Hiking Trail Guide: Mt Islip

>> Back to Hiking Trail Guide

Mt Islip

Distance
5 miles

Elevation
1100 feet gain

Difficulty
4/10

City
Valyermo ,CA (93563) 38.57 miles from you Weather Map

Trailhead
From the 210 freeway in La Canada, take the Angeles Crest Highway (2) and drive 39.5 miles to a turnout on the right, 1.5 miles past the 2 tunnels. There is a forest service road with a yellow gate about 50 foot past the turnout. Head up this dirt road for to the junction with the trail to Little Jimmy Camp.

Description

The views to the south from the summit of Mt Islip are nothing short of stunning. You can see Crystal Lake, the front range of the San Gabriels, as well as the San Gabriel river canyon. I had my lunch looking at this vista and felt like I was in heaven. The hike starts out heading up a forest service road for a half mile, then you head left at the signed trailhead to Little Jimmy Camp, one mile ahead. I really like the gently rolling, pine shaded trail into Little Jimmy Camp. The less ambitious in your group can relax in the camp (it has rest rooms and a spring a 1/4 mile away), while the balance of your group heads up to the summit.

The summit trail is at the back of Little Jimmy camp (walk past both rest rooms). The summit trail takes you up some switch backs to a ridgeline. There is a junction with another trail at the ridgeline that comes up from Crystal Lake, but you should stay on the ridgeline trail up to the summit.

Map / Directions: