A Celebrated Trail in Angeles National Forest

It’s the second most-visited national forest in the United States, guardian of the San Gabriel Mountains, a wilderness near home. And next month, the Angeles National Forest celebrates its 100th anni versary.

In 1891, Congress passed the Forest Reserve Act, authorizing the President to establish “forest reserves” (forerunners of our national forests). Among the first to be set aside was the San Gabriel Timberland Reserve, created on Dec. 20, 1892, the first such reserve in California.

Those urging protection of the San Gabriel Mountains included developer Abbot Kinney, founder of the city of Venice, and Theodore Lukens, former mayor of Pasadena.

Today, the Angeles has everything one might expect in a national forest: half a dozen ski areas; a couple of lakes with decent fishing; three wilderness areas; birds, bears and bighorn sheep, plus great mountain biking and hundreds of miles of trail, including a grand stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail.

A good place to learn about Angeles Crest history and the difficult life of the early forest rangers is at the Chilao Visitor Center, located just off Angeles Crest Highway (California 2) in the heart of the forest. The Visitor Center also has flora, wildlife and geology exhibits, and offers the latest information about trail, road and weather conditions.

Another way to learn about the forest is to hit the trail. And the best trail to hit, near the Chilao Visitor Center, is a Southern California classic--the Silver Moccasin Trail.

Even on the Angeles National Forest map, the trail looks intriguing: a red dashed line zigs and zags through the heart of the San Gabriel Mountains, linking such destinations as Chantry Flat, Shortcut Station, Chilao, Cloudburst and Cooper Canyon.

Designed by the Los Angeles Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the 53-mile-long Silver Moccasin Trail extends from Charlton Flat to the mountain named for the founder of the Boy Scouts, Lord Baden-Powell. Scouts who complete the weeklong trek earn the prized Silver Moccasin Award.

One particularly enjoyable stretch of the Silver Moccasin Trail tours the Charlton Flat-Chilao area, a region of giant boulders and gentle, Jeffrey pine-covered slopes. In order to make a loop, this hike employs other trails, as well as both dirt and paved roads.

Directions to trail head: From the Foothill Freeway (210) in La Canada, exit on Angeles Crest Highway and drive 13 miles to the signed turnoff for Chilao Campground. Turn left and proceed a short quarter-mile to signed Silver Moccasin Trail. Limited parking is available next to the Golden Anniversary Victory Grove.

The hike: Join the signed trail and hike south. Navigate very carefully at first; the Silver Moccasin is cut by numerous confusing side trails and is easy to lose. When in doubt, generally steer to the right toward the bluff overlooking the campground. After a few minutes of walking, the now more distinct trail plunges down a chaparral-lined ravine.

A mile’s descent brings you to an intersection with a dirt road. Go left and begin ascending along--and above--the east fork of Alder Creek. Another mile’s hike and you’ll arrive at the huge Charlton Flat Picnic Area. Turn left and begin walking up the paved picnic ground road.

Charlton Flat, formerly known as Pine Flat, was named after Rush Charlton, Angeles National Forest supervisor from 1906 to 1920. Off to your left is half-a-mile-long Wolf Tree Nature Trail that interprets the wonders of a mixed conifer forest. The commanding conifer of Charlton Flat is the Coulter pine, which produces foot-long, five-pound cones, largest of our native pines.

After traversing the large picnic area, you arrive at Angeles Crest Highway. Carefully cross the highway and walk left a short ways to a paved road on the right. Walk up this paved road (which leads to a trailer sanitation facility). The pavement gives way to dirt and you ascend north three-quarters of a mile over forested slopes to a distinct saddle.

From the saddle, “peak-baggers” can journey to two summits. Devil Peak, which offers a grand view of the rugged San Gabriel Wilderness, is a three-quarter-mile trek via a dirt road and steep fire break. Mt. Mooney’s pine-dotted summit, which offers better picnicking than panoramic views, is reached by a rough, steep half-mile trail.

Our main path drops north 1 1/4 miles over wooded slopes, before bending westward back toward Angeles Crest Highway. Some 50 yards short of the highway, join the unsigned, brush-lined trail that parallels the highway.

Now you are truly walking in the path of history, along the Angeles Crest Trail that dates from the 1890s. This was one of the main routes through the forest until the 1930s, when Angeles Crest Highway was constructed. The highway obliterated most of the old trail, except for a few stretches such as the one you’re walking.

Your hike into history soon ends abruptly when you come face to face with a Caltrans maintenance station. Go left on the access road leading to the station and walk some 75 yards to Angeles Crest Highway. Carefully cross the highway, walk a short distance to the right, and join the entrance road to Chilao Campground for the short walk back to the trail head.

If you’d like to hike to the Chilao Visitor Center, join Silver Moccasin Trail, this time heading north through the pines. A mile’s walk brings you to the Chilao Picnic Area, and another half-mile’s walk up the picnic area road takes you to the Visitor Center.

Note: The Big Santa Anita Historical Society and the U.S. Forest Service will stage a special symposium honoring the creation of the Angeles National Forest, Dec. 5 between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium in Pasadena. Featured speakers will include historian John Robinson and naturalist Elna Bakker. Tickets: $8.95 for the symposium, $13.95 for the symposium and a box lunch. Make checks payable to Big Santa Anita Historical Society, 7 N. 5th Ave., Arcadia 91006. For more information, call (818) 574-5200.

San Gabriel Mountains / Silver Moccasin Trail Where: Charlton Flat-Chilao Recreation Area, Angeles Natioal Forest. Distance: 5 1/2-mile loop, with 700-foot elevation gain. Longer distances possible. Terrain: Pine-covered slopes, steep ravines. Highlights: Excellent visitor center, classic trail. Degree of difficulty: Moderate. Precautions: Mile-high area subject to snow and rapidly changing weather conditions. some problems with water quality; bring your own drinking water. For more information: Contact Angeles National Forest, 701 N. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia 91006, (818) 574-5200. Or call the Chilao Visitor Center at (818) 796-5541.