✓ 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
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Trail Ready
54°F, Clear Sky. Layer for elevation. Summit conditions may differ from trailhead.
🌙
54°
Clear Sky
Feels 51°F
💨 Wind
6 mph S
Gusts to 6 mph
💧 Humidity
37%
Comfortable
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi
Good visibility
☁️ Cloud Cover
0%
Clear — full sun exposure
🌅 Sunrise
6:26 am
Ideal start time
🌇 Sunset
7:13 pm
Off trail by this
5-Day Forecast
🌙
Sat, Sep 5
Clear Sky
52°F
feels 48°
💨 Wind/Gust
5/5 S
💧 Humidity
42% Comfortable
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
0% Clear — full sun exposure
✅ Good Conditions — Go Hike
🌥️
Sun, Sep 6
Few Clouds
56°F
feels 53°
💨 Wind/Gust
5/6 S
💧 Humidity
48% Comfortable
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
22% Partly cloudy
✅ Good Conditions — Go Hike
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Mon, Sep 7
Clear Sky
54°F
feels 53°
💨 Wind/Gust
3/2 S
💧 Humidity
82% High humidity — pace yourself
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
0% Clear — full sun exposure
🟡 Warm & Humid — Extra Water
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Tue, Sep 8
Clear Sky
59°F
feels 56°
💨 Wind/Gust
4/3 S
💧 Humidity
46% Comfortable
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
1% Clear — full sun exposure
✅ Good Conditions — Go Hike
☁️
Wed, Sep 9
Overcast Clouds
62°F
feels 60°
💨 Wind/Gust
1/3 SSW
💧 Humidity
32% Comfortable
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
94% Overcast
✅ Good Conditions — Go Hike
Trailhead elevation only. Conditions change at altitude. Check weather.gov before heading out. Sep 4, 11:32 pm

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.

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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.