Mt Lukens via Stone Canyon Trail(edit)

Overview

This is a difficult out and back trail to Mt Lukens in Angeles National Forest.

Getting Started

Turn off Big Tijunga Canyon Road into the Wildwood Picnic area (DoskeRoad) which continues onto Stoneyvale Road and park in the Stoneyvale Parking lot.

This is fee area (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/angeles/recarea/?recid=41930) therefore you'll need an adventure pass in advance which is $5. You can get them at Big 5 sporting goods and many other places (https://www.fs.fed.us/portaldata/r5/ap/r5-ap-vendors.php). If you're willing to walk a little farther you can try parking on Big Tijunga Canyon, although the legality of this is uncertain.

You'll be hiking to the top of Mount Lukens which is the highest point in the city of Los Angeles. You'll be at 5,000 feet and it can get very windy and cold so you should have a several layers of clothing and be prepared to go though multiple weather zones. This is not an easy hike you'll be climbing over 3,000 feet and so expect to spend at least six hours getting up and down. The trail quality is decent so you shouldn't have technical issues although in places your next to an edge. Hiking poles while not necessary are likely to help your knees on the way down.

There is a stream at the beginning of the hike and depending on the time of year the stream could be nothing or a problem without getting your feet wet.

There are bathrooms and water at the beginning, but nothing on the trail.

There are several ways to climb mount Lukens and therefore it is possible to make the hike a one way hike with a car shuttle, see for example Haines Canyon.

Taking Children

This is long and hard hike, only for the serious day hikers, it will be a long time between access to the rest room.