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Summary: This is the tallest peak within the LA city limits, and it has spectacular views of the LA basin and surrounding mountains from the summit. This mountain was burned some time ago, so with the exception of the views of the surrounding area, the scenery is rather marginal. The hike to the summit is relentlessly up hill with limited shade along the way. I used this hike to train for an upcoming backpacking trip. In the summer bring lots of water, and during the rainy season crossing the creek near the trail head could be risky. Finding the trail from the parking lot was a bit tricky, so I just hiked straight up Stone Canyon until I could see the trail on an embankment to my left. Trailhead: From Foothill Blvd in Sunland, turn north on Mt. Gleason Avenue and drive 1.5 miles to Big Tujunga Canyon Road. Turn right and proceed 5 miles to Wildwood Picnic Area. Stone Canyon trail begins at the back end of the parking lot. (Lat:34.29419 Lon:-118.24002) Trail Guides for Mount Lukens: Day Hikers Guide to Southern California by John McKinney (Olympus Press) Hike Los Angeles Volume 2 by Dennis Gagnon (Western Tanager Press) Afoot & Afield In Los Angeles by Jerry Schad (Wilderness Press) Best Seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring User Groups: Hikers, Dogs Ranger Contact: US Forest Service, 818-790-1151 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Jim Zuber, who has posted 104 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 10 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by UrestUrust on 2/25/2012 We did this to try something new today and add a hike leading up to our "Ten Trails to Whitney" training regimen. The trailhead was VERY hard to find but once found we started up the single track trail. We especially enjoyed Little Madison Falls, which was very full and running strong today. Just a beautiful day for a hike, great workout. Happy hiking!
Reviewed by Ken on 2/6/2012 Just finished this hike yesterday, (The Dirty Dozen #2) preparing for Mt Whitney. I did this hike awhile back and everything was burnt due to the Station Fires. We bumped into some hikers at the top and they jokingly referred to this hike as "The Passion of the Christ Hike." Wear long pants or your legs will become scratched up from the overgrowth from the thorns. It's nice to see that there's so much green now and the view at the top was awesome. The last time we couldn't see twenty feet in front of us because of the fog and hail storm. The river was easy to cross as it was low this year. Starting from Wildwood Picnic area, do not walk ΒΌ mile along the river before crossing. We did that and on our way back, a ranger told one of
Reviewed by Chimbo77 on 2/4/2012 Error: Reserved Word Found: ; 
Reviewed by Sergiy on 9/18/2010 September 18, 2010. The hike, all campgrounds etc, are closed to public. Note there's no shade anywhere on the trail, so even if the hike is open, dint do it on a hot day.
Reviewed by Mark C. on 6/13/2010 I hadn't done this hike in a few years. This time around was definitely a much different experience than my last trip. The death of all the trees from the Station fire mixed with the abundance of new life from all the burgeoning wildflowers makes for quite a dichotomy. The trail is overgrown and can be hard to follow in certain places (especially the last third). The aforementioned wide ravine crossing (Jane E.-5/22) is a bit of a challenge for inexperienced hikers. But overall I'm glad a made this bittersweet journey. 
Reviewed by Crosby on 6/6/2010 First, the trail is a little difficult to find once you get over the creek. It's on the left of the stone wash, on the little ridge. Once you find it and start heading up it be mindful as it is not very well-maintained. Wear pants and a decent pair of hiking boots as there are a lot of little pokey and stickey things that will get stuck to you. I got tired of picking things out of my socks and headed back down after getting to the top of the first hill, so I cannot comment further on the trail. Keep in mind this trail is not well-maintained. If I'd had a little warning on how trying this trail was I'd have picked another.
Reviewed by Jane E on 5/22/2010 Gate was locked but parked on the road without getting a ticket. Creek was fordable, trail easy to find with info from other posts. Trail narrow, overgrown with plants some eye level. Trail sketchy in multiple places where water ran down in winter. 2 miles up trail is completely washed out and you must cross a 10ft wide ravine 6 ft deep. 3 miles up there is a very active beehive around a burned out manzanita. Coming down was hard, trail is alternately gravelly, rocky, and it is hard to see your footing due to plant converage. Wildflowers are fabulous, there is no one on the trail, and it is an adventure.
Reviewed by Paul B on 5/4/2010 Currently there's no roadside parking allowed on Big Tujunga Road. You are risking a ticket if a ranger finds your car unattended. If you take your chances or get dropped off tho, you are in for a treat! The fires and rain have done wonders to this place. It's lush green and flowers are growing everywhere! Unfortunately, any shade provided earlier from tall brush and trees is all gone. The rain also has thinned some of the trail. Nothing too bad tho. If you are looking for an adventurous local hike, i highly recommend it. No ones been hiking Lukens in almost 10 months due to the fires last august. 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, Los Angeles County Hiking, Los Angeles County Trails, Los Angeles County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
