Iron Mountain via Heaton Flat Trail in Angeles National Forest, CA

Hike Iron Mountain via Heaton Flat Trail Angeles National Forest, CA

Class 1 15.4 miles 6600 gain 6-8 hrs Out + Back Jun 9, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Iron Mountain via Heaton Flat Trail GPX Track

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Though the Heaton Flat Trail to Iron Mountain is mostly just an uphill slog, it's more remote than many trails in the San Gabriels and really gorgeous, especially along the ridgeline leading from the Heaton Saddle to the base of Iron Mountain. Overall, the trail is fairly unchanging the whole time.

Follow a dirt road from the East Fork Trailhead toward Bridge to Nowhere, but turn right up a much less traveled trail when you get to a campground shortly after starting, the Heaton Flat Trail. This trail leads with moderate steepness to Heaton Saddle before traversing a ridge with 360 degree views, and then to the slog up to Iron Mountain. Beautiful summit views of Mt. Baldy and other surrounding mountains.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Iron Mountain
8007 ft
687 rise

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Starting at the East Fork trailhead, Iron Mountain peeking out in the distance.
Starting at the East Fork trailhead, Iron Mountain peeking out in the distance.
Start along the wide dirt road.
Start along the wide dirt road.
Leave the dirt road on the Heaton Flat Trail.
Leave the dirt road on the Heaton Flat Trail.
Image 3 from gallery
East Fork below (the dirt road leading to Bridge to Nowhere).
East Fork below (the dirt road leading to Bridge to Nowhere).
Image 5 from gallery
Image 6 from gallery
Approaching the saddle (not pictured).
Approaching the saddle (not pictured).
Just starting along the ridgeline that approaches Iron Mountian. This is looking down back toward the saddle, a few hundred feet down.
Just starting along the ridgeline that approaches Iron Mountian. This is looking down back toward the saddle, a few hundred feet down.
Crap. Iron Mountain is still far away.
Crap. Iron Mountain is still far away.
The ridgeline the trail takes, Mt. Baldy in the distance.
The ridgeline the trail takes, Mt. Baldy in the distance.
Along the ridge.
Along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
Toward the end of the ridge, looking up toward Iron Mountain.
Toward the end of the ridge, looking up toward Iron Mountain.
Very steep at some points.
Very steep at some points.
Mt. Baldy in the distance.
Mt. Baldy in the distance.
Making progress along the ridge toward the summit.
Making progress along the ridge toward the summit.
Looking back along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
Ahead toward the summit, still a bit away.
Ahead toward the summit, still a bit away.
Looking back, East Fork on the right.
Looking back, East Fork on the right.
Along the ridge, Mt. Baldy in the distance.
Along the ridge, Mt. Baldy in the distance.
Looking back along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
Looking ahead along the ridge.
Looking ahead along the ridge.
Nearing the summit.
Nearing the summit.
Looking back along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
The summit! Mt. Baldy on the right.
The summit! Mt. Baldy on the right.
Summit view, looking back the way I came.
Summit view, looking back the way I came.

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!