Leaving the Sierra Palona, Entering the San Gabriel Mountains

c) Andrew Carter, 2021

After I passed through the Lake Fire burn zone, I had to cross from one mountain range to another. The northern range is the Sierra Palona. The southern range is the San Gabriel. The San Gabriel is the range which serves as the backdrop to downtown Los Angeles when looking from the ocean. In between the Sierra Palona and the San Gabriel are two canyons — Escondido Canyon and Soledad Canyon. The Antelope Freeway uses Escondido Canyon to get from Santa Clarita to Palmdale. The Santa Clara River flows through Soledad Canyon. The climb out of Soledad Canyon to the crest of the San Gabriel was a beast — 4000 feet of altitude gain over 14 trail miles.

Out of the Lake Fire burn zone, just north of Lake Hughes Road.
Cowboy camping in a river bed next to Lake Hughes Road.
Sierra Palona between Lake Hughes Road and San Francisquito Canyon Road.
A view of the Bouquet Reservoir in the Sierra Palona.
Ridgetop campsite in the Sierra Palona.
Day hiker cars
The south end of the Sierra Palona above Agua Dulce and Escondido Canyon.
Vazquez Rocks Natural Area, next to the Antelope Freeway. Just park your car near the rocks.
Antelope Freeway in the distance.
Culvert used by the PCT to cross under the Antelope Freeway.
Climbing up into the San Gabriel.
Getting closer to the crest.
Made it. View from Mt. Gleason.

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Andrew Carter

I just completed a multi-year thru hike (MYTH) of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). It took three years. I hiked 1840 miles in 2021, 733 miles in 2022, and 122 miles in 2023. The only reason I had to hike in 2023 was a wildfire closure at the north end of the PCT in 2022. During the past two years, I've also thru hiked other, shorter US trails. I hiked the Benton MacKaye Trail (GA, NC, TN) and the Tuscarora Trail (VA, WV, MD, PA) in 2022 plus the Ozark Highlands Trail (AR) in 2023. I hope to hike the Long Trail (VT) next year and the Colorado Trail at some point in the future. Please note, all content on this site is copyright.

5 thoughts on “Leaving the Sierra Palona, Entering the San Gabriel Mountains”

  3. Where will you be around May 6-9? Not too far from LA? I was thinking we could bring you some supplies, if you need them.

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