Hiking Trail Guide: Strawberry Peak from Red Box Junction

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Strawberry Peak from Red Box Junction

Distance
6 miles

Elevation
1800 feet gain

Difficulty
4/10

City
La Canada Flintridge ,CA (91011) 16.29 miles from you Weather Map

Trailhead
Park at Red Box Gap/Ranger Station. Walk east up the road until you see a dingy grey remnant of a roadway on the north side of the Angeles Crest highway. It is less than .25 of a mile from the lowest parking area. If you see the old water tower before you are going up the road, you have gone too far. It really doesn't look like the trail, but it is - it is unmarked. The trail parallels the Highway for about 1/2 a mile so if you've passed it - look up and you'll see it.

Description

This is a really nice hike, with great views all along the trail. The actual summit is somewhat anticlimactic, because you have better views during the hike up. However, the summit is shaded by some pines which make the top all the more friendlier on a hot summer day.

The trail is very easy to follow if you use your intuition. When you first come to a branch about 1/2 mile in and up, you need to continue North and take the branch on your left. Don't follow the highway. You will be traversing through some hardy yucca, so watch where you step. For the most part, the trail is well maintained.

You will come to another signed branch about 1.5 miles in, and at this point you need to continue north again and again take the left branch. This is rather obvious because it goes up the mountain. The other trail leads to Strawberry Meadows. This is where you gain most of your elevation, and there is some climbing on the ridge. It's a bit rocky.

Map / Directions: