Mount Lukens

Distance: 15.5 miles if ride is in and out; 17.5 miles for loup Time: 3.5-4.5 hours Elevation gain: 2600-2800 feet Difficulty: moderately streneous and non technical Ride type: Fireroad Directions: The ride begins 3.25 miles up Angeles Crest Highway from La Canada at the firestation on the left hand side of the road. There is parking for about 5 or 6 vehicles here. Get here early preferably before 9:00. There is a water fountain here. The fireroad starts at the closed gate .1 mile from the parking area.

Description:

The ride begins at 2240 feet and climbs to the tallest mountain in the city of LA- Mt. Lukens at 5074 feet. Get in your climbing mode because you got a long way up to the top. Look straight up at the mountain ridge in front of you. You will eventually be there and much higher. In the summer months it can be quite warm for the first 75% of the ride until you get above 4500 feet. Bring enough water and high energy foods like a couple of power bars. The fireroad is in pretty descent shape for the first half of the ride which should not take you any more than a hour. One switchback after another pushes your uphill climbing until at 3.8 miles a good rest place awaits on top of a concrete water tank. The elevation here is a tad over 3800 feet. The view here is well worth the 10 minutes recoup time for your weary legs. Since you are on a ridge, to the south one has fantastic views of the Verdugo Mountains,the skyscrapers of LA, the Pacific ocean,the Santa Monica mountains and the San Fernando valley. Turn your butt to the other side and marvel at the site of Mount Gleason rising 3000 feet above and Big Tujunga Road 1500 feet below.

After resting your weary legs get ready for the steepest climbing part of the ride which last about .75 miles. You soon come to a junction on the road. This is the Grizzly Flats fireroad. For those wishing to do the loop take this road back on the return down from the peak. The fireroad for the last half deteriorates a little. It becomes more rocky and rutted but its no major deal. Enjoy the alternating views of the front range and LA environs as you snake your way up to the top of the mountain bristling with communication antennas. At about 6 miles there is a flat area where one can take a final rest break for the final assault to the peak. Finally at 7.5 miles you are on the top. Take the short road that juts off to the left to the summit. Sit down on the plastic chair that awaits you.

The view from the top depends on the air quality. If you are lucky to have a clear day then the views will knock you out. The whole Santa Monica Mountain range opens up to you all the way to 3000 foot Bony Peak near Point Magu. Marvel at the entire San Fernando Valley and the Mountains surrounding it. The entire LA basin is spread out before you. Bring a AAA map of LA Vacinity and a pair of binoculars and try to pick out your favorite sites.The Pacific Ocean and Catalina stretch out before you. Your field of vision is at least 100 miles. The tallest peaks in the Cleveland National Forest are visable. Turning around the ruggedness of the front range of the San Gabriels is quite evident with views of Mt. Gleason, Mendenhall ridge, Yerba Buena ridge(a real steep mt. bike ride), hiking trail to Fox MT and Mt. Wilson. If you want you can continue another .3 mile and drop down a couple hundred feet and kick back on the helicopter pad.

The return trip is a piece of cake if you take out the loop variation. Just be careful on the downhill. If you opt for the loop, the junction to Grizzly flats road comes a little past 10.5 miles. This road will eventually take you to Angeles Crest Highway. Since we descend on the north slope of the Mt., the vegetation is much lusher. Oak and pine trees await you on a great descent. At about 12.6 miles there is a junction. If you are in the exploring mode turn right and enjoy a short ride in the pines. From the junction a little climbing awaits you and finally a little past 13 miles Angeles Crest Highway is seen. Turn right and drop toward the highway. At 14.75 miles you are on Angeles Crest Highway at about 3000 foot elevation. Enjoy the next 2.5 down hill miles to your car. Be careful there is not much of a shoulder to ride on.

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