Mount Baden-Powell is a dog-friendly trail that is considered a hard, 8 mile out-and-back hike with 2,775 feet of climbing.

Mount Baden-Powell Trail, originally called North Baldy, packs a lot in a relatively short distance. Named after Lord Baden-Powell – founder of the boy scouts – the challenge of approximately 40 switchbacks over 8 miles out-and-back and 2,775 feet of climbing is a popular one. It’s also a segment of Pacific Crest Trail and one of the trails offered in the SoCal Six Pack of Peaks Challenge.

Here’s the general route we took following AllTrails‘ Mount Baden-Powell Trail.

Ready to go?

Be prepared with the essentails

• Wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. While a decent amount of the trail is shaded, there are sections including the saddle and peak that are in the exposed alpine zone.
• Carry plenty of water. We recommend at least 2.5L per person, and more if you’re taking a longer route and/or your dog.
• Bring snacks to keep you and any company fueled.
• Don’t forget your first aid kit.
• You’ll need to pack additional hiking and safety gear if hiking in the winter. Please do not attempt this hike in the winter if you are new to hiking or don’t have experience hiking in the snow/ice.

Not sure what to pack? Check out our full list of hiking with your dog essentials and shop our favorites.

Getting to the trailhead

The coordinates for the parking lot are 34.373309453020276, -117.75200149924005 (though we successfully used the directions provided by AllTrails). The drive up is scenic as you wind your way through the mountains.

The parking lot is large, as it acts as a hub to a number of trails including the PCT. But it does fill up fast so I recommend getting to the trailhead early.

The parking lot also has a well-maintained bathroom. As someone who is very particular about public restrooms and would rather pee outside than in a stinky outhouse, this one passed the cleanliness test.

A parking pass is required for this lot. We used our National Park Pass, which gets us into any National Park, monument and National Forest. You can purchase a day pass for $5 at the rangers office.

In the winter some of the roads may be closed, and the trail is covered in snow and ice. I would not recommend hiking this trail in the winter if you are not a seasoned hiker with mountaineering experience.

Hiking Mount Baden-Powell

From the parking lot you’ll see two trailheads. To the left the trail leads to an abandoned mine. Instead, begin climbing the more narrow trail to the right. You’ll walk along the fence and see the PCT sign as you pass the back side of the bathrooms.

You’ll face a gradual but constant climb through 40+ switchbacks. The trail is well marked and the switch backs are pretty obvious. If you feel yourself challenged by the climb or altitude, there are plenty of shaded rocks to take a break at and around .9 miles in there is a nice bench to sit on.

About a mile past the bench you’ll see a sign for Lamel Springs. Continue to the right.

Just after the 3M marker (mile 3) there is an overlook with a log. You can sit here and take a break before the last few switchbacks to the saddle. You’ll start to see the trees thinning as you get higher.

At around 3.6 miles you should be at the saddle. There are great views here so take your time and enjoy looking around. Along the saddle you’ll run into the Wally Waldron Tree, which is said to be the oldest living thing in the San Gabriel Mountains at around 1,500 years old. Chase and Rado appreciated the shade Wally Waldron provided.

At this point you’re almost at the peak. Continue on up the last climb and you’ll soon see the Monument and summit register. Just behind that is usually an American Flag and summit signs. You’ve made it!

Take your summit selfies, eat some snacks, and then head back down the way you came.

Happy Hiking!

Santiago Peak via Maple Springs is a moderate, dog-friendly, 7.5-9.5 mile out-and-back trail with approximately 1,650 feet of climbing.

Santiago Peak is the highest point in Orange County and Santa Ana mountains at 5,689 feet. Typically hikers will approach this peak via the scenic Holy Jim Trail, but due to recent fires and trail closures (as I write this in May 2022), many are taking alternate routes like Maple Springs and Joplin.

Here is the general route we took as posted on AllTrails.

Some might choose to turn this hike into a 2-peak challenge, bagging Santiago and Madjeska Peak as they make their way along Saddleback Mountain. We followed a portion of the trail towards Madjeska to avoid portions of the OHV trail on the way up to Santiago Peak, but did not end up taking the turn up to Madjeska this time.

The views, the trail being dog-friendly, and the challenge (also included in the SoCal Six Pack of Peaks Challenge) make this hike popular. Make sure to go early to beat the crowd, especially the vehicle traffic.

Ready to go?

Be prepared with the essentails

• Wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. There are long sections of the trail that’re exposed, and you’ll likely spend some time in the sun at the peak.
• Carry plenty of water. We recommend at least 2L per person, and more if you’re taking a longer route and/or your dog.
• Bring snacks to keep you and any company fueled.
• Don’t forget the first aid kit.

