Iron Mountain #2

Iron Mountain #2, photo by Sunny Yi

Iron Mountain #2, Photo by Sunny Yi.

Peak Name

Iron Mountain #2

09B

Elevation

5635

feet

Status

active

Region

West Of Mill Creek

Range

San Gabriel Mountains

Nearby peaks

Mount Gleason, Condor Peak, Fox Mountain #2

Location

34.3486099,-118.22952

Description

Iron Mountain #2 is an easy to spot peak from Condor Peak and Mount Lukens for its white rock point located near the summit. Route 1 is a moderate, mostly road, hike from Mount Gleason now that the Mount Gleason Road is open most of the year. Route #2 as of this writing (March 2022) is not passable due to nearly impenetrable brush beyond Tom Lucas trail camp. Iron Mountain #2 is also hiked from the Condor Peak trail, continuing on past Condor Peak on somewhat overgrown road to meet the Trail Canyon Trail, Route 2, and continuing according to the Route 2 directions from there. It is possible to do 20+ mile point to point from the Condor Peak trail to Condor Peak, Iron Mountain, Mount McKinley and then down the Gold Canyon Truck Trail, or a mountain bike ride along Mendenhall Ridge from Dillon Divide.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1- From Mount Gleason

Elevation Gain

1300′ total, 600′ out plus 700′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

6+ miles round trip on road and cross-country

Estimated time

3 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

Drive north on Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2) for 9.5 miles to its junction with Angeles Forest Highway (N3). Turn left.
Drive north on Angeles Forest Highway 14.2 miles to Mill Creek Summit. Turn left on Mount Gleason Road (3N17). Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 6.2 miles, a fork, where the paved road goes into a detention center. Take the left fork (dirt) around the detention center.
At 8.8 miles, a gated paved road goes right (north) just past a microwave tower. This is the parking spot for Mount Gleason. Keep left.
At 9.3 miles, fork. Turn left.
At 9.5 miles, fork at Lightning Point Campground (shown on topo as “Mt. Gleason Campground”). Turn right.
Continue downhill about 1.6 miles to a locked gate at a saddle. This saddle is just northeast of bump 5846′.

Hiking route

From the parking area (5700′), pass the gate and hike west 1 1/2 miles to Indian Ben Saddle. Two trails leave the road at this point marked by signs.
Continue west on the road 1/4 mile to a where the road forks.
Keep right and follow 3N32 another 0.1 mile to a saddle where the road curves around to the north side of the ridge.
Leave the road here and climb a firebreak west 0.8 mile and 400′ gain to the summit.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Dirt

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2- From Trail Canyon

Elevation Gain

3800′

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

15 miles round trip on trail, road, and cross-country

Estimated time

8-9 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, strenuous

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

From the intersection of Mt. Gleason Avenue and Foothill Boulevard in Sunland, drive north on Mount Gleason, which becomes Big Tujunga Canyon Road, about 5 miles to Upper Trail Canyon Road on the left. Turn left.

Hiking route

From the parking area, hike up Trail Canyon Trail (13W03) 5 miles and 3000′ gain, passing Tom Lucas Campground, to where the trail meets the Condor Peak Trail between Iron Mountain #2 and Condor Peak.
Turn left (northwest), passing a water tank, and hike 1/2 mile farther on a dirt road, past a gate, to a road fork.
Turn left (west) and go 0.1 mile to a saddle where the road curves around to the north side of the ridge.
Leave the road here and climb a firebreak west 0.8 mile and 400′ gain to the summit.

Route Notes

Note: As of 2022 the upper portions of Trail Canyon leading up to the junction with the Condor Peak trail has been impassable due to heavy brush. Check conditions before attempting this route.

Printable Route