San Gabriel's 3-Peak Hike: San Gabriel Peak-Mount Disappointment-Mount Deception

Rating: Intermediate, ~6.5 mile round-trip hike with 2,400' elevation gain to 3 HPS-listed peaks from Eaton Saddle(5,110') on Mount Wilson Road. No restrooms at trail-head, use facilities at SR2 @ Mt Wilson Road if necessary. Road is paved, 4WD not necessary for this hike.

Driving Directions: From the intersection of I-210 and Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2), drive north on Angeles Crest Highway 9.5 miles past Angeles Forest Highway. Continue straight about 4.5 miles to the junction with the Mount Wilson Road at the Red Box Ranger Station. Turn right onto Mount Wilson Road, drive ~2.4 miles to Eaton Saddle and park on the right near the gate, or on the left in overflow parking.

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San Gabriel Peak(6,161') from the southeast

Hiking Directions: Let's meet at 8:20 a.m. for gear check, and start hiking at 8:30. From Eaton Saddle parking, pass the gate and hike up Mt Lowe Road (FR 2N50), through Mueller tunnel to Markham Saddle. Enroute we'll pass one of the most sustained steep slopes in the Western San Gabriel's, the 1,000+' south face of San Gabriel Peak. From Markham Saddle ascend the right-hand trail near a water tank, up to trail fork 5,800' just short of a road between Mount Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak. Take the right-hand fork and follow that trail up to San Gabriel Peak(6,161'). History: San Gabriel Peak was so named in 1894 by the USGS because it appeared to be the highest point in the front range of the San Gabriel's; nearby HPS listed Strawberry Peak is actually 3' higher.

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San Gabriel Peak at left, Markham Saddle center

Following a brief break on San Gabriel Peak, descend to the trail junction and follow trail and road to the nearby summit of Mount Disappointment(5,963'). History: This peak was also named by the USGS in 1894 who mistakenly believed it to be the high point in the area when survey sighting it from the Santa Susana Mountains. In 1955 a Nike Missile site was built on this summit, but it was abandoned by 1965. The peak currently houses telecom structures.

Following a brief break on Mount Disappointment, descend by road (FR 2N52) and eventual trail to ascend our final area peak, Mount Deception(5,796'). This peak is only noted on maps as 5796, I'm not sure how it gained it's name. We'll take a brief break here, and then make our way back to the trail-head and vehicles by road and trail via Markham Saddle to Eaton Saddle.

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San Gabriel Peak and Mt Markham from the southwest

NOTE: There are several other HPS peak-list peaks in this area, since this is a short hike feel free to review area maps and use this hike as a starting point for hikes to Mount Markham, Mount Lowe, Occidental Peak or nearby Mount Wilson.