Fun Mount Hillyer's Chilao loop - Trail, La Canada, California
Fun Mount Hillyer's Chilao loop - Trail, La Canada, California
Latitude | 34.31919574543767 |
Longitude | -118.01015853881836 |
City | La Canada |
State | California |
Zip/Postal Code | |
Country | United States |
Phone | |
Trail Length | 10 miles / 17 if added to Vetter Mtn trail |
Trail Level | Intermediate |
Trail Type | Singletrack & Fire Roads |
USER REVIEWS
[Jan 03, 1999]
Anonymous
This is my favorite ride in the San Gabriels. The scenery is unbelieveable and the terrain is real different than the front range of the Mtns. The sinbgle track is really incredible and worth the longer car ride up the mtns. Though there are quite a few technical sections, it is not too much for an intermediate rider to take a crack at. If you haven't given this one a ride - definately go for it...it is like riding in another part of the country! When you're done the ride can grab a bite at Newcomb's Ranch resturant just around the corner (left out of Chilao Camp ground -1/4 mile) ENJOY Customer Service nothing to add here ...same as above Similar Products Used: Brown Mtn. El Prieto loop |
[Apr 20, 1999]
Anonymous
This is my favorite trail in the San Gabriels. It's full of technical riding nearly all singletrack.It's high enough in altitude so the air is clear, but can be cold up there so bring warm gear. I once saw snow still on the ground in late May. By far the best part is the big boulders up on top of Mt. Hilyer. Customer Service The route given is good although you can start from Charleton flats campground. |
[Nov 09, 1999]
Anonymous
Excellent!!! Definitely not for the beginner and maybe not intermediates with poor bike control. Boulders are incredible although I've had more than a few head to manzanita bush encounters. Please use caution as many boy scouts and hikers use the trail. Customer Service You can make it shorter by parking at the Visitor's Center and you don't have to support the Adventure Pass |
[Mar 26, 2002]
Anonymous
I start at the Charlton Parking area just pull off angeles crest and park by the restrooms (open seasonaly), display your adventure pass. Start by heading down a mild grade on pavement heading away from angeles crest. This is a great warm up a paved road and offers a nice view of the canyon below Vetter Mountian. After a bit the pavement becomes dirt continue left and up to the top of Vetter Mountain. After enjoying a wonderful 360 panorama head back down the fire road and be ready to take the quick left that puts you on to a fun 4 - 5 mi single track. Be careful here there are blind corners and this trail is used often by hikers on the weekend. Please dont skid! Follow the single track accross the road (straight accross about 4 times) untill you hit a little creek crossing and a road. Head left down the road and follow the trail markers (this is a nice connector to the Charlton Flats area). Take the dirt road down and up and look for a singletrack (marked with a trail marker) on the right. Take this up, little ring grinding, and you are near the start of the previous trail description. This option adds about 7 or 8 miles total to you loop and a bit more climbing, but you can stay off Angeles Crest completely and get in a great 20 mile epic. Be careful and wear a helmet! Customer Service This is a great route, but since its a drive out there I like to loop it with the Vetter mountain lookout which is near the Charlton Flats area. Similar Products Used: Strawberry peak, Red Box area, Mt Wilson |
[Jul 03, 2002]
Anonymous
The date I rode was really June 25,2002. It was awesome! Cool views, great single tracks. It's a bit sandy in some parts and loose in some climbs but overall you can ride 90% of the trail. Silver Mocassin is super technical in some parts, killer stairs and jumps. I just loved the top of Mt. Hyllier. Great views and huge boulders. To find the trail in the middle of the rocks could be a bit sketchy. Just follow the bike tracks. One of the best trail I ridden in So Cal. Go for it. Customer Service Print the directions above. They are accurate. Fun 10 miles loop, although you'll feel like you've ridden 20. Similar Products Used: Red Box to Switzer and on down to JPL/Lower Arroyo |
[Sep 18, 2002]
Anonymous
First things first: getting up the paved fireroad is super easy (which may be good or bad). The short climb mentioned in the middle of the ride (the turn off the paved road that was 4 miles up) is short, but a real doozy. The singletrack was absolutely fantastic. The trail is real sandy right now (sep 17 2002) so the switchbacks were extra tricky because 1) the sand grabs your tire and doens't let go and 2) the erosion leaves a decent drop off guarded by rocks as you try to make your way around the switchback. Some of the other obstacles to clear, mainly the stair steps, are extra tricky right now due to heavy drought turning everything dry and letting it roll away. Nonetheless Just a real "fun" and challengig time coming down. I wouldn't recommend this trail to intermeddiates--too many places to get hurt for you little guys. I don't agree with the dude who said the 10 miles will feel like 20, it feels like 10. Now the juicy stuff: I'm a CO NATIVE and damn proud of it, born and raised there 22 years...i'm just out in LA on *extended vacation*, aka grad school. So you ought to know that our buddy Charles is out of his league when he claims the "scenery similar to CO." yeah, maybe the dumpy foothills part. there a few vistas that are quite nice, but no where near the majestic beauty and grandeur of true CO mountains. nice break to get some decently fresh air up high, but it's still a touch brown. the most depressing thing is coming back down on highway 2. (and please be careful driving up there. way too many idiots driving SUV's coming waaaay over the yellow line...like you fools need SUV's here anyway). as you fall back into the valley, the air turns back to gross thick brown, a real downer after a gorgeous morning of riding. a tragedy how you goons trashed this state--that's why you need to stay the hell out of mine.
