Mount Wilson Trail Reopens After Eaton Fire Damage
The Mt. Wilson Trail, one of the oldest hiking routes in the San Gabriel Mountains, has fully reopened following extensive damage caused by the Eaton fire last January and the flooding that followed in its wake, according to the LA Times.
The six-mile one-way trail begins in Sierra Madre, California, winding north through the foothills before terminating at Forest Service Road 2N45 — known as the Mt. Wilson Toll Road — deep within Angeles National Forest. The route climbs more than 4,800 feet in elevation and has long been considered a rite of passage for serious Los Angeles-area hikers.
The trail carries deep historical roots. The first known path to Mt. Wilson was established by Indigenous people, who used it to carry wood down the mountains during the construction of the San Gabriel Mission in 1771. Explorer Benjamin D. Wilson formalized the current route in 1864, following an ancient Tongva footpath, making it the oldest established trail in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Despite the fire’s significant reach across the surrounding landscape, early reports from returning hikers suggest the trail is in encouraging condition. Wildflowers — including species known as “fire followers” that rapidly bloom in the wake of burns — have already begun appearing along the lower stretches of the route. Orchard Camp, a historically significant rest stop roughly halfway up the trail that dates to the 1860s, retains much of its canopy cover, with healthy oaks and green undergrowth surviving the blaze.
Volunteers with the Mt. Wilson Trail Race contributed hundreds of hours to restoration efforts to bring the trail back to hiker-ready condition. Some sections show steeper terrain and minor erosion compared to before the fire, and snow remains present above Orchard Camp, requiring crampons for those wishing to continue to the summit.
Hikers planning a visit are advised to start early, as the lower portion of the trail receives full sun through much of the day. Parking is available on the street near Mt. Wilson Trail Park in Sierra Madre, which also offers restroom facilities. Lizzie’s Trail Inn and Richardson House, operated by the Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society, are open most Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon for those interested in the trail’s storied past.
