EISPIRATEN

I hiked from Shortcut Saddle to Charlton Flats via the Silver Moccasin Trail today. It was mostly cloudy and chilly with temps in the upper 40s. Big Tujunga Creek was flowing. I basically hiked to a cloud and back.

It was a fairly secluded outing. I only saw one pair of hikers and a giant group of bikers. Watch out for them if you do this trail. It looks like it might be a favorite among that crowd. The trail was in good condition and easy to follow except for a spur that connects to Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road near the first creek crossing. Watch out for that too.

View from Shortcut Saddle

It's yucca season

Down in the canyon

Near Chartlon Flats



Distance: 5.5 mi
Elevation gain: 1745 ft
Total time: 2:21:22

The last time I hiked this trail I scared up something big shortly after the trail crosses Big Tujunga Creek. It went bashing through the undergrowth on the south side of the creek. I tell myself it was a bear, but it could have been a deer. Deer seem to be more stealthy and cautious than bears though. Bears are more like bulls in a china shop. LOL

Uncle Rico wrote:The last time I hiked this trail I scared up something big shortly after the trail crosses Big Tujunga Creek. It went bashing through the undergrowth on the south side of the creek. I tell myself it was a bear, but it could have been a deer. Deer seem to be more stealthy and cautious than bears though. Bears are more like bulls in a china shop. LOL

Haha. Lotsa deer in that area. Definitely some beers too.

I had an eerie feeling that I was gonna come across a beast. Instead, I came across a crew of 10-25 speeding mountain bikers, which actually might be more dangerous.

How is the road noise along that stretch? Can you hear the highway the whole time?

Sean wrote: How is the road noise along that stretch? Can you hear the highway the whole time?

I only heard the highway near Shortcut Saddle and by the creek. I didn't hear much once I passed the creek and started climbing out of the canyon. Then again I live in the heart of LA so anything I hear out there pales in comparison to what I hear every day in the city. I recall it being fairly quiet past the creek though.