Sunsetsational!

With a name like Sunset Peak, expectations are high—5,796 feet high. You’ll gain about 1,272 feet in elevation—and thrilling views—while hiking to this summit located near Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains.

All in, this 7.3-mile (round-trip) trek on a fire road gets you all the way up there, and the grade is so gentle you might hardly notice you’re climbing. The exposed trail means that around every turn the San Gabriel Mountains scenery grows ever more incredible, especially during winter when impressive cloud formations roll through the snow-capped peaks.

Snow is common in winter, and trails are generally passable without any special gear, but you’re gonna need good footwear and common sense; and plan for your hike to take longer than expected if you’re going over some snow. The peak is marked with a small hand-painted sign (however, the sign isn’t mounted onto anything, so it might be hard to find, adding a little extra adventure to your photo op moment).

Still, you won’t need the sign to know you’ve reached the top. The stellar panorama lets you know, including views of Mount Baldy, and the prominent peaks of Thunder, Telegraph, and Timber mountains. Sunsetsational!

Sunset Peak is located in the San Gabriel Mountains on the border of LA and San Bernardino counties near Mount Baldy. From either the 60, 10, or 210 freeways, take the Mountain Ave. exit and head north into the mountains. Then take a sharp right (almost a u-turn) onto Mount Baldy Rd., followed by a left onto Glendora Ridge Rd. Be sure to check road conditions before driving up into the mountains, and bring tire chains if necessary. Park in the lot on the right-hand side of the road; trail is across the road from the parking lot on the left-hand side. Adventure Pass required. Dog-friendly!