I have been interested in the old fire road that heads north from the saddle that takes you up to Warm Springs Mountain for a while. I just haven't had a reason to go up there, looking at Peakbagger I noticed three peaks that were identified and decided to give it a shot. It was going to be a bit of a long outing with 14 miles and 3,000 feet elevation gain but much would be on what should be a semblance of fire road.
I got to the Warm Springs TH and started up the fire road. The fire road has deteriorated significantly at the start where a bunch of culverts have been compromised and the creek now flows down the road. Fortunately there was minimal water so it didn't make much of a difference. Once the road starts climbing up the side of the canyon there used to be a trail that continued along the canyon and then switch backed up to the ridge. I could see no evidence of this trail, when I did it ten years ago it was difficult, so I assume it has been retaken over by nature. There is a cool spring about 2/3 of the way up to the crest with an adit off the side of the trail.
I finally reached the crest and the junction with the other fire roads. I started up to the north Warm Springs Divide Truck Trail with nice views into Rattlesnake Canyon. As you get higher you can see another road on the other side of the canyon, where that went, who knows? There was no evidence other then a solitary biker track at the beginning of the road that this road had been used. For most of the way to Peak 3,765 the route looked like a road, from there to 4,278 it was a path/use trail, and the final push was a use trail with some brush. At the top of Rattlesnake Canyon, the panoramas open up and you can see the steep firebreak required to climb 3,765.
The climb is steep but mercifully short and then you get some nice views.
The way down was fortunately sandy so manageable. The road contoured around the next ridge and then reached another saddle where you could look down Lion Canyon. Lots of deer and some bear use this route as the footprints were quite evident. The climb up to 4,278 at the beginning was very brushy but once you got higher up was more manageable. There were some old beer cans as this used to probably be a dirt bikers route. Looking at Burnt Peak from the summit.
Continued down the brushy use trail to the final peak required some dropping in elevation. This climb was filled with yuccas and had the only evidence of someone being there with some rocks piled at the top but no register. The view up Sawtooth that can be climbed via this route:
View towards the Santa Clarita Valley.
You can continue to Maxwell Mine although I don't know the status of the trail which is where this trail ends. The route back was much faster as it was downhill and minimal resistance with gravity helping you. The hike took just under 6 hours.
