Lookout Mountain #2
Peak Name
Elevation
feet
Status
Region
Range
Nearby peaks
Location
Description
Lookout Mountain, the site of the first fire lookout in California, also has an important place in the history of modern physics. It is here that Albert Michelson was the first to accurately measure the speed of light by, after the USGS spent two years accurately measuring the distance between Lookout Mountain and Mount Wilson, by measuring the transit time of a light beam between the two peaks.
The peak itself overlooks the village of Mount Baldy and can be accessed from the Bear Canyon (Baldy from the Village) trail. Route 1, from Cow Canyon Saddle, the trailhead for Sunset Peak with which it is commonly hiked, traverses a bump to a saddle, then steeply to the south ridge of the peak. There are issues with private property, discussed below in a note. Route 2 starts on the Bear Canyon Trail and takes a circuitous route up creeks and ridges. Route 3 starts as Route 2, but quickly departs up a steep rocky chute to join Route 1 at the saddle mentioned before, cutting off several miles.
Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission
Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides
Driving route
Take the 210 freeway east to Baseline Road exit in the City of Claremont. Turn left (west) at the bottom of the off-ramp onto Baseline Road.
Almost immediately, take the first right (north) onto Padua Ave.
Go 1.8 miles north on Padua to the intersection with Mount Baldy Rd. Turn right (northeast).
Take this road northeast and then north about seven miles to Glendora Ridge Road in Mt. Baldy Village. Turn left.
Go about 1 mile to Cow Canyon Saddle with a parking lot on the right. Park here. Ample parking.
Note: There is a good parking lot for ridesharing in this area. To get there, after turning west on Baseline Road, continue past Padua Avenue a short distance to Mills Avenue. Turn north on Mills, and continue to Mt. Baldy Road. The parking lot is at the northeast corner of this intersection.
Hiking route
From the parking area (4523′), pass the gate and hike north up the road to a large flat area where the road turns left and goes downhill. Directly to the north is a ridge with a firebreak.
Go up this ridge about 50′ to a faint trail on the left. Hike along this trail as it contours around to a saddle (5480′) on the northwest side of bump 5696′.
Climb northwest up through the brush on a prominent use trail which becomes another firebreak.
Continue up this firebreak to the summit.
Special conditions: Although Route 1 has always included portions on private property, HPS’ers have been able to pass with permission. The property is now under new ownership and that permission is now uncertain. It is suggested that any HPS scheduled hikes take other routes until this issue is resolved.
Driving route
Take the 210 freeway east to Baseline Road exit in the City of Claremont. Turn left (west) at the bottom of the off-ramp onto Baseline Road.
Almost immediately, take the first right (north) onto Padua Ave.
Go 1.8 miles north on Padua to the intersection with Mount Baldy Rd. Turn right (northeast).
Take this road northeast and then north about seven miles to the USFS Mt. Baldy Victors Center on the left in Mt. Baldy Village.
Park in the parking lot of the Visitors Center or along Mt. Baldy Road.
Note: Parking at the northeast corner of Mills and Mt Baldy road is no longer viable. This is now a paid parking lot with a three hour maximum. Parking in the adjacent neighborhood is also posted and severely restricted.
Hiking route
From the parking area (4260′), hike up past the church on Bear Canyon Drive. Bear Canyon Drive is about 200′ south of the Visitors Center. It soon becomes the Bear Canyon Trail. Continue on this trail about 2 miles to a flat area just past a stream crossing. This is Bear Flat.
Continue on this trail about 100′ beyond the stream to a large oak tree on the left. At the left of this tree is a very faint trail leading down to a gully.
Follow this faint trail as it goes into a small stand of trees, crosses a streambed, and starts to contour along the south slope of a ridge at about 5600′ before descending and entering the west fork of Bear Canyon.
The trail stays on the right side of the canyon, and grows increasingly faint. There is an obscure switchback at a large fallen tree, and the trail continues from about the most uphill point of the tree. At 6420′ the trail comes to an old campsite and disappears.
Continue up the canyon to the ridge at a point north of bump 6640’+. Follow a trail south along the ridge around the east side of bump 6930′ into the saddle north of Lookout. Continue south up through brush to the summit.
Route Notes
Special conditions: The Forest Service requests that the first 50′ of this route off Bear Canyon Trail not be clipped. The Forest Service does not want hikers to Mt. Baldy confused by this branching route. Please note that the Bear Canyon Trail is called the “Baldy Trail” on the USGS topo.
Driving route
Take the 210 freeway east to Baseline Road exit in the City of Claremont. Turn left (west) at the bottom of the off-ramp onto Baseline Road.
Almost immediately, take the first right (north) onto Padua Ave.
Go 1.8 miles north on Padua to the intersection with Mount Baldy Rd. Turn right (northeast).
Take this road northeast and then north about seven miles to the USFS Mt. Baldy Visitors Center on the left in Mt. Baldy Village.
Park in the parking lot of the Visitors Center or along Mt. Baldy Road.
Hiking route
Hike up past the church on Bear Canyon drive. Bear Canyon Drive is about 200′ south of the Visitors Center. It soon becomes the Bear Canyon Trail.
Hike up the Bear Canyon trail to the 4800′ level. At this point the trail turns sharply uphill to the east. Leave the trail, descend and cross the creek to “Erv Bartel” Canyon (not named on the topo). The canyon has a bearing 255° true.
Climb the canyon about 1/4+ mile to where it is blocked by brush. The canyon bottom gradient decreases significantly as you climb it.
A clipped trail begins uphill to the south next to several thin fallen logs. Follow this clipped trail generally west and up through the brush to the saddle at 5480′ and join Route 1.
This route is commonly used for descent after climbing Route 2.
Special conditions: The lower section of this route in the gully is steep and loose. Caution must be exercised when ascending and descending this route. Care should be used when crossing the stream after leaving the Bear Canyon Trail.
Additional Peak Information
The peak is in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness Area. Permits are not required at this time.
Historical note: In 1926, the physicist A. A. Michelson mounted a system of lights and mirrors on this peak which, in conjunction with apparatus on Mount Wilson, 22 miles to the west, permitted measurement of the speed of light, and in particular, showed that it was independent of the earth’s rotational velocity (i.e. the earth’s velocity did not add to the measured velocity in one direction or subtract from it in the other). This fundamental constant became a key to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.
External Links
Nearby Peaks
External Links
Peakbagger.com
Nearest ranger station
NOAA Forecast
Google Earth
We welcome your comments, reviews, tips, photos and trip reports!
You must be logged in to upload images.
Sign up to post your trip reports, photos and comments, and to receive occasional updates about news and events
