Near Three Peak Circuit
Sunrise from the Bill Reilly Trail
Near Three Peak Circuit
Running toward Mt. Disappointment
Near Three Peak Circuit
Upper Bear Canyon with Brown Mountain
Near Three Peak Circuit
San Gabriel Peak (left) and Mt. Markam (right) with Upper Sam Merrill Trail.
Near Three Peak Circuit
Historical information on top of Mt. Lowe.

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Hike Route

Three Peak Circuit

3.0 (1 Rating)
Out and back hike hitting three peaks in Angeles National Forest.
7.8
mi
Distance
2,554
ft
Gain
strenuous
Difficulty
ViewsWildlife
Access Issues
Forest Adventure Pass required to park.

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
7.76mi
Distance
2,554ft
Elevation Gain
2,554ft
Elevation Loss
65%
Max Grade
6,163ft
High Point
4,748ft
Low Point
Path Type
There and Back
Description
The initial section consists of several switchbacks up a steep initial grade, followed by a nicely runnable section to Mount Disappointment and then over to San Gabriel Peak. The section down from San Gabriel is a little uneven but overall pretty nice. The run over to Mount Lowe is nice and low grade, leading to some nice panoramic views of the city. Return the way you came, having just bagged three decent peaks. Most of the way back up towards Mount Disappointment is a little steep but a nice pace can be kept. The return down the Bill Reilly Trail is a little steep on the downhill but can be done quickly and with the luxury of knowing your car is right at the base of the decline.
History & Background
Some nice Los Angeles history tidbits at the top of Mt. Lowe, there were plans to build a railway all the way to the top with a hotel and a cable car over to the summit of San Gabriel Peak. The project stalled and ended at nearby Echo Mountain.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Lowe_Railway

Route Conditions

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Contributors
Taylor Aballi