Mt Wilson Trail Hike

In This Guide Turn by Turn Hike Directions & Hike Video

Mt Wilson Trail Maps

Parking for the Mt Wilson Trail

Getting Ready for the Hike Total Distance 14.5 miles (23.3 km) Hike Time 6 Hours (Total) Difficulty (?) Hard Total Ascent (?) 5,640 feet (1719m) Highest Elevation 5,712 feet (1741m) Fees & Permits Free Dogs Allowed No Alerts & Closures (?) Angeles National Forest Park Phone 626-574-1613

The Mt Wilson Trail is the oldest route to the summit to Mt Wilson. Unlike the popular route to Mt Wilson from Chantry Flat, the Mt Wilson Trail is mellow and lacks the crowds and kids looking for the waterfall. The Mt Wilson Trail offers beautiful views as it ascends the side of Little Santa Anita Canyon, and being the oldest trail, offers some historical landmarks as well. If you’ve only hiked Mt Wilson from Chantry Flat, I highly recommend giving this route a try too.

How to Get to the Mt Wilson Trail

Getting to the trailhead is relatively easy. You park on the street (for free) around Mt Wilson Trail Park and walk a few minutes up the street to the actual trailhead. The address to use is:

Mt Wilson Trail Park, 189 E Mira Monte Ave, Sierra Madre, CA 91024

The neighborhood is residential so please be respectful of neighbors, especially if you’re leaving in the early hours of the morning. There are bathrooms in the park but are sometimes locked; try to go before you arrive. There are bathrooms at the summit though.

Gear For the Hike

This is a tough, long hike and you need proper hiking gear. Bring 3L of water, snacks, and proper navigation gear. When you get to the summit you can refill your water bottles and grab a bite at the Cosmic Cafe (check the hours, open seasonally). Sometimes there can be bugs, bring some bug spray just in case.

Mt Wilson Trail Maps

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Mt Wilson Trail Elevation Profiles

Mt Wilson Trail History

Mt Wilson is named after General Patton’s grandfather, Benjamin Davis Wilson, a local big-wig in the 1800s and one-time mayor of LA. He owned the land around here and went to the summit in search of timber.

The path he took to the summit followed the Native American Tongya’s path to the summit, which happens to be the same route as the Mt Wilson Trail.

The first telescope at the summit observatory was brought up this trail in 1889.

The Mt Wilson Trail became a favorite hike for tourists, leading to the development attractions along the route. First Water (see directions below) was a popular picnic spot and water refill station from the 1890s on. A short distance up from First Water was a small general store called Quarter-Way House, built in 1888, and burned down in 1945. (If anyone can find ruins, please send me a picture with the location). Orchard Camp, which you can see the ruins of on the hike, was a resort from the 1890s to the 1930s. In 1911 at the height of its popularity, 40,000 visitors signed the camp register. It was destroyed in the 1938 floods. Lizzie’s Trail Inn, at the trailhead, served as a place where hikers could eat and get supplies. Today it’s a museum.

The electric streetcar line was extended to Sierra Madre in 1906, allowing lots of folks to hike the Mt Wilson Trail before cars were a thing.

It remained popular until the 1950s, when it became so degraded that in 1953 a sign that said “unsafe to travel” was posted.

In the 1960s volunteers started to restore the trail and continue to do so today, funded by donations to the Sierra Madre Community Foundation.

There’s a really great write-up on the history of the trail here if you want to dive deeper.

Mt Wilson Trail Hike Directions

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Video Directions

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Turn by Turn Directions

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