Rattlesnake Peak in Angeles National Forest, CA

Hike Rattlesnake Peak Angeles National Forest, CA

Class 1 9.6 miles 4200 gain 4-6 hrs Loop May 20, 2024
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Rattlesnake Peak is a classic hike within the San Gabriel Mountains that requires a bit more effort and commitment than the usual well-traveled and well-maintained trail system within Angeles National Forest. It's often done as a loop, though the hike would be a bit easier completed as an out-and-back via the more direct route. Amanda and I met up and were excited to do the full loop, parking at the Shoemaker Viewpoint Day Use Area. This is located just above the trailhead for the famous San Gabriel River hike leading to the Bridge to Nowhere.

The day began completely socked-in, but we didn't really mind the lack of views because the eeriness added a fun aesthetic. Our outing began along Shoemaker Canyon Road, which is closed to motor vehicles. We kept our eyes peeled for a spur trail leaving off Shoemaker Canyon Road, locating it without too much difficulty. Climbing steeply, this eroded trail initially led up a drainage before following a slope and eventually brought us to the southern ridge of Rattlesnake Peak. We ascended quite steeply. Along the way, there were plenty of small bumps to go up and down, as well as slightly rocky sections that broke up the fairly well-traveled trail. We had no trouble staying on the route.

Finally, we emerged from the mist at the final ascent to the summit of Rattlesnake Peak, where we were wildly impressed by the views. Being above the clouds was a fun surprise. From the summit, we could see Iron Mountain nearby, as well as the various taller peaks to the north along the San Gabriel Mountains' crest. This is a really lovely viewpoint of the range, and we spent a fair amount of time just enjoying our perch above the clouds.

We had already planned to continue the hike back via the eastern ridge, forming a loop rather than backtracking. We didn't realize that this was a much less-traveled route and the trail would be a bit more tedious to follow. I highly recommend doing the full loop regardless, because the views coming down the east ridge of Rattlesnake Peak are gorgeous and this somewhat bushwhacky route added a bit more adventure to the day. We never really got lost since the ridgeline was straightforward, but there were small sections where we lost the social trail and found ourselves bushwhacking to find it again. The San Gabriel River was just below us, the slope dropping dramatically down to it. Sections of the trail were heavily eroded, much steeper than our ascent.

Eventually, we made it down to the old roadbed that once was the foundation of Shoemaker Canyon Road, but it's extremely overgrown and only resembles a trail at this point. We followed this as it weaved in and out of gullies. The other major benefit of taking this route is that it leads through a few historic tunnels. These are pretty fun to hike through, abandoned relics from the 1950s that were built along Shoemaker Canyon Road in case of a nuclear attack during the Cold War. Apparently, the project was completely forgotten, but this interesting hike still remains.

The trail totally disappears before entering the first tunnel, and we had to dip in and out of a flowing stream to avoid poison oak. Otherwise, the trail is in great shape and soon becomes doubletrack. The rest of our hike was a straightforward jaunt along Shoemaker Canyon Road back to our cars.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Rattlesnake Peak
5826 ft
933 rise

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Starting along Shoemaker Canyon Road.
Starting along Shoemaker Canyon Road.
Shoemaker Canyon Road is easy doubletrack walking.
Shoemaker Canyon Road is easy doubletrack walking.
Leaving Shoemaker Canyon Road when we located the spur trail toward Rattlesnake Peak.
Leaving Shoemaker Canyon Road when we located the spur trail toward Rattlesnake Peak.
Ascending the trail.
Ascending the trail.
Steep and eroded at points.
Steep and eroded at points.
View back as we make progress up toward Rattlesnake Peak.
View back as we make progress up toward Rattlesnake Peak.
Many little lumps along the ridgeline to Rattlesnake Peak.
Many little lumps along the ridgeline to Rattlesnake Peak.
Some rocky portions along the way.
Some rocky portions along the way.
Though we were socked-in, the ridgeline was really pretty.
Though we were socked-in, the ridgeline was really pretty.
Image 9 from gallery
A short descent along the ridgeline.
A short descent along the ridgeline.
Some rockier terrain.
Some rockier terrain.
We emerged from the fog as we neared the summit.
We emerged from the fog as we neared the summit.
View back down along the ridgeline.
View back down along the ridgeline.
Rattlesnake Peak ahead.
Rattlesnake Peak ahead.
Image 15 from gallery
Continuing along the ridgeline to the summit, now above the clouds.
Continuing along the ridgeline to the summit, now above the clouds.
View back as we near Rattlesnake Peak's summit.
View back as we near Rattlesnake Peak's summit.
Rattlesnake Peak ahead.
Rattlesnake Peak ahead.
Rattlesnake Peak summit, view northwest.
Rattlesnake Peak summit, view northwest.
Amanda on the summit.
Amanda on the summit.
Close-up west.
Close-up west.
Image 22 from gallery
Summit view, northeast. For our descent, we headed along the eastern ridge, seen right.
Summit view, northeast. For our descent, we headed along the eastern ridge, seen right.
A lesser-traveled trail along the eastern ridge of Rattlesnake Peak.
A lesser-traveled trail along the eastern ridge of Rattlesnake Peak.
View back up as we descend via the east ridge.
View back up as we descend via the east ridge.
Gorgeous views as we descend from Rattlesnake Peak along it's east ridge.
Gorgeous views as we descend from Rattlesnake Peak along it's east ridge.
View back up toward the summit.
View back up toward the summit.
San Gabriel River below in the clouds.
San Gabriel River below in the clouds.
East ridge seen ahead.
East ridge seen ahead.
Image 30 from gallery
Steep descent.
Steep descent.
Another shot back at our progress.
Another shot back at our progress.
The trail was usually easy to follow, but overgrown and we often lost it for short spurts.
The trail was usually easy to follow, but overgrown and we often lost it for short spurts.
Back into the fog as we descend.
Back into the fog as we descend.
Brushy at certain points.
Brushy at certain points.
And very steep and eroded at other points.
And very steep and eroded at other points.
The trail leaves the ridgeline and descends south along the slope.
The trail leaves the ridgeline and descends south along the slope.
View back up toward the east ridge, Amanda cheesin'.
View back up toward the east ridge, Amanda cheesin'.
Nearing the Shoemaker Canyon Road roadbed, below. San Gabriel River seen left of center.
Nearing the Shoemaker Canyon Road roadbed, below. San Gabriel River seen left of center.
Along the brushy roadbed of Shoemaker Canyon Road.
Along the brushy roadbed of Shoemaker Canyon Road.
Approaching the first tunnel.
Approaching the first tunnel.
The trail totally disappeared into poison oak, so we dropped into a drainage.
The trail totally disappeared into poison oak, so we dropped into a drainage.
Entering the first tunnel.
Entering the first tunnel.
Past the tunnel, Shoemaker Canyon Road was easy to walk along.
Past the tunnel, Shoemaker Canyon Road was easy to walk along.
We passed these stacked towers of bee colonies. The buzzing was really loud.
We passed these stacked towers of bee colonies. The buzzing was really loud.
Along Shoemaker Canyon Road.
Along Shoemaker Canyon Road.
Passing through another tunnel.
Passing through another tunnel.
View back toward the tunnel, San Gabriel River on the right.
View back toward the tunnel, San Gabriel River on the right.
Back at the Shoemaker Viewpoint Day Use Area Trailhead.
Back at the Shoemaker Viewpoint Day Use Area Trailhead.

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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!