Not sure what to pack? Check out our full list of hiking with your dog essentials and shop our favorites.

Getting to the trail and parking

The drive up to the trailhead is scenic and fun. You’ll take Santiago Canyon Road to Silverado Canyon Road until you hit the Maple Springs Trailhead entrance. At this point the road will narrow and it will soon turn into a dirt road. We recommend taking a high clearance vehicle, preferably something with 4×4 capabilities or all wheel drive. You’ll follow the road up to four corners, where a handful of OHV trails meet. A lot of people stop here for the views and small obstacle walls.

Adventure passes are required for parking. We parked along the gate to the entrance of the OHV road that heads up Santiago Peak and displayed our National Park Pass.

Hiking Santiago Peak

The trail begins at four corners. We found there are a couple options to hike up to Santiago Peak from here. You can follow the wide OHV trail all the way up, which ends up being about 9.5 miles. We decided to follow the trail that heads up to Madjeska Peak and cuts through a portion of the mountain. This small trailhead starts about 0.1-0.2 mile in from the gate and it’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it.

We liked this trail because it was more hiker friendly than the OHV trail, which can get pretty busy with 4×4 vehicles, motorcycles, and cyclists. While there are some portions of the trail that are overgrown and narrow, the benefits are that it offers shade while still being fairly easy to follow.

When you reach the fire road, you can either turn left and make the trek up to Madjeska Peak, turn right and follow it back to the main OHV road, or go straight and continue down the other side of Madjeska towards Santiago Peak. We accidentally missed the small trail that was straight ahead and ended up making a right and taking the fire road back down to the main road; which might actually be easier on the knees in comparison to the downhill on the smaller trail.

When you meet the main OHV road you’ll turn left to continue on up towards Santiago Peak. Again you can either follow the road all the way up or you can turn left on to the hiking trail that is a little more of a straight shot up to the peak. We took the hiking trail. I believe it’s a little steeper than the main road, but there is less motor traffic and more shade.

When you pop back out from the hiking trail to the main road, you’ll head up to the right towards the big signal towers. You’re getting close to Santiago Peak.

The summit can be a little tricky because there are a lot of roads and towers. As you approach the towers, stay right and head towards the taller towers. Just as you pass the main tower, you’ll see a small trail that leads up to the highest point. There used to be a summit register and summit signs, but they were missing when got there.

This summit feels anticlimactic because of the towers and all the motor traffic, but it’s still a fun one to at least check off the bucket list! Unfortunately for us there was a ton of cloud coverage that blocked our views, which means we may need to make another trip.

Let us know if you attempt this hike and how it goes, and contact us if there are any updates we should share in this log!

Happy Hiking!

Sawmill Mountain via Mount Pinos is a moderate, dog-friendly, 7.5 mile out-and-back trail with approximately 1,550 feet of climbing.

This two-peak hike is popular because it bags Mount Pinos, the highest point in Ventura County, and then Sawmill Mountain, the highest point in Kern County. While there are sections of the trail that can be challenging, it definitely doable for most by going slow and taking breaks, which is easy to do with the views along the way. It’s also one of the summit options on the SoCal Six Pack of Peaks Challenge and is dog-friendly. All of this means you’ll likely run into other people and dogs along the trail.

Ready to go?

Be prepared with the essentials

• Wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Even though a good chunk of the trail is shaded, you’ll still spend some time in the sun at the peaks; especially if you like to stay to enjoy the view for a while like we do.
• Carry plenty of water. We recommend at least 2L per person, and more if you’re bringing your dog.
• Bring snacks to keep you (and your dog) fueled.
• Don’t forget the first aid kit.

Not sure what to pack? Check out our full list of essentials and shop our favorites.

Getting to the trail and parking

The drive up to the trailhead is beautiful. You’ll park at the Nordic Base parking lot, which is very large and typically has plenty of space available. A Forest Adventure Pass is needed to park here. We displayed our National Parks pass. Sometimes there are porta-potties here, but if not, there are vault toilets available at Chula Vista Campground. When you’re ready to get started, the trailhead is off to the left hand side when you enter the parking lot.

We used the directions to the trailhead on AllTrails (note: we only did a portion of this hike; AllTrails doesn’t seem to have a trail option that only hits Mount Pinos and Sawmill Mountain).

Hiking to Mount Pinos

The trail begins at the parking lot as a wide fire road. At one point we saw a couple of dirt bikes come through, but otherwise it was quiet and there were no other motor vehicles. You’ll follow the main trail past a gate. At the first fork in the trail, turn left. You’ll gradually climb a windy dirt road covered in shade from the pine trees.

