Mount Williamson, Pleasant View Ridge, and Little Rock Creek Loop in Angeles National Forest, CA

Hike Mount Williamson, Pleasant View Ridge, and Little Rock Creek Loop Angeles National Forest, CA

Class 1 16.8 miles 6400 gain 7-10 hrs Loop Jun 22, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount Williamson, Pleasant View Ridge, and Little Rock Creek Loop GPX Track

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This long hike through some of the taller, but more remote, peaks of the San Gabriels offers some great views and solitude. Along the initial traverse, the route summits Mt. Williamson, Pallett Mountain, Will Thrall Peak, and Pleasant View Ridge. Starting from the Islip Saddle Trailhead, head up the Pacific Crest Trail until you leave the PCT to reach Mt. Williamson. From here, follow a use trail, still easy to follow along the ridge, to Pallett Mountain and then down to the Burkhart Saddle. We returned to the Burkhart Saddle after first continuing along the steepest section of the ridge to summit Will Thrall Peak, and then farther to the Pleasant View Ridge summit. Follow the Burkhart Trail south until it intersects with the Pacific Crest Trail again and follow the PCT to the Angeles Crest Highway. From here, you can either follow the road back, or get some more elevation gain and keep off the road by taking the PCT almost all the way back up to the summit of Mt. Williamson (the first junction of the day) and follow the PCT back down to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Williamson-Southeast Peak
8214 ft
54 rise
2
Mount Williamson
8248 ft
1588 rise
3
Pallett Mountain
7760 ft
480 rise
4
Will Thrall Peak
7845 ft
205 rise
5
Pleasant View Ridge
7983 ft
1024 rise

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Looking back shortly after leaving the trailhead.
Looking back shortly after leaving the trailhead.
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The ridgeline leading to Mt. Williamson.
The ridgeline leading to Mt. Williamson.
Looking back down along the ridgeline.
Looking back down along the ridgeline.
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Mt. Williamson summit!
Mt. Williamson summit!
Continuing along Pleasant View Ridge toward Pallett Mountain.
Continuing along Pleasant View Ridge toward Pallett Mountain.
Pat heading down the steep ridge.
Pat heading down the steep ridge.
After summiting Pallett Mountain, continuing down the ridgeline.
After summiting Pallett Mountain, continuing down the ridgeline.
We make a left here at Burkhart Saddle, but first, Will Thrall Peak, the steepest part of the day. Rather than turning left, we continued straight.
We make a left here at Burkhart Saddle, but first, Will Thrall Peak, the steepest part of the day. Rather than turning left, we continued straight.
Heading up to Will Thrall Peak.
Heading up to Will Thrall Peak.
Looking back toward Pallett Mountain.
Looking back toward Pallett Mountain.
Steep.
Steep.
Looking back along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
Will Thrall Peak summit.
Will Thrall Peak summit.
We continued along the ridge a bit longer because it looked cool.
We continued along the ridge a bit longer because it looked cool.
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We found a summit register that named this sub-peak simply Pleasant View Ridge.
We found a summit register that named this sub-peak simply Pleasant View Ridge.
The view north into Antelope Valley from Pleasant View Ridge, our turn around point along the ridge.
The view north into Antelope Valley from Pleasant View Ridge, our turn around point along the ridge.
Back at the junction before heading up Will Thrall Peak, heading down a canyon.
Back at the junction before heading up Will Thrall Peak, heading down a canyon.
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Looking back the way we came.
Looking back the way we came.
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A welcomed shaded section.
A welcomed shaded section.
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A really pretty stream crossing.
A really pretty stream crossing.
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The trail turns into an old forest road for a short time as we climbed up a few hundred feet to meet the paved road, CA 2.
The trail turns into an old forest road for a short time as we climbed up a few hundred feet to meet the paved road, CA 2.
Cross CA 2 and follow the Pacific Crest Trail.
Cross CA 2 and follow the Pacific Crest Trail.
Switchbacks took us above CA 2, paralleling it for a bit.
Switchbacks took us above CA 2, paralleling it for a bit.
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Mt. Williamson ahead. Cross CA 2 again and follow the trail, which continues back up Mt. Williamson for 1000 feet or so to complete the loop.
Mt. Williamson ahead. Cross CA 2 again and follow the trail, which continues back up Mt. Williamson for 1000 feet or so to complete the loop.
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Almost done with the switchbacks.
Almost done with the switchbacks.
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The trail meets back up with where we were earlier that day, completing the loop.
The trail meets back up with where we were earlier that day, completing the loop.

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!