahead, the trail drops off the mountain, eventually reaching Santa Clara Divide Road. If you continued descending this way, you could turn right on the road to loop back to Horse Flats Campground. This is an optional return route that can be used by those who prefer to hike along a paved road rather than go out-and-back along the same trail. Before leaving Mount Hillyer, be sure to see what else the summit has to offer.

There is a rock pile in the dip on the ridge between the two bumps topping Mount Hillyer. This is a natural spot to take a break and rest your legs. On the backside of the boulders, you’ll find a great view looking west toward canyons carved by Alder Creek and north toward Mount Pacifico. Because Mount Hillyer has a round top, the tall dense pines make it is hard to get clear panoramic views elsewhere on the summit.

Looking southwest down the firebreak on Mount Hillyer

The best views from Mount Hillyer by far come from the vantage point at the southwest end of the firebreak. Follow the use trail heading down the firebreak, which breaks off from Mount Hillyer Trail near the summit. To the east, you’ll have clear views toward Mount Waterman and Twin Peaks. The south face of the mountain is covered with short brush instead of pines, to allow unobstructed views. To the south, you can look out over Mount Mooney, Vetter Mountain and several lower summits in the San Gabriel Mountains. To the west, you get a panoramic look at the expansive drainage carved by Alder Creek that feeds into Big Tujunga Canyon. The path ends at Mount Hillyer’s premier viewpoint. Only a very faint path continues down off the mountain, so this is a good place to head back. As a bonus, if you have a look around before you turn around, you’ll find a hidden geocache.

Mount Hillyer
Looking west from the end of the firebreak over the canyons carve by Alder Creek

Prepare to regain about fifty feet as you hike a quarter mile back to the junction with Mount Hillyer Trail. Turn right at the summit and hike 1 1/3 miles back down to Horse Flats Campground, or 2.6 miles back to the trailhead between Chilao Campground and the Chilao Visitor Center. No permit is required to hike Mount Hillyer Trail. A day use pass (adventure pass) is required to park a vehicle at either trailhead. If you pay to camp at Horse Flats Campground (or Chilao Campground) and leave your vehicle at your site, an adventure pass is not needed to hike Mount Hillyer Trail.

Mount Hillyer Trail is a worthwhile venture. While the summit might not appear to offer great views at first, by exploring the mountaintop you can discover fantastic sights of the surrounding San Gabriel Mountains. Dogs and mountain bikes are welcome (though bikers will likely have trouble over rocky parts of the trail between Horse Flats Campground and the summit), so get out and enjoy!

To get to Horse Flats Campground: From the 210 Freeway in La Cañada Flintridge, head northeast on Angeles Crest Highway (CA 2) for 28.4 miles to Santa Clara Divide Road (Forest Road 3N17), which is two miles past Newcomb Ranch. Turn left on Santa Clara Divide Road and drive 2.3 miles west over a winding road, until you turn left again on a final narrow paved road into the campground.

Campground address: Forest Service Road 3N17, Angeles National Forest, Pearblossom, CA 93553
Campground coordinates: 34.345048, -118.010675

To get to the Silver Moccasin Trailhead: From the 210 Freeway in La Canada, head northeast on Angeles Crest Highway (CA 2) for 26.2. A mile after the turnoff for Chilao Campground, and a quarter mile before Newcomb Ranch, turn left toward the closed Chilao Visitor Center. Drive 0.7 miles, passing the visitor center and a picnic area, to reach a small parking area for the trailhead for Silver Moccasin Trail on the right side of the road.

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Photos

Silver Moccasin Trail

Mount Hillyer Trail

These photos were taken in June of 2012. Click to enlarge.

Nearby Trails

	Winston Ridge and Winston Peak This 4.85-mile partial loop bags a summit and a scenic ridge in the high San Gabriel Mountains.
	Mount Waterman This 5.5-mile hike methodically ascends 1,300 feet, passing through a pine forest to reach a round summit with big views.
	Cooper Canyon Falls This 3-mile hike leaves from Buckhorn Campground and visits a short waterfall in an enchanting glen of tall pines.
	Mount Baden-Powell This 8.25-mile round trip hike ascends 2,834 feet to one of the tallest summits in the San Gabriel Mountains and a monument to Lord Baden-Powell, a BSA icon and the founder of the Scout Movement.
	More trails in the San Gabriel Mountains Explore other destinations in the range.

Nearby Camping

	Horse Flats Campground This 25-site campground in the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains offers first-come first-serve equestrian-friendly sites.
	Coulter Group Campground This single-site campground accommodates up to 50 people per night, offering fresh mountain air and sweeping views at 5,300 feet.
	Buckhorn Campground Buckhorn Campground is an hour drive up the Angeles Crest Highway from LA and a great weekend spot for summer tent camping.