Mt Hillyer

7 Mile Hike Loop to Mount Hillyer Via Silver Moccasin Trail and looped to Santa Clara Divided Road Back to Silver Moccasin Trail. I just love this area and the amount of exploring that you can do is very abundant. Do not hesitate to explore and try some rocking climbing. Check out my video from my adventure.
Mount Hillyer Video — 10/​17/​2014
Mount Hillyer Video — 01/​11/​2013
Distance: 7 miles round trip (Gate is locked during winter)
Elevation Gain: 1300 ft
Hike Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Condition: OK, but a few difficult spots
Hike Type: Out and Back
Animals: Dog Friendly
Activities: Hiking, Running & Mountain Biking
Picture Link

You can get to Mt. Hillyer from Upper Chilao Campground, from Horse Flats Campground and from Rosenita Saddle. To get to Upper Chilao or Horse Flats take Interstate 210 in La Canada, exit at Angeles Crest Hwy. (Hwy. 2). The drive takes less than an hour. This review is for the backdoor entry into Mt. Hillyer and the descent towards Horse Flats Campground. This backdoor entry starts at Rosenita Saddle which you can get to by turning right at the same fork which takes you either left to Horse Flats or right to places where you can park if you are not camping like Rosenita Saddle. If all you want to do is admire the 360 degree view that is afforded by Mt. Hillyer then start at Rosenita Saddle. It is less than a mile of hiking from Rosenita saddle to Mt. Hillyer. The hike from Rosenita Saddle to Mt. Hillyer is easy. You don’t have to climb uphill at a steep incline. The trail is easy to follow throughout the hike. After the lookout rock atop Mt. Hillyer there is a descent to Horse Flats. The climb back up to Mt. Hillyer is not too steep at all. Then from there it’s downhill to Rosenita Saddle. We were here in April and there really are no bugs like on other hikes along the Angeles Crest Hwy. You may need sunblock since most of the trail is not under the shade of trees.
The whole area is characterized by high areas (where you feel refreshing gusts of cool wind), some meadows, pine trees and large rock formations. Some of these formations can be climbed and they afford incredible views. There are no streams or waterfalls here if that is what you consider necessary for a beautiful hike, but generally those kinds of hikes do not afford the views hikes like Mt. Hillyer offer. From the top of Mt. Hillyer you can see the extent to which forest fires have caused deforestation but you can also see pinecapped mountains. At the right time of the day if you look towards Los Angeles you can see clouds and/​or smog hugging the mountains. It’s quite a beautiful sight. We were lucky to see gray squirrels, blue jays, woodpeckers and unfortunately a rather large rattlesnake — so be very careful around the parts of the trail with brush. It’s bear country so make noise often and be sure to contact the Ranger’s Office for tips on what to do if you encounter a bear. Since it’s bear country you need to be very careful if you bring along kids or pets. Pets are allowed but must be on a leash. Be wary of mountain bikers. Some of them rush downhill recklessly. The trail is fairly kid friendly since the climbing is moderate, but you can’t forget it’s bear country. Don’t forget your Adventure Pass which is currently $ 30 for a year and $ 5 for a day and can be obtained at Ranger Stations. The fines are pretty steep for people who don’t use Adventure Passes.
The area around Mt. Hillyer is just as beautiful as more famous trails like the one at Mt. San Jacinto near Palm Springs. This trail is really worth your time if you like to climb rock formations, see impressive views and love pine trees!