Hiked from Cow Canyon Saddle on April 4, 2016. Amazing views, including some of the best I've seen on any trail in Southern California. Mt. Baldy looms immediately north of the mountain, with Ontario Peak directly to the east.
There is large and mean locked gate at the start of the fireroad, with a prominent no trespassing sign. The Sierra Club HPS Section states that access is permitted with a permission slip that can be obtained from their site. I did have this slip, and the only other person I encountered all day was a pickup truck driving the access road. The truck did not stop or ask any questions. So presumably the permission slip is ok, but things did seem a bit dodgy with such an imposing gate at the start.
hightinerary - Jan 31, 2016 3:25 pm Date Climbed: Apr 9, 2015
After Sunset
I climbed this after climbing Sunset Peak. I also climbed nearby Peak 5696.
NavySeabee - Dec 29, 2014 12:47 pm Date Climbed: Dec 27, 2014
From Cow Canyon Saddle
Cool, crisp, beautiful December hike. We ascended the ridge directly from the spot the use trail traverses towards the east ridge. Fun, but steeeep! Descended via HPS route 1.
RickF - Jun 25, 2013 3:50 pm Date Climbed: May 13, 2013
Watch Out for Rattlesnakes!
I did this as an afternoon hike, after work on a Monday. Even though we were extra alert for snakes, I almost stepped on one. We saw a second snake in the manzanita just below the summit. It was freaky walking through the overgrown manzanita in snake season, at the optimim time of day to encounter rattlesnakes.
BobD3 - Feb 3, 2013 12:07 am Date Climbed: Jan 18, 2013
Took the firebreak up
from Cow Canyon saddle and the trail back down.
The firebreak wasn't a good choice. Too brushy and overgrown. Killer white thorn in dense pockets.
The trail was really decent though.
dfeatsc - Oct 25, 2011 12:00 pm Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2011
Hot Sunny Climb
Butt kicker of a climb with great views all around
SierraCJ - Jan 8, 2011 7:40 pm Date Climbed: Jan 8, 2011
Snow at top
Great hike from Cow Canyon saddle with good views along the way. Experienced about a foot of snow on north side approach to summit.
This was a great workout, and a good challenge for my developing off-trail navigational skills. The views all around are great. You can check out my trip report and pictures on my blog.
mdostby - Feb 23, 2010 8:24 pm Date Climbed: Feb 23, 2010
Nice hike
Started at Cow Saddle. Found the use trail no problem. Several sections are almost grown over by whitethorn and brush. Some sectons are washed out by the recent rains but all in all had no issues with route finding. Recommend wearing long pants and sleeves. Kind of a brush fest but worth the effort. The views are stellar.
Bob Burd - Jan 5, 2010 9:48 pm Date Climbed: Dec 17, 2009
From Cow Canyon Saddle
Rattlesnake and Lookout Mtns on a fine December day. Trip Report
Ze - Apr 20, 2009 9:54 pm Date Climbed: Apr 20, 2009
from the North
coming down bear canyon trail from Baldy, hopped off onto the ridge head down over a few bumps to Lookout. Peak is kind of dissapointing
mdougherty - Apr 23, 2008 4:15 pm Date Climbed: Mar 2, 2008
Via Cow Canyon
Went up with a large group of people for a bighorn sheep survey. Nice day and we saw lots of sheep.
HeyItsBen - Jan 4, 2008 5:12 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2007
from Cow Canyon Saddle
Much more enjoyable than I anticipated. The trail is actually in great shape, and is just steep enough to be fun.
Was heading to Oregon this morning so I woke up very early, got some Mcdonalds health food and hit the trail. This one was painful. Thought I was being tracked by something with four legs and sharp teeth so I was a little nervous. That's just because I'm an idiot.
David Rosenberg - Mar 28, 2007 4:57 am Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2006
Route From Cow Canyon
Didn't find the route too difficult. Only issue was the first turn-off when starting up the initial firebreak. I went directly up the South ridge at the end of the hike to the summit.
bechtt - Feb 20, 2007 4:12 am Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2007
Route 3 Variation
Climbed the wrong Route 3 (per HPS directions) due to 14 degree difference in magnetic and true north. Other than that, it was a great hike and great day. Continued on to the top of Mt Baldy.
brichardsson - Apr 13, 2016 3:08 pm Date Climbed: Feb 20, 2016
two peak daygreat fun trip from cow canyon saddle
StartingOver - Apr 11, 2016 3:47 pm Date Climbed: Apr 4, 2016
Amazing ViewsHiked from Cow Canyon Saddle on April 4, 2016. Amazing views, including some of the best I've seen on any trail in Southern California. Mt. Baldy looms immediately north of the mountain, with Ontario Peak directly to the east.
