Angeles Forest Hwy./Mt. Gleason - #AngelesForestHwy./Mt.Gleason

Socal - Los Angeles County - Acton NickNames: #AngelesForestHwy./Mt.Gleason

Take the Antelope Valley Fwy (CA-14) to the Pearblossom Hwy (CA-138) exit in Acton. From the exit, go right on Soledad Canyon Rd. about 1/2 mi. to the Acton MetroLink station. Park here.
If you are driving from San Gabriel Valley or greater LA, take I-210 Fwy or Glendale Fwy (CA-2) to Angeles Crest Hwy. (CA-2) and go north to Angeles Forest Hwy and make a left. Continue on Angeles Forest Hwy. over Mill Creek Summit and down to Soledad Canyon/CA-138 junction. Go left on Soledad to the MetroLink station. Thomas Guide page 4376

7 Review(s)2 Photo(s)Login

• Trail UpdateMore-Check out the Mountain Biking Message Board for more on the dirt-biking topic.
  Big Ben a 35 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Raleigh MT20 and a Honda XR250R from Hollywood

  Posted:11/30/2004

• Trail UpdateAre You Serious?-You can't be serious, did you really even think for a second about taking your motorcycle on the PCT?! And then you post it here publicly, no less... I hope you are joking, because you need more common sense than that to be riding a dirtbike. PCT is illegal to take a PEDAL BIKE on. If you want to ride singletrack, bring out the pedal bike, and get a workout. But stay off PCT with any bike. And DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT RIDING YOUR DIRTBIKE ON ANY HIKING TRAILS.

  Sorry man, you are probably a nice guy, and you probably think I am being a jerk. But what kind of response do you expect. You are not displaying common sense, or a respect for the trails, other trail users, or the rules of the trail.

  Please come back and post about legal MOUNTAINBIKE rides (pedal bike). And if you want to tell us about a dirtbike ride, to talk about trail conditions, make sure you are on a legal open fireroad. And I can't say it enough, keep the dirtbike off singletrack 'hiking' trails!!!!!
  Pilot a 32 year old Racer riding a Spider from Chatsworth

  Posted:11/25/2004

• Trail UpdateActon-I took my bike up to Acton in like June and rode 4n32 to the intersection of 4n33. It was too hot to do any more riding that day. I took my XR250R up there a couple of weeks ago and it was a different story. I went up to Messenger Flat on a big ole loop that took me up up and around. The road was in good shape; PCT was tempting, but since it was even closed to hikers, I didn't want to take my velvet-growling XR on it. Totally beautiful scenery, with Mt. Gleason and Iron Mtn punctuating the landscape. I have never seen another rider up there; there's an abandoned ranger station that looks kinda spooky all boarded up. The multiple signs warning people that Aliso Cyn Rd is closed (due to the washed-out bridge) pro'y deter riders who don't want to see for themselves what is still available in that area.
  Ride rating: Novice
  Ride distance: 35 miles Elevation change: 3000+/-
  Truck Trail=100%
  Big Ben a 35 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Raleigh MT20 and a Honda XR250R from Hollywood

  Posted:11/24/2004

• Trail UpdateFire...-The Crown Fire in Acton is currently ablaze near Moody Canyon, the BP & L Road, and Mt. Gleason/ Santa Clara Divide. Closed until further notice. Angeles Forest Highway is closed and the fire just recently collapsed a bridge on Aliso Canyon Rd.
  Steve K a 17 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Mongoose XR-100 from Canyon Country (Santa Clarita), CA

  Posted:07/20/2004

• Trail UpdateStill good conditions in the area. Near the summit of Mt. Gleason just off to the right of the road is an old, half destroyed, abandoned cabin. Something interesting to check out. Last ride i saw a rattler near the junction with Mendenhall. Nothin else new. Still a nice area.
  Steve K a 16 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Mongoose XR-100 from Canyon Country (Santa Clarita), CA

  Posted:12/24/2003

• Trail UpdateMt. Gleason/Moody Cyn. Loop-Start the same as the Super Loop, below. Descend the west side of Mt. Gleason to the Moody Canyon Road (4N32). This road is at a fairly obvious intersection. The Moody Canyon Road descends north along a spur ridge, then drops into Moody Canyon. The road traverses out another spur ridge, then passes Perspiration Point, a landmark dedicated to the builders of the road. The road crosses the creek a couple times, then descends large switchbacks to a junction with Road 4N23 from North Fork Saddle. Go right (east) and ride across the desert, following the power lines and crossing a couple seasonal creeks and passing groves of cottonwood trees. Climb over an area I call 'Red Pass' and descend a final very fast stretch of dirt before reaching Aliso Canyon Road. Go left and ride downhill to Soledad Canyon Road, then go right and ride a few more miles back to the Acton MetroLink Station.
  Dirt Road=45% Paved Path=55%
  Tom Kenney a 31 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Klein Pinnacle from Reseda, CA URL: Tom's Page

  Posted:02/18/1999

• Trail UpdateMt. Gleason Super Loop-This ride is not technically difficult, but it is extremely grueling. The total mileage is more than 50 miles, and at least 1/3 of that is on rough dirt roads.
  From the Acton MetroLink station, go to the west end of the parking lot and cross the tracks at a stop sign. Ride up a short paved hill to gain Angeles Forest Hwy. Ride up AF Hwy to Mill Creek Summit. There is a small picnic area on the south side of the pass, and a ranger station a short ways up the Pacifico Mtn. Road, right next to the picnic area. Water may be available at the station.
  From the pass, ride up the Mt. Gleason Road, which leaves the north side of the pass. This is a narrow paved road. As you climb, the views of the Mojave Desert become more and more expansive. The road follows a long ridgeline, weaving from side to side. A short descent leads to the entrance of a County Work Camp. Go left on the dirt fork of the road, signed for Mt. Gleason. The dirt road descends a ways before it becomes pavement again and begins the steep final climb to Mt. Gleason. At the top of the road, near a large radio tower, a spur road with a locked gate goes north to the actual summit of Mt. Gleason. There are great views from the top, and some OK campsites, but no vehicle access.
  From the top, descend to a saddle on the south side of the mountain, where a spur road goes south. (This road leads to the Lightning Point Group Camp. This is a nice place to stop for lunch, and also to camp, though there is no vehicle access or water. This is also the start of the Mendenhall Ridge Road.) From this saddle, the road turns to dirt and descends the southwest slope of Mt. Gleason, passing the Messenger Flat Camp Ground (vehicle access but no water). Continue descending for many miles, occasionally climbing a little. The road descends to North Fork Saddle, where there is a small picnic area and a ranger station. From here, roads lead in many directions. Stick to the main road, which continues west, passing north of the ranger station. Climb from the ranger station up a 2-part 1000-ft climb to the top of a lesser mountain. Ride across the top of the mountain, then descend about 1000 ft. to the Indian Canyon Road. Go right on this road and descend all the ! way to Soledad Canyon Road (see Indian Canyon Road description). Go right on Soledad and begin the long road grind back to the Acton MetroLink station. There is one variation on the Soledad return. The Crown Valley Pkwy follows Soledad for a couple miles, passing by Thousand Trails trailer park, then reconnecting with Soledad. This alternate bypasses a couple hills on Solead, making for a flat ride past Thousand Trails.
  Dirt Road=30% Paved Path=70%
  Tom Kenney a 30 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Klein Pinnacle from Reseda, CA URL:Tom's Page

  Posted:01/16/1998