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Strawberry Peak Loop

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Difficult Difficult
 4.3 (66)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …Southern California
  4. Angeles National Forest
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“This ride features a steep fireroad climb, cliff-side singletrack, and fast sections on Gabrielino. ”

Alex Fore
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Map Key

15.6

Miles

25.0

KM

0%

Singletrack

5,226' 1,593 m

High

3,307' 1,008 m

Low

2,593' 790 m

Up

2,603' 793 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (4°)

25%

Max Grade (14°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Overview

The steep fire road climb leads up to Strawberry Saddle Trail/Josephine Saddle. This is the last of the fire road for the ride. Take a right onto the singletrack, and you'll start towards Strawberry Peak on Colby Canyon Trail. This trail winds around the North side, dropping into Strawberry meadows before climbing back up to the Strawberry / Lawler saddle. Next is a nice downhill to Gabrieleno Trail - Redbox to Switzer, where you'll ride the Gabrielino Trail back down to Switzer's.

The trail was just re-opened after the station fire and has some hike-a-bike sandy uphill sections, but it's looking good overall! Watch out for the poodle-dog bush if you are sensitive.

Description

From the intersection of Angeles Forest Highway and Angles Crest, head on Angeles Forest highway for just a bit and take the first right on Josephine fire road (it is well marked with a sign). This climb is steep and a little loose, you'll gain quite a bit of elevation on the way to the Josephine / Strawberry saddle. Grind it out.

Once at the saddle, take a right on the Strawberry Saddle Trail and after about 0.5 miles you'll meet up with the Colby Canyon Trail. The Colby Canyon Trail starts leading you around the North side of Strawberry Peak. This section is up and down, but stays at roughly the same elevation as it winds around the mountain. You'll drop into Strawberry meadows which still has some nice big pine trees, and descend further to the trail junction. There is a register box here, and you'll want to go to the right onto Strawberry Peak Trail, which heads back uphill towards the Strawberry/Lawlor Saddle.

The climb to the saddle may be sandy, depending on recent rain. It has already improved noticeably since Summer 2014. Once at the saddle the downhill to redbox is fun.

You'll get to the Angeles Crest Highway, where you need to cross and take the trail that starts from the parking lot on western end. The top section of this is fast and not technical with wide switchbacks. Further on, the rocks gets chunkier and more technical, eventually taking you down to a popular picnic area. From here you climb the road to Nature's Canteen Trail, which connects to Clear Creek Information Station.

Contacts

Local Club: Mount Wilson Bicycling Association

Land Manager: USFS - Angeles National Forest Office

Shared By:

Alex Fore with improvements by John May
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 66 votes

#1

in Angeles National Forest

#251

Overall
  4.3 from 66 votes
5 Star
44%
4 Star
39%
3 Star
15%
2 Star
2%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Angeles National Forest

#29

in California

#251

Overall
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25,045 Since Jun 8, 2014
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Photos

The descent from Lawlor saddle to Red Box offers more epic views of the Angeles National Forest
Mar 25, 2019 near Altadena, CA
view toward the Angeles Crest Highway.
Apr 16, 2017 near Altadena, CA
Strawberry Peak Trail Complete.
Dec 16, 2021 near Altadena, CA
They look intimidating, but the switchbacks climbing to Josephine saddle are a very pleasant grade. South-facing, though, so exposed to the sun unless you climb it in a cloud.
Oct 20, 2018 near Altadena, CA
Looking back, half-way up the switchbacks on Josephine Saddle Fire road.
Apr 26, 2016 near Altadena, CA
Alex Fore (bottom right) navigates the extreme exposure along Colby Canyon Trail on the Strawberry Peak Loop.
Jun 21, 2017 near Altadena, CA

15 Comments

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Check-Ins

Apr 16, 2023
Steve .
Numerous Downed trees, I'm talking like 20 sections of figuring out how to portage my bike along some genuine exposure, wouldn't recommend biking 16.8mi — 3h 31m
May 22, 2022
Carlo Guzman DeJesus
Apr 10, 2022
Petras Brinko
2 fallen trees. Very hard trail 15.6mi
Jan 7, 2022
Brad Strain
15mi — 3h 00m
Oct 31, 2021
A V
Aug 7, 2021
Rob Arellano
Apr 25, 2021
Marco Sulin
Apr 18, 2021
Dan Freeman
Focus time! Very sketchy cliffside ST. It's amazing, but I will not be coming back for a while. 16mi — 2h 45m

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