✓ HIKED & VERIFIED — TIER 2
8.15 miRound Trip
2,800 ftElev. Gain
StrenuousDifficulty
4-6 hoursEst. Time
9,399 ftHighest Point
Out-and-BackRoute Type
YesDogs
NonePermit

Mount Baden-Powell via Vincent Gap

🌤 Trail Weather — Plan Your Hike Updated every 6 hrs · Trailhead coords
🥾
Trail Ready
41°F, Clear Sky. Layer for elevation. Summit conditions may differ from trailhead.
☀️
41°
Clear Sky
Feels 37°F
💨 Wind
6 mph W
Gusts to 17 mph
💧 Humidity
68%
Humid — heat feels stronger
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi
Good visibility
☁️ Cloud Cover
1%
Clear — full sun exposure
🌅 Sunrise
6:54 am
Ideal start time
🌇 Sunset
6:19 pm
Off trail by this
Today — 3-Hour Intervals
11 am
☀️
41°
Feels 37°
💨 7/19
2 pm
☁️
46°
Feels 42°
💨 9/23
5 pm
☀️
50°
Feels 47°
💨 6/17
8 pm
🌙
41°
Feels 38°
💨 4/15
11 pm
🌙
37°
Feels 33°
💨 5/16
5-Day Forecast
☀️
Today
Clear Sky
41°F
feels 37°
💨 Wind/Gust
7/19 NNW
💧 Humidity
65% Humid — heat feels stronger
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
1% Clear — full sun exposure
🥾 Acceptable — Check Elevation
🌙
Wed, Oct 14
Clear Sky
36°F
feels 34°
💨 Wind/Gust
3/12 ESE
💧 Humidity
55% Humid — heat feels stronger
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
0% Clear — full sun exposure
🥾 Acceptable — Check Elevation
🌙
Thu, Oct 15
Clear Sky
52°F
feels 49°
💨 Wind/Gust
5/18 ESE
💧 Humidity
42% Comfortable
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
0% Clear — full sun exposure
✅ Good Conditions — Go Hike
🌙
Fri, Oct 16
Clear Sky
52°F
feels 49°
💨 Wind/Gust
7/24 E
💧 Humidity
49% Comfortable
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
0% Clear — full sun exposure
✅ Good Conditions — Go Hike
🌙
Sat, Oct 17
Clear Sky
53°F
feels 51°
💨 Wind/Gust
3/13 SE
💧 Humidity
60% Humid — heat feels stronger
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
0% Clear — full sun exposure
✅ Good Conditions — Go Hike
Trailhead elevation only. Conditions change at altitude. Check weather.gov before heading out. Oct 13, 8:20 am

A masterfully engineered PCT section that scales a 9,396-foot peak via 40 relentless switchbacks through a rare forest of 1,500-year-old Limber Pines. Summit views span the Mojave Desert and the full San Gabriel range.

Trail Overview

Forty switchbacks sounds brutal and they are — but they are well-engineered and the gradient is consistent. The Limber Pine forest is genuinely remarkable — the oldest specimens near the summit have lived 1,500 years. The summit monument honors Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement. Views are outstanding in every direction. Snow is common October through May.

This Hike Is For You If…

Fit hikers comfortable with significant sustained elevation gain. Anyone targeting the PCT. Good training objective for Whitney.

Skip This Hike If…

Skip without checking snow conditions October through May. Skip in summer without a very early start — upper switchbacks are exposed.

What to Expect on Trail

Terrain: Well-maintained PCT with consistent switchbacks. Rocky near summit. Snow possible October through May.

Shade: Partial

Water: None — Carry All Water. No water on trail. Carry 2.5 liters minimum.

Views: Outstanding

Crowds: Popular PCT trail. Summit sees hikers from multiple approach routes.

Dogs: Yes, dogs are welcome on this trail.

Best Arrival: Before 8am on summer and fall weekends.

This is a Tier 1 sourced review. Trail information is based on published sources and research. Andrew has not personally hiked this trail yet. Photos and firsthand sensory detail will be added when upgraded to Tier 2.

👞

The Trail Report — Real Conditions. No Hype.

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8.15 miRound Trip
2800 ftElev. Gain
strenuousDifficulty
4-6 hoursEst. Time
9399 ftHighest Point
out_backRoute Type
YesDogs

Trailhead & Logistics

Address: Vincent Gap Trailhead, Big Pines Highway, Wrightwood, CA 92397
Parking: Paved lot at Vincent Gap. Adventure Pass required. Fills by 9am on summer weekends. Pit toilet on site.
Best Arrival: Before 8am on summer and fall weekends.

Trail Reality Check

Forty switchbacks sounds brutal and they are — but they are well-engineered and the gradient is consistent. The Limber Pine forest is genuinely remarkable — the oldest specimens near the summit have lived 1,500 years. The summit monument honors Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement. Views are outstanding in every direction. Snow is common October through May.

Terrain: Well-maintained PCT with consistent switchbacks. Rocky near summit. Snow possible October through May.
Who should do this: Fit hikers comfortable with significant sustained elevation gain. Anyone targeting the PCT. Good training objective for Whitney.
Who should skip this: Skip without checking snow conditions October through May. Skip in summer without a very early start — upper switchbacks are exposed.