Grass Mountain via Pacific Crest Trail in Angeles National Forest, CA

Hike Grass Mountain via Pacific Crest Trail Angeles National Forest, CA

Class 1 4.5 miles 1200 gain 1-2 hr Out + Back Apr 23, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Grass Mountain via Pacific Crest Trail GPX Track

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Grass Mountain is a bald summit outside of Green Valley CA that I enjoyed accessing via the Pacific Crest Trail. It seems many prefer to hike to the peak via the Leona Divide Truck Trail, but SoCal already has so many road walk ascents that I try to take advantage of a trail when one exists. I started from a small pine grove from San Francisquito Canyon Road where the PCT crosses it. The trail initially passes a firehouse and heads west. The PCT wraps in and out of a few drainages as it tends to do, slowly gaining elevation. It soon meets a fire road, where you'll be tempted to take a left, following the flow of the trail, but the PCT actually continues along this road to the right for a couple hundred feet and rejoins on the road's opposite side. I imagine many through-hikers get confused here.

From here it was more ascending gradually above Green Valley, lovely sights toward Jupiter Mountain coming into view across the valley. The majority of the hike takes place in this fashion, a pleasant ascent along the southern slope of Grass Mountain, until reaching a junction with a service road higher up. Rather than hike the road to the summit of Grass Mountain, I recommend taking the meadowy ridgeline where a nice dirt trail has been carved into the grass. The summit has a radio tower constructed in a small grassy clearing.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Grass Mountain
4619 ft
985 rise

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Starting along the Pacific Crest Trail.
Starting along the Pacific Crest Trail.
A bend in the PCT shortly after starting.
A bend in the PCT shortly after starting.
Buildings seen on the left as I ascend to a fire road, junction seen ahead. Make a right at the road and locate the PCT on the opposite side.
Buildings seen on the left as I ascend to a fire road, junction seen ahead. Make a right at the road and locate the PCT on the opposite side.
Ascending along the slope, Grass Mountain seen top left.
Ascending along the slope, Grass Mountain seen top left.
View back toward Jupiter Mountain and Green Valley CA.
View back toward Jupiter Mountain and Green Valley CA.
Progress up the gradually ascending PCT.
Progress up the gradually ascending PCT.
Image 6 from gallery
Another shot back shortly before reaching the service road junction higher up.
Another shot back shortly before reaching the service road junction higher up.
Grass Mountain seen top left as I near the end of my tiny section hike of the PCT.
Grass Mountain seen top left as I near the end of my tiny section hike of the PCT.
At the junction, Grass Mountain seen top left. Rather than take the road, I stuck to the ridgeline.
At the junction, Grass Mountain seen top left. Rather than take the road, I stuck to the ridgeline.
View back along the grassy ridgeline. The trailhead is down on the right somewhere.
View back along the grassy ridgeline. The trailhead is down on the right somewhere.
A view toward Elizabeth Lake and an amazing super bloom on the hills.
A view toward Elizabeth Lake and an amazing super bloom on the hills.
The trail heads through some pretty grasses, Burnt Mountain poking out in the distance.
The trail heads through some pretty grasses, Burnt Mountain poking out in the distance.
Grass Mountain top right.
Grass Mountain top right.
Approaching the summit.
Approaching the summit.
Grass Mountain summit, view into Green Valley CA, Jupiter Mountain seen center.
Grass Mountain summit, view into Green Valley CA, Jupiter Mountain seen center.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!