Granite Mtn et Fils

[GoalHiking]

On Jan 11, 2026 I set out to do a loop from the Monte Cristo campground that hits four HPS peaks: Iron #3, Roundtop, Granite, and Rabbit (in that order if you're going counter-clockwise). Both my phones were too low on the fireroad connecting the middle two, so I returned back to the Angeles Forest Hwy via Mt Pacifico Road and hitched a ride back to the campground.

I came back six days later and this time did the loop, adding on the last two peaks. It took longer than expected and I finished the descent of Rabbit by headlamp. Then, I discovered that what I'd thought would just be a quick fireroad had been heavily washed out by the recent storm. In parts there were only sides of the road, the middle section had fallen a few feet.

If all you want to do is bag those peaks and you don't care how you do it, you can take an (intact) fireroad to the middle two, another fireroad to near Iron, and then Rabbit isn't a long haul from the fireroad I came back on.

However, as a training hike for steep things, this is pretty good. It's not as steep as other things, but the steepness is sustained. And, while it's all Class 1, the loose desert-like surface makes it more challenging than something like Register Ridge.

More details and a few pics from the first trip here: https://goalhiking.org/g/round-top-iron3

ADDED: Fixed a typo. Also, for those who've done both, how does the loop compare to Rattlesnake Peak via the ridge?

[tekewin]

I think they are probably of similar effort if you take the south ridge to Rattlesnake. Not as many ups and downs on Rattlesnake.