Mt. Lukens via Stone Canyon

April 1, 2019 tarannosaurus

Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Southern California → Los Angeles Area → Mt. Lukens via Stone Canyon

Location: Big Tujunga region, San Gabriels, Northeast of Los Angeles

Distance: 9 miles (as an out and back on the Stone Canyon Trail) or 12.2 miles (as a loop with the Grizzly Flat Trail

Elevation Gain/Loss: 3400 feet

Time Required: 7-9 hours

Red Tape/Notes: No fee or permit required; Modern Hiker has a nice description of the out-and-back option here. There are various other ways to summit Mt. Lukens which can be found online; the loop route mentioned in this post can be found in Jerry Schad’s excellent book 101 Hikes in Southern California.

What’s Nearby?: Silver on the Side Canyon, The Huntington, Allison Mine Loop, Eaton Canyon (Hike), Eaton Canyon (Technical), Little Santa Anita Canyon, Bailey Canyon, Rubio Canyon, Millard Canyon/Dawn Mine Loop

This trail was rather overgrown when we did it – it could be because it was in January of a wet winter, but it’s also a somewhat less popular trail. This makes it more appealing to us! We parked at the Stonyvale Picnic Area (near Big Tujunga Station) and hiked up the road to Stonyvale before intersecting with some use trails that led down to Big Tujunga Creek, which you’ll need to cross. Tom opted for a precarious log crossing, I opted to just take my shoes and socks off and splash across. Once across the creek, we just walked along the hill until we intersected with the trail; Modern Hiker has a nice description of how to find the trail if you don’t feel comfortable just stumbling across it (or you can use a gps). Once on the trail, it was a long(ish) uphill slog, winding along ridges and mountain sides, with lots of nice views. The antennas marking the top of Mt. Lukens will eventually come into view, and the trail will level out near the top on a sandy sort of mesa. On the far side of the mesa, the LA basin opens up below you with views all the way to Catalina Island on a clear day. Try and do this hike when there’s a bit of wind – it helps to blow out the haze and give better views. From here you can continue to the radio towers at the top, and either return the way you came or continue on down Mt. Lukens Road until you intersect with the Grizzly Flat trail, which heads back downhill towards the picnic area where you parked. The last section of the Grizzly Flat Trail passes through a nice wooded area along Big Tujunga Creek, which you’ll cross several times before arriving back at your vehicle.