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 Reporter |
Summary: This is a great hike through one of the best places in the Angeles Forest. This is wonderful high country hiking along one of the best sections of the PCT in Southern California. This trail is pretty straightforward, lots of steady up grade to the top, you can venture off on the side peaks as well. Throop and Burnham only add 350 feet in elevation gain and .5 to your mileage. Throop is worthwhile, Burnham is just a bump on the trail, but a must if you are peak bagging. The view from Baden Powell is spectacular, even on a day obscured by fires, or haze. The high country is amazing. You can even choose to follow along the ridgeline the entire way if you wish. One of the most outstanding things about this trail is that you can see where you are going and where you have been along the entire route. In my book, that always exemplifies a great trail. Trailhead: Drive east on the Angeles Crest Highway (2) past Islip Saddle to Dawson Gap. or Drive West on the Angeles Crest Highway (2) past Vincent Gap to Dawson Gap. There is a big Cal Trans shed on the North Side of the road, there are three spots with ample parking along either side of the highway. Park and the trail begins across from the shed. This area of the PCT floats above the highway. I have never hiked through here on a weekend when the road from Islip Saddle to Vincent Gap has been open, but I would imagine the motorcycle noise is terribly disturbing, especially on a Sunday. So, if you are like me and have the luxury to hike this area during the week, do so, there are hardly any cars or people even in the forest. (Lat:34.35866 Lon:-117.76474) Trail Guides for Mt. Baden-Powell from Dawson Gap: Best Hikes With Dogs - Southern California by Allen Riedel (Mountaineers books) Trails of the Angeles - 100 Hikes in the San Gabriels by John W. Robinson (Wilderness Press) Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Summer, User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Horses, Ranger Contact: Angeles National Forest (626) 574-1613 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Allen Riedel, who has posted 123 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Page 1 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Brock on 8/12/2008 Climbed yesterday 10 Aug. 2008 leaving Vincent Gap at 12:45pm. The PCT is a dream compared to most other trails. On a hot August day it's nice to get up high! I met nice people (including 4 nuns wearing full habits...) I had the trail between Mt. Baden-Powell and Mount Burnham to myself. Returned to Vincent gap at sunset (approx 7:00 pm)
Reviewed by Lou on 6/26/2008 My wife and I did the hike up from Islip Saddle to Baden-Powell and back this past Sunday. Two years ago we had to start at Cedar Springs (to the west of the tunnels) because of road closure. That was 20+ miles and a bit much. But from Islip Saddle is only 16 and took us under 10 hours. Ran out of water on the way back (as usual) and were rescued by Little Jimmy Springs. 4 days now and still haven't gotten the runs - keeping our fingers crossed.
Reviewed by Jon E. on 6/4/2008 We arrived at the trail head at 8:30AM. The trail was clear and easy to follow for the first 2.5 miles. Snow got progressively worse and following the trail became impossible. We decided to just climb straight up the snow banks. Made it to the top in about 2.5 hours. Glissaded all the way down to the clear trail, ran the rest. Total time. 3.25 hours.
Reviewed by Tim D. on 3/30/2008 I never made it on the actual trail due to the snow on the ground. I decided to give it 4 stars anyway for how great it looked a couple miles short of the trail head. Late March '08 is not a good time to go; perhaps give it another month maybe two. We went on the other parts of the Silver Moccasin Trail instead. Will return to do this one later this year. Amazing how close to LA this wilderness is.
Reviewed by AM on 8/13/2007 Check the road conditions before you leave. Part of Rte 2 west of Vincent Gap is closed. Also, the 134 from I-15 is closed, and the detour is very long. The road closure did make it very quiet, and we had a great hike! A beautiful drive through Wrightwood as well!
Reviewed by Ron on 5/18/2007 My wife and I dropped the kids off at school and drove to Vincent Gap to hike as far up Mt. Baden-Powell as time would allow us before getting back to Palmdale to get the kids by 1:50 P.M. We figured we had 4 hours to hike,or complete the round trip. We started on the trail at 0825 and were surprised at the constant elevation gain the entire way up. We got to the top and spent about 10 minutes for the "photo op" then started back down. We got to the car at exactly 12:30 p.m. and headed home. We made it in time to get the kids and get the wife off to work by 2:15. I would like to do the hike again and take my time to enjoy the trip and the views,but at least we did it! We also saw the rare and ellusive California Moose on top ;) 
Reviewed by Z.H on 11/4/2006 got up there 7 at night started to hike up the hundreds of switch backs got about 1/3 the way an we found a place to camp so we crashed there for the night when we got up to the top the next day the view was absolutely breath taking we also has some other people on other peaks an we were flashing back&fourth at each other with mirrors all in all i say the switch back were worth the view
Reviewed by Lawrence Tripp on 7/14/2005 7/14/05: I hiked Baden-Powell today from Vincent Gap, which is where Rte. 2 is closed on the eastern side. On the western side it is closed at Islip Saddle (see other Baden-Powell hike). The sign on the highway prohibits bicycles, pedestrians and motorcycles, so the Dawson Gap hike (which I immensely enjoyed last Summer) is out unless you approach Dawson Gap from a trial. Baden-Powell continues to be an intense hike. Today there is still a little bit of snow on the ground and over a couple parts of the trial. Biting winged insects harried me most of the way up the trial. Otherwise, a very pleasant, if sweaty experience. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: California Hiking, California Trails, California Hikes, San Bernardino County Hiking, San Bernardino County Trails, San Bernardino County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||