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

Angeles National Forest, CA San Gabriel + San Bernardino Mountains

Trip stats

Distance
16.8 mi
Net Gain
6,400 ft
Time
7-10 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 1
Route
Loop
Peaks
5

Ratings out of 10

Effort
7.4/10
Personality
6/10
Beauty
7/10
Solitude
4.9/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

Ridgeline of the 5 summits in route order 01 02 03 04 05
  1. Mount Williamson-Southeast Peak
    8,214′ elevation · 54′ prominence
  2. Mount Williamson
    8,248′ elevation · 1,588′ prominence
  3. Pallett Mountain
    7,760′ elevation · 480′ prominence
  4. Will Thrall Peak
    7,845′ elevation · 205′ prominence
  5. Pleasant View Ridge
    7,983′ elevation · 1,024′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

34.357080, -117.851350

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

Jun 22, 2017 — 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.

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Photos

47 photos

  1. Looking back shortly after leaving the trailhead.
  5. The ridgeline leading to Mt. Williamson.
  6. Looking back down along the ridgeline.
  9. Mt. Williamson summit!
  10. Continuing along Pleasant View Ridge toward Pallett Mountain.
  11. Pat heading down the steep ridge.
  12. After summiting Pallett Mountain, continuing down the ridgeline.
  13. 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.
  14. Heading up to Will Thrall Peak.
  15. Looking back toward Pallett Mountain.
  16. Steep.
  17. Looking back along the ridge.
  18. Will Thrall Peak summit.
  19. We continued along the ridge a bit longer because it looked cool.
  21. We found a summit register that named this sub-peak simply Pleasant View Ridge.
  22. The view north into Antelope Valley from Pleasant View Ridge, our turn around point along the ridge.
  23. Back at the junction before heading up Will Thrall Peak, heading down a canyon.
  27. Looking back the way we came.
  29. A welcomed shaded section.
  32. A really pretty stream crossing.
  35. 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.
  36. Cross CA 2 and follow the Pacific Crest Trail.
  37. Switchbacks took us above CA 2, paralleling it for a bit.
  39. 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.
  45. Almost done with the switchbacks.
  47. The trail meets back up with where we were earlier that day, completing the loop.

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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