Customer Service follow the directions above. they are accurate. make sure you bear left out of the parking lot to hit the trail. some people have apparently started cutting a new trail off to the right. Similar Products Used: city sewer is nice, so they tell me |
[Sep 18, 2002]
Anonymous
First things first: getting up the paved fireroad is super easy (which may be good or bad). The short climb mentioned in the middle of the ride (the turn off the paved road that was 4 miles up) is short, but a real doozy. The singletrack was absolutely fantastic. The trail is real sandy right now (sep 17 2002) so the switchbacks were extra tricky because 1) the sand grabs your tire and doens't let go and 2) the erosion leaves a decent drop off guarded by rocks as you try to make your way around the switchback. Some of the other obstacles to clear, mainly the stair steps, are extra tricky right now due to heavy drought turning everything dry and letting it roll away. Nonetheless Just a real "fun" and challengig time coming down. I wouldn't recommend this trail to intermeddiates--too many places to get hurt for you little guys. I don't agree with the dude who said the 10 miles will feel like 20, it feels like 10. Now the juicy stuff: I'm a CO NATIVE and damn proud of it, born and raised there 22 years...i'm just out in LA on *extended vacation*, aka grad school. So you ought to know that our buddy Charles is out of his league when he claims the "scenery similar to CO." yeah, maybe the dumpy foothills part. there a few vistas that are quite nice, but no where near the majestic beauty and grandeur of true CO mountains. nice break to get some decently fresh air up high, but it's still a touch brown. the most depressing thing is coming back down on highway 2. (and please be careful driving up there. way too many idiots driving SUV's coming waaaay over the yellow line...like you fools need SUV's here anyway). as you fall back into the valley, the air turns back to gross thick brown, a real downer after a gorgeous morning of riding. a tragedy how you goons trashed this state--that's why you need to stay the hell out of mine.
Customer Service follow the directions above. they are accurate. make sure you bear left out of the parking lot to hit the trail. some people have apparently started cutting a new trail off to the right. |
[May 16, 2003]
Anonymous
I rode this trail in January '03 with high expectations. It sounded easy enough so I decided to take off alone that day. There was snow on much of the fire-road and it made things tricky at the top of Mt Hillyer. Trying to find a trail when there is 6" of even snow coverage can be maddening sometimes since there aren't any tire tracks to follow. Always up for a challenge, I thought it would make for an interesting ride as I strapped on my helmet for the decent. I managed to find the trail for the first few hundred yards at the top and then things got hairy. There was a lot of spots where the trail was completely washed out with melting snow and runoff. I found out after a while that I wasn't on a trail at all anymore...it just disappeared. 3 hours later with a million cuts on my arms and legs (I HATE chapparl) and two flats I ended up at Chilao damaged and defeated. I'll ride it again someday; maybe in the early summer. Next time I'll make sure to bring somebody else along to navigate since I'm obviously a failure in that area. I would recommend the trail to intermediate/advanced riders. It is truly challenging with all of the washed out sections and is probably a lot of fun if you know where you are :-) Customer Service Since I got lost...I can't recommend following the route that I took. |