Mount Mooney

Mount Mooney, photo by Sunny Yi

Mount Mooney, Photo by Sunny Yi.

Peak Name

Mount Mooney

11G

Elevation

5840

feet

Status

active

Region

Western Angeles Crest

Range

San Gabriel Mountains

Nearby peaks

Location

34.305834,-118.0084003

Description

Mooney was named by a USFS surveyor in the 1920s, who in those days had a great deal of latitude in their choice of names for things, for a young forest ranger who was killed in France during WWI. Mooney can be climbed from its east ridge, Route 1, after a short drive up a high clearance road from the parking area for Vetter Mountain, or from the same parking area directly up a firebreak, Route 2.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1

Elevation Gain

250′

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

1 mile round trip on road

Estimated time

1 hour round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

From the intersection of I-210 and Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2), drive north on Angeles Crest Highway 9.5 miles to Angeles Forest Highway. Keep straight.
Continue about 4.5 miles to the junction with the Mount Wilson Road at the Red Box Ranger Station.
Continue on Angeles Crest Highway about 9 miles farther to the signed Charlton Flats Picnic Area on the left.
Continue 100 yards farther on Angeles Crest Highway to a paved road on the right. Turn right (north).
Keep right at an immediate fork. The road becomes dirt at 0.1 mile. Follow it 0.6 mile to a wide flat area at a saddle. Park here.

Hiking route

From the parking area (5600’+), hike west up a jeep road behind a dirt berm to the summit.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Dirt

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2

Elevation Gain

350′

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

2 miles round trip cross-country

Estimated time

2 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

Hiking route

From the parking area (5380′), cross to the north side of the highway and hike north up the brushy ridge to the summit.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Additional Peak Information

Historical note: The peak was named for Joseph Mooney, a young Forest Service telephone lineman and ranger in the Angeles National Forest. He lost his life in World War I.