Slide Mountain Lookout in Angeles National Forest, CA

Hike Slide Mountain Lookout Angeles National Forest, CA

Class 1 10.9 miles 2600 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back May 1, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Slide Mountain Lookout is a peak with a fire tower at its summit and an excellent trail leading the entire way up. It has nice views down toward Pyramid Lake and into the Los Padres National Forest to the south. Google will try to navigate you to an illegal road in order to reach the trailhead, so instead navigate to this exit from Interstate 5 (34.56909, -118.68874) and then follow the old paved road to the trailhead. The trailhead is located at the Frenchman's Flat Day Use Area, a day use fee or pass required.

The first few miles of hiking is along a closed-off section of road (the old highway before I-5 was made). It's still used by workers to access the Pyramid Lake Dam, but hikers can't drive to the start of the trail. Piru Creek was flowing next to us as we walked, and nobody else seemed to be hiking the peak today. Austin commented he felt like we were in a post-apocalyptic world due to the cracked pavement along the road as we headed through Piru Gorge. After about 1.6 miles we located the start of the Slide Mountain Lookout Trail on the left, the dilapidated remains of an old road marked by a closed gate. We started up, the road winding around the slope at a fairly gradual grade for a few miles. The views down into Piru Gorge improved and Pyramid Lake came into view. Portions of this section traveled through trees, while the majority was through chaparral.

The road narrows into singletrack about 1.5 miles after leaving the old abandoned highway, and wildflowers hugged our legs as we continued ascending. One big switchback along the slopes and we were on the southeast ridge of Slide Mountain. The views south became amazing into the Sespe Wilderness, Lake Piru seen in the distance. We continued along the trail, which followed the ridge for a while. To keep the trail grade a more reasonable angle, it was built to switchback away from the steepening crest. Here we got views down toward Pyramid Lake. The trail then wraps around the southern slope of Slide Mountain before spiraling up and around to the fire tower on the summit. Our views were obscured by low-hanging clouds, but we managed to get down before the rain hit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Slide Mountain
4631 ft
631 rise

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The trailhead.
The trailhead.
A bit over a mile and a half along this old road.
A bit over a mile and a half along this old road.
The start of the Slide Mountain Trail, marked by a white gate.
The start of the Slide Mountain Trail, marked by a white gate.
View back as we ascend the Slide Mountain Trail, which begins as an old road.
View back as we ascend the Slide Mountain Trail, which begins as an old road.
Progress to the ridge seen above.
Progress to the ridge seen above.
Another shot back, Pyramid Lake seen on the left.
Another shot back, Pyramid Lake seen on the left.
The road is sometimes a little overgrown, but not enough to be annoying.
The road is sometimes a little overgrown, but not enough to be annoying.
View back.
View back.
The road eventually becomes a singletrack trail. The trail makes one big switchback in order to reach the ridgeline seen above.
The road eventually becomes a singletrack trail. The trail makes one big switchback in order to reach the ridgeline seen above.
View back along the singletrack.
View back along the singletrack.
Pretty wildflowers along the way.
Pretty wildflowers along the way.
View back along the Slide Mountain Trail.
View back along the Slide Mountain Trail.
Nearing the ridge crest.
Nearing the ridge crest.
At the ridge, view south.
At the ridge, view south.
Continuing along the ridge, Slide Mountain seen ahead in the clouds.
Continuing along the ridge, Slide Mountain seen ahead in the clouds.
View back, gorgeous scenery.
View back, gorgeous scenery.
The trail wraps around the ridge crest to keep the grade more low-angle. Slide Mountain seen above.
The trail wraps around the ridge crest to keep the grade more low-angle. Slide Mountain seen above.
Wider shot of the ridge past Slide Mountain.
Wider shot of the ridge past Slide Mountain.
Another shot back before the trail wraps to the north side of the peak.
Another shot back before the trail wraps to the north side of the peak.
On the north side, view down to Pyramid Lake.
On the north side, view down to Pyramid Lake.
View back along the crest.
View back along the crest.
The trail then spirals around the south, then west side of Slide Mountain. We had only clouds, but were happy we got views lower down.
The trail then spirals around the south, then west side of Slide Mountain. We had only clouds, but were happy we got views lower down.
Slide Mountain Lookout fire tower at the summit.
Slide Mountain Lookout fire tower at the summit.

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!