8.8 miles
Distance
4,377 ft
Climb
-55 ft
Descent
02:03:42
Avg time
Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of Mt. Wilson Toll Road Trail

  • USFS
    Land Manager

Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Altadena
    California
  • Difficulty Rating
    Access Trail or Doubletrack rate
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Dirt/Gravel Road
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC, Adaptive MTB, Gravel
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    Year Round
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Local Popularity
    80 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 50 in Hiking

The Mt. Wilson Toll Road can take you to a few different trails and destinations, the most obvious of which being the Mt. Wilson Observatory. However, the ride described here takes you Henninger Flats, the closest and "easiest" destination to get to as you climb up and along the Toll Road. The ride in itself is nothing special, just a grueling slog up a steep fire road for almost 3 miles, but the payoff makes the torture worth it. Henninger Flats is a wonderful "oasis" and gem of the lower San Gabes that has water, camp sites, bathrooms, and a ranger/forestry station. Henninger Flats is quite a relaxing spot, where you can enjoy the views of the smog filled city below as you breathe in fresh air, feel the breeze blow through the flats, and laugh at all the suckers below you who have no idea that this place even exists.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Mt. Wilson Toll Road mountain bike trail trail
  • Altitude change
    4,322 ft
  • Altitude min
    1,263 ft
  • Altitude max
    5,632 ft
  • Altitude start
    1,310 ft
  • Altitude end
    5,633 ft
  • Grade
    9.3%
  • Grade max
    -19.4%
  • Grade min
    70.7%
  • Distance climb
    8 miles
  • Distance down
    1,276 ft
  • Distance flat
    958 ft
  • Avg time
    02:03:42
  • Avg reverse time
    01:27:50
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Aug 10, 2024
Dry
Avg: 3.99 (6 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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      Directions to mt-wilson-toll-road trailhead (34.191710, -118.105570)
      update trails status or condition

      Mt. Wilson Toll Road Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Aug 10, 2024 @ 10:14pm
      Aug 10, 2024
      		 The rock slide is passable even with a bike. Just be careful as there is a little exposure.
      Mar 25, 2024 @ 11:52am
      Mar 25, 2024
      		 Rock Slide just before Winter Creek
      Nov 25, 2023 @ 8:58am
      Nov 25, 2023
      		 I'd consider the problems to be mostly local to the Mt Harvard area and pretty typical given the geology in the area. A few spots where you...
      Oct 6, 2023 @ 5:25pm
      Oct 6, 2023
      		 Lots of loose gravel, very loose, lots of ruts. Not very enjoyable even on an mtb.
      Jun 23, 2023 @ 9:26pm
      Jun 23, 2023
      		 Prior descriptions are accurate. Almost rideable the entire way with 32mm slicks. Southern exposures in the top 1/3 have slumps and rockfalls to...
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 1 rides
      • 55.2 km avg distance
      6 Months
      • 47 rides
      • 31.1 km avg distance
      All
      • 673 rides
      • Last: Dec 1, 2024

      Photos

      more »
      307 |
      Jun 12, 2021 @ 4:19pm
      Jun 12, 2021
      215 |
      Jun 12, 2021 @ 4:19pm
      Jun 12, 2021
      228 |
      Jun 12, 2021 @ 4:19pm
      Jun 12, 2021
      202 |
      Jun 12, 2021 @ 4:19pm
      Jun 12, 2021

      Routes with this trail

      titledistance
      Mt Wilson Trail7 miles
      Winter Creek7 miles
      Long Angeles Loop28 miles

      3 Reviews & Comments


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      Videos

      more »
      My Wilson top Section
      5:11 | 536 | Jul 12, 2015 , My City
      Instagram video
      0:16 | 335 | Jul 8, 2015 , My City

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