Monrovia Peak (5,407')

One of the great things about living Southern California is the closeness of the wilderness to one of the largest cities in the world.  Just 19 straight miles from downtown Los Angeles is the top of Monrovia Peak (5409'), a high mountain on the Front Range of the San Gabriel Mountains.  Compared to other mountains in the range, and indeed all of Southern California, it is a very small.  The 11,502' peak of Mt. San Gorgonio 50 miles away can be seen from the summit, reminding you just how low you still are.  Anyhow, this dayhike requires a footgain of 4000' and a total mileage of 21 (depending where you start) miles, making it statistics as hard a a major peak such as San Jactino or Mt. Baldy.  The hike to the mountain is well graded fire-road most of the way, and the steepness of the trail is not that bad. But aware he last 600'!  You start in Chaparral, and continue past Riparian forest up through an oak forest, until the stands of fir and pine. 

 Here is some basic information:

Total Miles: 23 Mile Round Trip (because I was lost and walked further down to 1000')  

Total Elevation Gain: +/-4000',  (because I got lost a couple times, and started at 1572')

Elevation Loss: 4,600' (again because I got lost and walked down 500' further)

Category: Extremely Strenuous 

Total Time: 11 Hours 

How Much Water: About 100 oz

Trail Condition:  Good, well graded Fire Road until the last 800' was a terrible scramble 

Views: One a clear day: The Los Angeles basin, Mt. Wilson even with your feet, the San Gabriel River Canyon, the high country of the San Gabriel Mountains, the Inland Empire, San Gorgonio Mountain, San Jacinto Peak, Santiago Peak, OC, and the ocean.  

Best Time to Hike: November-mid June   (depending on snow)

Passes: Drop off is the best way.  No adventure pass if you start in Monrovia Canyon.  $5 parking for the Canyon Park, BUT GATES TO MONROVIA CANYON ARE LOCKED AT 5PM.     

Directions: Off the 210 Freeway, exit Myrtle Avenue, drive through Old Town Monrovia to Foothill Blvd, turn right, go two lights to Canyon Blvd, turn left, drive through residential area for about 1 mile staying to the right, turn right into Canyon Park at the 3-foot-tall sign.  From there pick where you will start your hike.  

Do not hike Tuesdays or Wednesday, because this trail goes near the Monrovia Police Academy shooting range.  


The Trail:  

We started at 9:06 am.  We were dropped off here.   From there we took the Ben Overturff Trail, which is marked by info station just before a locked gate. It is beautiful , but takes a LONG time. In 2.5 miles The Overturff trail (which passes Twin Springs the only water) meets the Fire road.    Next time we will just keep walk up he fire road.     There are bathrooms where a side trail from the Overturff trail meets he firroad again at Deer Park Trailhead.  From the bathrooms walk 2 miles to White Saddle and turn left, ascending above the steep canyon below.  Now, there are others ways to climb Monrovia Peak, but here is how we did it:  

On the dirt road for about 5 miles, past through pines, around the side of Monrovia Peak until you reach a 2-way trail split striaght, or the left.  Go Left and follow that road through thr pine and oak forest.  There is another unnamed 3 way-divide in the road.   Go straight,  and there in front of you is the North side of the mountain, but first bushwhack through Chaparral (watch out for rattlesnakes), and up the fire break.  There is some more Chaparral  and finally the summit. With a marker on top.  Take in the great view and descend back to the Fire Road back to where you will be picked up etc.  We were picked up at the Main Gate.  Finished: 7:57 pm.  With lost of mistakes  
   
Blesseds John Paul II, Pier Giorgio and Junipero Serra, Pray For Us!
Most Holy Mother Mary  Intercede to God For US!   

County, Los Angeles
 Angeles National Forest.  


Disclaimer:  I had no camera, so these are not my picture but from: http://www.simpsoncity.com/hiking/monroviapeak.html