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 Reporter |
Summary: This is a really nice hike, with great views all along the trail. The actual summit is somewhat anticlimactic, because you have better views during the hike up. However, the summit is shaded by some pines which make the top all the more friendlier on a hot summer day. The trail is very easy to follow if you use your intuition. When you first come to a branch about 1/2 mile in and up, you need to continue North and take the branch on your left. Don't follow the highway. You will be traversing through some hardy yucca, so watch where you step. For the most part, the trail is well maintained. You will come to another signed branch about 1.5 miles in, and at this point you need to continue north again and again take the left branch. This is rather obvious because it goes up the mountain. The other trail leads to Strawberry Meadows. This is where you gain most of your elevation, and there is some climbing on the ridge. It's a bit rocky. Trailhead: Park at Red Box Gap/Ranger Station. Walk east up the road until you see a dingy grey remnant of a roadway on the north side of the Angeles Crest highway. It is less than .25 of a mile from the lowest parking area. If you see the old water tower before you are going up the road, you have gone too far. It really doesn't look like the trail, but it is - it is unmarked. The trail parallels the Highway for about 1/2 a mile so if you've passed it - look up and you'll see it. (Lat:34.2836 Lon:-118.12053) Trail Guides for Strawberry Peak from Red Box Junction: 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: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Bikes, Ranger Contact: Angeles National Forest - (818)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 6 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Viewer on 4/17/2012 The trail is closed however, I've been leading hikes up colby canyon to the saddle, then to the top of Strawberry Peak via the Switzer Picnic area for the past year. If you take the creek bed from the parking lot upstream, it will lead you to a tunnel under the hwy and you can catch the trail from there. This in not an easy trail and the soil is slighty loose at times. The trail is there but it does take a bit of a trained eye to find it. Lots of poison ivy so wear pants and good hiking shoes. FB Edwards Hiking Club 
Reviewed by Michelle on 8/4/2011 Does anyone know if the trail is open? 
Reviewed by DH on 10/10/2010 There is no access to CA-2/Angeles Crest Hwy toward until January 2011. Don't waste your time and gas.
Reviewed by Ze on 1/13/2010 to the previous reviewer, this hike & area are CLOSED to hiking!!! You cannot hike in this area all the way to Islip saddle. 
Reviewed by Lucinda on 1/7/2010 I went on this hike about 2 years ago, and just went back again last week. WARNING: THERE IS NO TRAIL LEFT. we had to hike the creek bed due to severe fire and rain damage. I would not recommend this hike to anyone except those who don't mind slippery slopes, mudslides and off-trail hiking.
Reviewed by Elizabeth on 4/4/2009 Great hike, especially on a not too hot day. I'd like to reiterate - wear pants, and go right at the first apparent fork!
Reviewed by Vik on 1/23/2009 Just did this one for the first time on the 17th. Weather was beautiful - sunny, but not burning hot, as the trail doesn't offer much shade. As others have mentioned, the first 2.5 miles are a walk in the park (literally, I suppose). The last mile, though, from the junction to the peak, is pretty strenuous - it's a LONG mile. But you're rewarded the whole way up with great views of Los Angeles and the San Gabriels (and we even could see San Jacinto in the distance once we got near the top). Careful on that last mile though - there's sections of loose dirt and pebbles, and if you fall, you're falling right into a VERY unforgiving yucca!
Reviewed by Scott on 1/14/2009 Done this one dozens of times.... Colby Canyon to the west ridge is my favorite way to go as long as there isn't too much snow. Up there last on 1/3-4/09 and I'd have to disagree with the anticlimactic sentiment.... Seeing Downtown, Burbank, Wilshire, the western half of Ventura Blvd., Long Beach, Catalina, and the coastline, all at once is pretty spectacular.... and sunsets from the peak do amazing things to the ocean.... Get up there while we have these winds folks. It's as clear as it gets right now. 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