When you come out of the pines, continue left along the wide trail up towards the meadow. When you reach the meadow you’ll start to see the Mount Pinos radio towers. There are two ways up to Mount Pinos from the meadow. We took the smaller trail to the right for sweeping views of the mountains on our way up (then took the other way down later). This detour is a little longer than the main road up, but the views are much nicer.

Follow the trail up to Mount Pinos (and the radio towers). Stop here for a quick break, enjoy the views, and take your summit selfie. Mount Pinos is the highest peak in Ventura County at 8,847 feet.

When you’re ready to continue on, follow the trail straight down to the main dirt road and continue straight to the Condor Observation Point (if you turn left, you’ll be headed back to the parking lot).

Condor Observation Point

After a few minutes you’ll walk up to the Condor Observation Point. There are some nice views here, but there are plenty more along the trail too. Continue on to the right of Condor Observation Point to follow Tumamait Trailhead towards Sawmill Mountain.

At the first junction, you can head right to a nice panoramic viewpoint, or you can continue straight along the main trail.

Hiking to Sawmill Mountain

As you head down the main trail, you’ll follow some exposed switchbacks down into the Chumash Wilderness before you’re reunited with some shade.

Eventually you’ll descend into the saddle before heading back uphill towards Sawmill Mountain. Most of the descent and climb is gradual, but there are a couple of sections where you might feel more comfortable having trekking poles.

Eventually you’ll meet another fork (lined with branches and rocks when we were there) that you’ll turn right to follow up to the peak. Follow this trail up. Soon in the distance you’ll see the the massive stone marker– you’ve made it! Sawmill Mountain is the highest peak in Kern County at 8,822 feet.

Enjoy the views and then head back down the way you came. Remember you can skip Mount Pinos and continue down the main dirt road back to the parking lot.

Happy Hiking!

Strawberry Peak via Redbox Canyon is a moderate, dog-friendly, 7.2 mile out-and-back trail with approximately 1,720 feet of climbing.

Strawberry Peak is a popular trail because it is the highest summit in the front rage of the San Gabriel Mountains, offers a ton of great views, and is a good challenge. For some, it is also one to check off the fun SoCal Six Pack of Peaks Challenge. Bonus? It’s dog friendly! With all that in mind, it’s likely you’ll run into other people and dogs on the trail.

Sound like something you want to do?

Be prepared with these essentials

• Wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat (most of the trail is exposed)
• Carry plenty of water, at least 3L per person is recommended. Note: there are no water sources on this trail. If you’re bringing your dog, make sure you bring additional water and a water dish.
• Bring snacks to keep you fueled. We packed a few bananas, power bars, and strawberries (duh!) for the peak. We shared some bananas and strawberries with our dogs, and also packed them some high protein treats.
• Consider bringing a cooling vest for your dog. There is little to no shade on the trail and depending on the time of year, it can get pretty hot on the trail.
• Always pack a First Aid Kit. Don’t have a first aid kit? Our favorite is Kurgo’s Dog First Aid Kit. It’s lightweight and easy to throw in your pack.

Shop and save on our favorite adventure gear here.

Getting to the trail and parking

We followed the directions on AllTrails. Parking is available with a permit across the street from the trailhead at the Redbox Picnic Area. Our National Park Pass was an acceptable parking permit. Arrive early so you’re not hunting for parking. Once you park you’ll see the trailhead across the highway marked with a brown trail marker that reads “Strawberry Pk.” Cross the highway carefully to start your hike.

Hiking Strawberry Peak

The trail begins parallel to Angeles Crest Highway with a very gradual incline for the first couple of miles. Don’t worry, you won’t have views of the highway or power lines very long. About a mile in you’ll hit the first saddle. You’ll ignore the two wider trails to your left and right. Instead, you’ll continue on straight and take a slight left onto the narrow trail. At the time of writing this there is a small trail marker held up by a few rocks that point you towards the narrow trail to Strawberry Peak.

You’ll spend the next 1-1.5 mile hiking along a ridge with beautiful views of the canyon to the west, before meeting the next saddle at the 2.5 mile mark. This is a good spot to take a quick breather, eat a light snack and drink some water before the tougher part of the hike.

You’ll continue on to the smaller trail that leads up hill. This is where the climbing gets harder and the trail is completely exposed. You’ll work your way through sandy, rocky and narrow paths as you pass three false peaks before your final climb. I recommend using trekking poles in this section if you have them, but they aren’t required. Either way, just make sure to take your time.

You can’t miss Strawberry Peak. There are a number of Strawberry Peak signs available for summit photos. Eat your obligatory summit strawberries, take some selfies, and enjoy the views before heading back down the way you came.

Check out our hike to Strawberry Peak in May 2022:

Happy Hiking!