Hi, Liz, thank you very much. Your Yosemite pics looked very cool.
I think Mt. Lukens via the Sister Elsie Trail that goes up Haines Canyon is a nice hike.
Net gain is about 2994' from where I normally park and the
RT mileage is about 9, maybe 10 miles. One of the nice things about it is that it's relatively unknown. You're unlikely to see very many people
if any once you go past the cut off trail junction. It's not the nicest front range canyon hike; that honor could arguably go to the Gabrieleno Trail in Santa Anita Canyon; but it's a nice pretty hike, and like I say, you'll not have to contend with crowds. The one draw back to the trail is that it's a bit brushy in spots, but generally not bad. I did a bit of lopping a month or two ago to get rid of some of the worst spots, and there are also some other locals like Matt on this board who maintain the trail even more than I do.
The trail head is at the extreme north end of Haines Canyon Ave. Pay close attention to no parking signs. If you google
10499 Haines Canyon Ave, Tujunga, CA, the approximate location of the trailhead will be displayed.
The route of the trail is shown on
this topo map. Note that the map doesn't show the Sister Elsie Trail, but I have not found it difficult to follow. The letters on the map indicate the following:
"A" is the trail head (it's fire road 2N76 at this point).
"B" is the point where you leave the main road and head up the spur road
"C" is the approximate point where the route turns into single track (i.e. a trail). I may have marked "C" just a bit too far past the cistern shown on the map.
"D" is the approx location of a signed trail junction. The "short cut trail" (not an offical name) goes to the right and rejoins road 2N76. The Sister Elsie Trail goes to the left and proceeds to Mt. Lukens (5074'). Stay left.
"E" is the saddle that the Sister Elsie Trail proceeds to.
"F" is the approx point that the Sister Elsie Trail joins the Stone Canyon Trail which comes in from the north. The junction is signed.
Note: From point "D" to point "F" you'll likely encounter no other hikers.
"G" is the point where you join the remains of an old spur road.
"H" is the point where you cross road 2N76 and head straight up the ridge to the summit.
"I" is the summit of Mt. Lukens (5074'). Note that the summit has a lot of communications towers. I don't find the summit to be particularly interesting.
You may then return the way you came, or alternatively go down road 2N76 all the way back to the trailhead. You can also take the aforementioned "short cut trail" from mid way down 2N76 back to the canyon bottom, shaving off some mileage. I personally find the fire road (2N76) to be pretty boring compared to the trail. You can also descend to the north on the Stone Canyon Trail, but you'd have to arrange a car shuttle.
Matt on this forum has a lot of maps that are far better than anything I have posted. Maybe he will post a better map than mine?
Note: This trail is written up in John Robinson's Trails of the Angeles which, along with San Bernardino Mtn Trails, is an excellent though slightly dated hiking guide for the local area.
