Trails › United States of America › California › San Gabriel Mountains

High Desert National Recreation Trail

In the San Gabriel Mountains

Local route44 km · 27 miBest Apr–Nov

Next nearby hike: Pct Grassy Hollow 0.6 mi · 0.9 kmExplore San Gabriel Mountains →

Angeles National ForestAngeles National ForestBig Cienega Trail · Angeles National ForestIslip Ridge Trail · Angeles National ForestJackson Lake · Angeles National ForestMine Gulch · Angeles National ForestMt. Waterman #1 · Angeles National ForestMt. Waterman #2 · Angeles National ForestPct Baden-Powell · Angeles National ForestPct Dawson Saddle · Angeles National ForestPct Grassy Hollow · Angeles National ForestPct Wright Mt To Inspiration P · Angeles National ForestPrairie Fork · Angeles National ForestWindy Gap Trail · Angeles National ForestEndStart5 kmN ↑

High Desert National Recreation Trail other trails nearby (tap a dot to open it)

Get directions · Google MapsApple Maps

© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Full route · OpenStreetMap · Basemap: OpenFreeMap (OpenMapTiles, © OSM contributors).

7-day forecast

Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)

Best time to hike

Best months: Apr–Nov · highs 11–25 °C (52–77 °F)

  1. J6°-3°116
  2. F7°-3°124
  3. M10°-2°90
  4. A13°0°44
  5. M18°4°12
  6. J22°7°4
  7. J25°11°5
  8. A25°11°6
  9. S22°9°11
  10. O16°5°28
  11. N11°0°52
  12. D6°-3°96

Average high °C · low °C · precipitation mm per month. Highlighted: best months.

How we pick months

Best months are those where the 1981–2010 average daily high is 10–27 °C (50–81 °F), the average overnight low is 0 °C (32 °F) or warmer, and average precipitation is 200 mm (7.9 in) or less. Values are long-term monthly averages for the ~1 km cell at the trail point on the map, from CHELSA V2.1 climatologies (Karger et al., CC0), not a forecast. Higher or more exposed parts of a route can be colder, wetter or snowier.

About this trail

High Desert National Recreation Trail is a local hiking route of about 44 km (27 mi) in Angeles National Forest, California, United States of America. It is in the San Gabriel Mountains. It lies about 11 km west of Wrightwood.

Short summary written from the trail facts on this page.

Trail facts

Mapped length
44 km · 27 mi (OSM route, Waymarked Trails)
Mountain range
San Gabriel Mountains (Transverse Ranges › Pacific Coast Ranges; GMBA)
Nearest town
11 km W of Wrightwood (San Bernardino County, California) · GeoNames
Park or forest
Angeles National Forest
Connects to
Pct Grassy Hollow (National Scenic Trail: Pacific Crest) (at its start or end)
Best months
Apr–Nov
Country
United States of America
Region
California
Continent
North America
Route type
Local route
Route centre
34.3816, -117.8316
Route start
34.3737, -117.7523
OpenStreetMap
relation 2748889
How it’s scored

Hikers can rate difficulty from 1 to 10 (1 = flat, short, easy walk for anyone; 3 = gentle hills, a little effort; 5 = moderate climbs, some fitness needed; 7 = steep or long, solid fitness required; 10 = extremely strenuous or technical; long steep climbing; experienced hikers only). The community average is shown once at least 3 people have rated the trail; until then the official or computed score is used when we have one.

More trails in the San Gabriel Mountains

All 107 →

Windy Gap Trail

4.2 km · 5.0 mi · 8.0 km away

Fish Fork

7.8 km · 5.3 mi · 8.6 km away

Islip Ridge Trail

7.9 km · 5.8 mi · 9.4 km away

Big Cienega Trail

2.8 km · 5.9 mi · 9.6 km away

Acorn

2.9 km · 7 mi · 11 km away

East Fork Trail

7.2 km · 7 mi · 11 km away

Nearest trails

distance from the trail start

Pct Grassy Hollow

0.6 mi · 0.9 km · Angeles National Forest

Jackson Lake

0.8 mi · 1.4 km · Angeles National Forest

Pct Baden-Powell

1.6 mi · 2.6 km · Angeles National Forest

Prairie Fork

2.6 mi · 4.2 km · Angeles National Forest

Mine Gulch

2.6 mi · 4.2 km · Angeles National Forest

Pct Wright Mt To Inspiration P

3.0 mi · 4.8 km · Angeles National Forest

All trails in California → · All 36,834 trails in United States of America →