Mount Burnham

Baden Powell and Burnham, taken from Lewis, photo by Kathy Wing

Mount Burnham and Baden Powell, taken from Hawkins, photo by Kathy Wing

Mount Burnham, taken from Baden Powell Trail, photo by Chris Waldheim

Mount Burnham from Hawkins, photo by Kathy Wing

Baden Powell and Burnham, taken from Lewis, Photo by Kathy Wing.

Peak Name

Mount Burnham

14H

Elevation

8997

feet

Status

active

Region

South Of Angeles Crest Hwy 2

Range

San Gabriel Mountains

Nearby peaks

Mount Hawkins, Throop Peak, Mount Baden-Powell

Location

34.3591672,-117.7814491

Description

Mount Burnham was named for Frederick Russell Burnham, who taught Robert Baden Powell woodcraft and inspired him to found the Boy Scouts. This is another one of the many hikes surrounding Mount Baden Powell that can be done as a single peak hike or added into a multi-peak hike. A short detour off the PCT, you will see through hikers on the PCT in April, May and June.

Route 1 is the most straight forward and shortest approach from Dawson Saddle. Route 2 follows the Mount Baden Powell guide which offers choices from Vincent Gap, Dawson Saddle and Islip Saddle. Route 3 takes a steep and poorly defined use trail straight up from the highway.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1- From Dawson Saddle

Elevation Gain

1870′ total, 1500′ out plus 370′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

5.7 to 6 miles round trip on trail

Estimated time

4 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, moderate

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 44.8 miles (mile marker 69.4) to Dawson Saddle. Park here.

Hiking route

From the parking area (7903′), hike east down the highway to where a trail starts on the right (south) side. Go up this trail to a saddle and trail junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) northeast of Throop Peak at 8789′. This is the turnoff for Throop Peak and Mount Hawkins.
Turn left (northeast) on the PCT and follow it to where it starts to go around Mount Burnham.
Leave the trail and go straight up to the summit or continue on the PCT to the east side of Mount Burnham, leave the trail and hike up to the summit.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2- From Mount Baden Powell

Elevation Gain

800′ total, 200′ out plus 600′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

1.2 miles one way on trail

Estimated time

1/2 hour one way

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

See the Mount Baden-Powell guide.

Hiking route

From the summit of Mount Baden-Powell (9399′), hike west along the PCT past bump 9086′ to where the trail begins to go around the north side of Mount Burnham.
Leave the trail and go west up the ridge to the summit.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

None

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 3

Elevation Gain

1500′

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

2 miles round trip on trail and cross-country

Estimated time

2-3 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

From the intersection of I-210 and Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2), drive north on Angeles Crest Highway to mile marker 71.0. This is at a gully about 1.5 miles east of Dawson Saddle, near the “a” in “Lodgepole Picnic Area” title on the Crystal Lake USGS topo. Park on the east side of the highway in a paved turnout. The UTM coordinates for the parking area are 0427382E, 3802383N.

Hiking route

From the parking area (7550′), hike east on an obvious use trail.
Go east up this steep use trail to where it meets a prominent ridge, then follow the ridge to a trail junction with the PCT just north of the summit.
Leave the trail and go straight up to the summit or continue on the PCT to the east side of Mount Burnham, leave the trail and hike up to the summit.

Route Notes

Special conditions: Take special care to note the route for return to the vehicles. Avoid continuing northwest down the main ridge as this ridge runs out into a steep highway cut.

Printable Route