Barley Flats
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Description
Barley Flats is home to facilities that has seen many uses over the years, as described in the historical notes below. Currently it is used as a helipad for search and rescue and other operations, and that part of the peak area should be avoided by hikers. The peak has views of Vetter Lookout, Mooney, Strawberry and Lawlor. It is usually paired with these or other peaks in the area.
Route 1 is a road walk that starts from Angeles Crest Highway and heads west, winding around ridges and skirting the helipad area. Route 2 starts from Upper Big Tujunga where Alder Creek crosses the highway and heads south cross country. It is rarely traveled and very overgrown. Route 3 starts from Red Box and follows an old road. It is quite brushy in sections. The peak can also be hiked to or from Lawlor along a firebreak, which is mostly free of brush.
Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission
Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides
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 3.7 miles farther to the Barley Flats Road – 2N46 (paved) on the left.
Park here, outside the gate. In past years vehicles could drive up this road but it has been closed for many years.
Hiking route
From the parking area (4580′), walk through the personnel gate and up the paved road 2.5 miles to a locked gate on the left that goes to the LA Sheriffs Air Rescue 5 facility and Helipad. Do not enter this area or approach the Air Rescue Heliport.
Continue straight (west) toward the large green steel water tank on the ridge past the Forest Service tree farm. All of the previous “Camp Unity” buildings have been removed. A use trail to the left and past the tree farm goes up the slope to the water tank.
The register is about 50 yards south of the water tank and up a slight rise to the left of the continuing old road bed. The use trail may be overgrown, not easy to follow, and it may be necessary to detour around several bramble patches.
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. Turn left onto Angeles Forest Highway.
Drive north on Angeles Forest Highway 8.3 miles to the Upper Big Tujunga Road. Turn right.
Drive east on Upper Big Tujunga Road 4 miles to Alder Creek. This is the trailhead.
Continue driving 0.3 mile (until the end of the No Parking signs.) Park on shoulder.
Hiking route
Hike back 0.3 mile to Alder Creek. Find trail on south side of highway, go southeast, and cross Alder Creek.
At the vandalized steel post reading “Barley Flats Trail”, cross the Big Tujunga Creek.
Hike east about 100′ to the trail switchbacking out of the wash to the south.
Hike up a good trail for about 1.5 miles until it reaches a firebreak ridge.
Go up the use trail on the ridge. After the ridge section, the trail is fine, if the buckthorn has not overgrown the trail, to the Barley Flats Road. The trail joins the road just east of the locked gate to Air Rescue 5 and the Heliport. Do not enter this area or approach the Air Rescue Heliport.
Continue west toward the green water tank.
See directions for Hiking Route 1.
Route Notes
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. Park here.
Hiking route
From the parking area (4600′), hike east along Angeles Crest Highway for 100′ and go up the dirt road on the left (2N46) for about 3/4 mile to a trail junction on the left.
Ignore the junction and continue to follow the old roadbed (very brushy at times) up to the top of the ridge where it meets a good road.
Follow the old road east a short distance to where a large green steel water tank comes into view. The register is on the flat area about 50 yards south of the water tank and up a slight rise to the left of the continuing old road bed.
Special conditions: This route may be badly overgrown by brush.
Additional Peak Information
Note: The heliport is an active air rescue station with regular helicopter takeoffs and landings. At the request of the LA County Sheriff’s Department and S&R personnel, for safety reasons, DO NOT enter or approach the helipad area.
Alternate routes: It is possible to traverse the ridge from Mount Lawlor. This route is now overgrown in spots with brush.
Historical notes: The fenced facility near Barley Flats was originally built as the administration and launcher facilities for a Nike Ajax (non-nuclear) antiaircraft battery. It was in place between 1954 and 1961. The fire control radar system for the battery was located on the summit of Mt. Disappointment. The launch site magazines were destroyed, but the administration buildings remained and were used as a probation camp by Los Angeles County Sheriff until 1992, then used as a religious retreat named Camp Unity. The buildings have now been removed (2020) and the site is a Forest Service Tree Farm.
External Links
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External Links
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