Vetter Vistas

Hike to the Vetter Lookout in the San Gabriels

06.11.2020
Hike to Vetter Lookout in Los Angeles County

Epic lookout ahead! And a brand-new lookout tower, too. This 3-mile (round-trip) hike takes you to the 5,908-foot summit of Vetter Mountain and its recently finished lookout, where you get some of the best views the San Gabriels have to offer, including huge vistas over Big Tujunga Canyon.

undefined

Start at the Charlton Flats picnic area (follow signs for the Vetter Mountain trailhead and drive to the end of the paved road or park in spaces along the way). There are two trailheads here next to some picnic tables and a restroom - the fire road is the Silver Moccasin trail, and the singletrack just before it is the Vetter Mountain trailhead.

Take a deep breath under the pines and start hiking, gradually ascending towards your summit destination. Stay on the narrow trail, as poodle-dog bush grew out of the 2009 fire and still exists in these parts. You’ll cross two fire roads (one is Silver Moccasin) before reaching the final ascent, marked by manzanita bush lining the trail.

The views have now arrived. And they only get better! You’ll soon reach the fire road that takes you to the 5,908-foot summit—and a phenomenal lookout over Big Tujunga Canyon. The original lookout was built in 1937, but sadly got burned in the 2009 Station Fire.

Vetter Mountain Lookout Hike

The new lookout is completed, and worth seeing even though it isn’t opened yet for the public to go inside. For now, thank the volunteers of the Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association who survey during fire season, and enjoy the surrounding panoramic beauty: Prominent Strawberry Peak is to the west, Mount Waterman and Twin Peaks are north, the peaks of Wilson and San Gabriel are southwest, while Baldy is far east. You could spend hours up here scanning the forest, especially if you brought binoculars. Vetter visit!

To get to the Vetter Mountain trailhead, take the CA-2 Angeles Crest Highway 23 miles from the La Cañada entrance. At the Charlton Flats picnic area, turn left and follow the road to the end (ignore the fire road that is an alternate route to Vetter). Adventure Pass required. Bring a face-covering to use in case you can’t get physical distance on sections of the trail, as well as plenty of your own water. Dog-friendly!

Lookout photos courtesy of The Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  2. Hike the Oursan Trail alongside Briones Reservoir in the East Bay

    Opt for Oursan

    Hike the trail less traveled in the East Bay's Briones Regional Park. The Oursan Trail is pure serenity on a wide hiking path skirting the northern shores of Briones Reservoir.

    View

  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View

  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View

  2. Lace Up for Lacy

    Lacy Park in San Marino is a hidden gem that may very well be the most pristine green space in greater Los Angeles, and a concealed pair of nearby stairways makes it all the more appealing.

    View
  3. Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California

    Apple of Your Eye

    That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View