Hawkins Ridge Trail #9W28

Dogs Leashed

Features Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Adventure Pass required to park at local trailheads.

The Hawkins Ridge Trail connects the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) with South Mt. Hawkins and the South Hawkins Road #3N07. The trail traverses the north-south ridge in a high alpine forest with stunning views of the East Fork San Gabriel River, and the lofty peaks in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness.

The north end of the trail is reached by taking the PCT 1.4 miles east from Windy Gap or 1.7 miles from Little Jimmy Campground. At an elevation of 8400 ft., the trail passes through a forest of lodgepole pines, white fir and Jeffrey Pines and gradually descends on the east side of the ridge where Mt. San Antonio, better knows as "Mt. Baldy", looms well above the deep gorge of the East Fork.

Lower down the trail passes through meadows containing dense fields of purple lupine in spring. It then meets with the South Hawkins Road #3N07 at a saddle. An extension of the trail continues up the ridge to the top of South Mt. Hawkins where an impressive view of the surrounding peaks can be seen along with the main canyons of the San Gabriel River.

The lower end of the trail can be reached by taking the Windy Gap Trail #9W06 from the Crystal Lake area, then hiking 3 miles up the South Hawkins Road #3N07 to the trail junction.

High alpine forest of lodgepole pine, white fir, sugar pine, Jeffrey Pine. Spectacular wildflower meadows in spring on lower trail. Bear, bighorn sheep, and deer are infrequently sighted.