Brown Mountain via Bear Canyon and Gabrielino Loop

Angeles National Forest, CA San Gabriel + San Bernardino Mountains

Trip stats

Distance
14.4 mi
Net Gain
3,800 ft
Time
7-10 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 1
Route
Loop
Peaks
1

Ratings out of 10

Effort
5.4/10
Personality
7/10
Beauty
8/10
Solitude
5.5/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

  1. Brown Mountain
    4,466′ elevation · 386′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

34.266241, -118.145675

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

May 17, 2017 — A couple years ago, I hiked to Bear Canyon Campground with Switzer Falls along the way, and I remembered the canyon being gorgeous, so I was hoping to plan a big loop through this section of the San Gabriel Mountains.

Starting from the Switzer Picnic Area, follow the Gabrielino Trail down a paved or well-traveled route to some great views of the southern mountains of the San Gabriels. After passing Switzer Camp, you get to a junction with the Bear Canyon Trail (left) and the Gabrielino Trail (right). At the time of doing this hike, the Gabrielino Trail past this point was closed and I didn't see the sign since I did Bear Canyon first. Hopefully it reopens because it's a gorgeous trail. Anyway, follow the Bear Canyon Trail, stopping for a quick detour to Switzer Falls, before continuing to Bear Canyon Campground and then onward as the trail begins to deteriorate, but is still fairly easy to follow. I saw a bear in Bear Canyon, so that felt appropriate.

Eventually, you'll ascend to a junction with some other trails at the Mt. Lowe and Brown Mountain saddle. Head west along the ridge on a social trail to the Brown Mountain summit. I had some fog with occasional openings to see the views and it was stunning, even with the fog. From the summit, head down a social trail that turns into a wide and obvious trail that switchbacks to the Gabrielino Trail. It was at this point I learned the Gabrielino Trail was closed, but I didn't really have any other option than to follow it east up the Arroyo Seco. There were definitely some rough patches of overgrowth and fallen trees, but overall it was a great trail and led me back to complete the loop. A skunk was also following the trail and wouldn't leave it, and every time I got close, it would raise its tail and continue along its merry way on the same trail as me.

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Photos

64 photos

  1. The trail starts along an old road, pavement visible at parts.
  4. The trail passes Switzer Camp, and then ascends to avoid Switzer Creek below, but there are some great views.
  5. My intended loop heads left here, and comes back on the right later in the day. I didn't realize the trail on the right was closed until I was on my way back.
  6. Continuing down into Bear Canyon, Switzer Creek below.
  7. Side-trail to Switzer Falls.
  9. Switzer Falls.
  10. Headed into Bear Canyon.
  12. Mini waterfalls along the trail.
  17. Entering Bear Canyon Campground.
  18. The trail is a bit hard to follow toward the end after Bear Canyon Campground.
  23. After getting to this old thing, the trail becomes much easier to follow as you ascend to the saddle of Mt. Lowe and Brown Mountain.
  24. Some great views on the way up.
  29. Looking down toward Bear Canyon.
  30. At the fogy saddle. Left is Mt Lowe, right is Brown Mountain (route pictured).
  31. Along the steep ridge, headed toward the summit. There are multiple false peaks.
  32. Mini-scramble. Low class 2.
  33. Approaching one of the summits where I got a break from the fog for a minute.
  34. Continuing along the ridge.
  38. Brown Mountain summit.
  39. Heading down, but the trail is a bit obscure. The ridge is obvious, though, so you can't get lost. The peak a little ahead is the final min-summit of brown Mountain before the final descent.
  40. Looking back toward the main peak.
  43. Looking back the way I came.
  46. Steep section to get to the official trail leading down (you can see the tail on the right of the next hill (Little Brown Mountain).
  47. Heading down the official trail toward Oakwilde Campground.
  50. At Oakwilde, the trail intersects with the Gabrielino Trail. I headed north to complete the loop.
  51. About here, I was greeted by a Trail Closed sign. Crap. There was no way I could go all the way back, so I pressed on.
  52. The Gabrielino Trail sticks close to the canyon wall on a fairly narrow ledge, the creek ten to forty feet below at points.
  53. Looking back the way I came.
  56. The Gabrielino Trail leaves one canyon and enters a much more confined one. The fun stopped here for a little bit...
  57. Much of the trail is completely overgrown and there are dozens of fallen trees. It's a bit hard to follow the route, and I got pretty scratched up.
  58. But it is definitely still gorgeous the whole way.
  59. A lot of the trail looks like this.
  60. Finally, the ascent out of the overgrown canyon.
  61. Looking back toward the canyon I came through.
  62. Below on the right is the canyon the San Gabrielino Trail comes through.
  63. Brown Mountain. You can see all the little sub-peaks.
  64. The loop completes at the junction form earlier in the day. Head back up to the trailhead.

Photo 1 of 1

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Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

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