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Location: Los Angeles County, about 13 miles north-northeast of Pasadena, 34 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Auto Club: Los Angeles and Vicinity

Forest Service: Angeles National Forest

USGS Topo: Chilao Flat 7½

HPS (updated): National Geographic Topo!

HPS (old version): Route(s), waypoints and explanation of usage

Nearby Peaks: Rabbit Peak #1, Round Top, Granite Peak #1

Distance: 2 1/2 miles round trip, road and cross-country

Gain: 1100'

Time: 1 1/2 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, easy

Original: Warren E. von Pertz, June 1969

DRIVING ROUTE 1

• From the intersection of I-210 and Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2), drive north on Angeles Crest Highway 9.5 miles to Angeles Forest Highway. Turn left (north).
• Go 9.9 miles to the entrance to Monte Cristo Campground on the right. Turn right and then immediately left onto dirt road 3N23. From this point on, high clearance required, AWD advised.
• Go about 1.6 miles to a fork near the Black Cargo Mine. Park where convenient. Parking space is limited.

HIKING ROUTE 1

• From the parking area (4160'), hike east up 4N18 for about 0.6 mile to a junction with a dirt road (with a broken gate) that heads northeast.
• Turn left and hike up the gated dirt road for about 1/4 mile to a sharp left turn at a ridge that initially heads downhill.
• Turn right (south) and hike along a use trail through brush for about 0.4 mile up to the summit.

Distance: 3 1/2 miles round trip on firebreak

Gain: 1800'

Time: 2 1/2 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, easy

Navigation: Easy

Original: Warren E. von Pertz, June 1969

DRIVING ROUTE 2

• From the intersection of I-210 and Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2), drive north on Angeles Crest Highway 9.5 miles to Angeles Forest Highway. Turn left (north).
• Go 9.4 miles to the entrance to Monte Cristo Campground on the right. Turn right and park in the campground day use lot. The campground has restrooms.

HIKING ROUTE 2

• From the parking area (3560'), walk up the dirt road a short distance and find an opening on the right that leads northeast to the top of the ridge.
• Hike through minor brush up to the top of the ridge to find an old firebreak. Follow this open firebreak for 1 mile east, then southeast, then east again to meet a steep road at a sharp turn in the road.
• Turn right and follow this road generally southeast for 0.3 mile to a northeast trending ridge.
• Hike 0.3 mile up this open ridge to the summit.

ALTERNATE ROUTES

Iron is often climbed as part of a loop trip with Granite Peak #1, Round Top, and Rabbit Peak #1. This loop can be done in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. This is a full day trip.

History of Summit Signature

Climbing Archives

Please report any corrections or changes to the Mountain Records Chair.