Liebre Mountain

Liebre Mountain summit, photo by Sunny Yi

Liebre Mountain, photo by Steve Russell

Liebre Mountain summit, Photo by Sunny Yi.

Peak Name

Liebre Mountain

08A

Elevation

5760

feet

Status

active

Region

Liebre Range

Range

Sierra Pelona-Portal Ridge

Nearby peaks

Burnt Peak, Sawtooth Mountain

Location

34.7166497,-118.6639773

Description

Liebre, named after the original Spanish land grant family who owned this area, lies on the Pacific Crest Trail, on the northwest edge of the San Gabriel Mountains range, where the San Andreas Fault marks the transition from forest to desert. The summit has expansive views: southward, from east to west, are high points of the Angeles and Los Padres National Forests and to the north, the Antelope Valley, the southern Sierra, the Tehachapi Mountains, and the San Andreas Fault.

Route 1 starts from N2, smack dab on top of the San Andreas Fault, and follows the PCT to the summit. Route 2 is a drive-up from Bushnell Summit.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1- Pacific Crest Trail

Elevation Gain

1850′

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

7 miles round trip

Estimated time

3 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, moderate

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-5 north to SR 138.
Go 4 miles east on SR 138 to a paved road signed as Old Ridge Route Road, which is the beginning of Los Angeles County Road N2. Turn right.
Go 2.2 miles east to Pine Canyon Road (which is a continuation of N2). Turn left.
Go 4.2 miles east on N2 passing mile marker 13.6. Turn right onto dirt road.
Go 0.1 mile on dirt road to end and park here.

Hiking route

From the parking area (3960′), the southbound Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) goes right (west) past a sign 50′ up the trail. Follow the PCT as it goes south and up Liebre Mountain to the broad summit area.
Once in the broad summit area, hike roughly 0.4 mile on relatively level ground, watching for a flimsy fence a few yards off the trail to the right. Pass through the fence to a jeep track beyond.
The summit cairn is in the grove of trees to the right (west) of the jeep track, about 50 yards past the fence.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2- Driveup

Elevation Gain

None

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

250′ round trip

Estimated time

None

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-5 north to the town of Castaic and exit on Lake Hughes Road.
Take Lake Hughes Road northeast for 23.6 miles to where it ends at a junction with N2, Pine Canyon Road. Turn left (west).
Go 4.7 miles to Bushnell summit with a junction with 7N23 on the left. Turn left. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 2.0 miles, fork. Go right.
At 3.2 miles, junction. Go right (west) on 7N23.
At 4.6 miles, Sawmill Campground.
At 6.5 miles, fork. Keep straight.
At 9.7 miles, Bear Campground. Keep straight.
At 11.2 miles, a wide spot in the road. Park here.

Hiking route

From the parking area (5760′), walk 250′ north-northwest to a cairn.

Route Notes

An alternative driving route to or from Liebre is to take 8N04 (“Old Ridge Route”) from Highway 138, then turning north on 7N23. However, the gate at the junction with 7N23 is often locked; check with the Forest Service before using this route.

Printable Route