Vetter Mountain (Lookout)
Peak Name
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feet
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Description
Vetter Mountain and its iconic lookout, a drawing of which graces the cover of the HPS newsletter of the same name, is a much-loved structure with a long and interesting history that is recounted in the historical notes below. The lookout is worth a visit, especially when it is staffed by members of the Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association | (anffla.org), and there is a covered picnic area on its grounds. As expected for a fire lookout, it has excellent views of the surrounding Angeles National Forest and the San Gabriel Mountains range.
Route 1 starts from Angeles Crest Highway and follows Vetter Mountain Road to the summit. Route 2 is on the more interesting Vetter Mountain Trail which starts a short distance beyond the trailhead for Route 1 (or can be walked from there if the gate is closed). There are various alternative routes and route variations. The area was badly burnt in the Station Fire and is only beginning to recover at the time of this writing (2024).
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 about 9 miles farther to the signed Charlton Flats Picnic Area on the left. Turn left (west) on 3N16.
Drive 0.1 mile on 3N16 to a paved fork. Keep left and park in the adjacent paved parking area.
Hiking route
Follow 3N16 1.3 miles, keeping left at forks, to a dirt road barred by a gate, while the paved road goes off to the right.
Go around the gate and hike up the dirt road to the old lookout on the summit.
Driving route
Follow the driving instructions for Route 1 to where you have turned left (west) on 3N16.
Drive 0.1 mile to a paved fork. Turn right.
Drive 0.6 mile farther to a picnic area on the left just before a gate. A sign on the left reads “Vetter Mountain Trail”. Park here.
Hiking route
From the picnic area (5240′), cross the stream bed and follow the Silver Moccasin Trail (SMT) for about 200 yards to a fork where the SMT goes to the left.
Go straight ahead and go through a picnic area, across a paved road, then across another paved road at a sign “Vetter Mountain Trail 11W08”.
Continue on the trail to the summit.
Route Notes
Additional Peak Information
Historical Notes:
The USFS built a fire lookout here consisting of a 14′ by 14′ wood cab (1937). It was taken out of service in 1981 and declared an historic site, then lovingly and expensively restored plank for plank with original materials by a group of dedicated volunteers in collaboration with the Foresst Service. It was then returned to service in 1998 and operated by the Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service. With the demise of the last lookouts, this structural form is now viewed with nostalgia as representing the romantic aspects of the early foresters. Mike McIntyre, Forest Archaeologist, noted “when you think of the Forest Service you think of Smokey the Bear, and the Ranger in his lookout searching for fires”.
Therefore it was heartbreaking when this beloved lookout was destroyed in the 2009 Station Fire. After many fits and starts it was rebuilt in 2020 with funding from Southern California Edison in a style similar to the original and again returned to active service.
The Lookout, the HPS newsletter, is named for the Vetter lookout, with a drawing of the original lookout on the its cover.
External Links
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