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. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View

  4. Roaring Good Time

    There’s nothing quite like the majestic beauty of California’s redwood forests. Now, imagine experiencing those towering giants aboard a historic 19th-century steam train. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is home to some of the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  2. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View
  3. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View