There is large and mean locked gate at the start of the fireroad, with a prominent no trespassing sign. The Sierra Club HPS Section states that access is permitted with a permission slip that can be obtained from their site. I did have this slip, and the only other person I encountered all day was a pickup truck driving the access road. The truck did not stop or ask any questions. So presumably the permission slip is ok, but things did seem a bit dodgy with such an imposing gate at the start.
hightinerary - Jan 31, 2016 3:25 pm Date Climbed: Apr 9, 2015
After SunsetI climbed this after climbing Sunset Peak. I also climbed nearby Peak 5696.
IronHiker - Jul 23, 2015 1:05 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2012
Cow Canyon SaddleLost my sunglasses on the way up
NavySeabee - Dec 29, 2014 12:47 pm Date Climbed: Dec 27, 2014
From Cow Canyon SaddleCool, crisp, beautiful December hike. We ascended the ridge directly from the spot the use trail traverses towards the east ridge. Fun, but steeeep! Descended via HPS route 1.
RickF - Jun 25, 2013 3:50 pm Date Climbed: May 13, 2013
Watch Out for Rattlesnakes!I did this as an afternoon hike, after work on a Monday. Even though we were extra alert for snakes, I almost stepped on one. We saw a second snake in the manzanita just below the summit. It was freaky walking through the overgrown manzanita in snake season, at the optimim time of day to encounter rattlesnakes.
BobD3 - Feb 3, 2013 12:07 am Date Climbed: Jan 18, 2013
Took the firebreak upfrom Cow Canyon saddle and the trail back down.
The firebreak wasn't a good choice. Too brushy and overgrown. Killer white thorn in dense pockets.
The trail was really decent though.
dfeatsc - Oct 25, 2011 12:00 pm Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2011
Hot Sunny ClimbButt kicker of a climb with great views all around
SierraCJ - Jan 8, 2011 7:40 pm Date Climbed: Jan 8, 2011
Snow at topGreat hike from Cow Canyon saddle with good views along the way. Experienced about a foot of snow on north side approach to summit.
cab - Sep 13, 2010 6:26 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2010
Cow Canyon SaddleNo problems finding the use trail just above the RV park. Pretty steep trail but a great workout and great views from the top.
nobodyhikesinla - Sep 2, 2010 12:16 pm Date Climbed: Apr 8, 2010
Off trail and proud!This was a great workout, and a good challenge for my developing off-trail navigational skills. The views all around are great. You can check out my trip report and pictures on my blog.
mdostby - Feb 23, 2010 8:24 pm Date Climbed: Feb 23, 2010
Nice hikeStarted at Cow Saddle. Found the use trail no problem. Several sections are almost grown over by whitethorn and brush. Some sectons are washed out by the recent rains but all in all had no issues with route finding. Recommend wearing long pants and sleeves. Kind of a brush fest but worth the effort. The views are stellar.
Bob Burd - Jan 5, 2010 9:48 pm Date Climbed: Dec 17, 2009
From Cow Canyon SaddleRattlesnake and Lookout Mtns on a fine December day. Trip Report
Ze - Apr 20, 2009 9:54 pm Date Climbed: Apr 20, 2009
from the Northcoming down bear canyon trail from Baldy, hopped off onto the ridge head down over a few bumps to Lookout. Peak is kind of dissapointing
mdougherty - Apr 23, 2008 4:15 pm Date Climbed: Mar 2, 2008
Via Cow CanyonWent up with a large group of people for a bighorn sheep survey. Nice day and we saw lots of sheep.
HeyItsBen - Jan 4, 2008 5:12 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2007
from Cow Canyon SaddleMuch more enjoyable than I anticipated. The trail is actually in great shape, and is just steep enough to be fun.
Travis_ - Sep 2, 2007 6:15 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2007
Via Cow CanyonDecided to hit both Lookout and Sunset, but it was so friggin hot! Still made it, nice views,
But I screwed up and did not contour left around the large bump along the ridge before the saddle, and had some terrible bush whacking...
here are my GPS tracks and a Google Map of our route.
http://www.gpsmountaineering.com/lookoutmountainandsunsetpeak
135driver - Apr 17, 2007 7:21 pm
Oregon MorningWas heading to Oregon this morning so I woke up very early, got some Mcdonalds health food and hit the trail. This one was painful. Thought I was being tracked by something with four legs and sharp teeth so I was a little nervous. That's just because I'm an idiot.
David Rosenberg - Mar 28, 2007 4:57 am Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2006
Route From Cow CanyonDidn't find the route too difficult. Only issue was the first turn-off when starting up the initial firebreak. I went directly up the South ridge at the end of the hike to the summit.
bechtt - Feb 20, 2007 4:12 am Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2007
Route 3 VariationClimbed the wrong Route 3 (per HPS directions) due to 14 degree difference in magnetic and true north. Other than that, it was a great hike and great day. Continued on to the top of Mt Baldy.