Hike #1243
September 16, 2015
Mt. Waterman from Buckhorn
Ron Obert, Hike Leader
Summary: The hike is along the nice but thinly forested high country of the Angeles National Forest. The basic hike is an out and back to the ridge that forms the summit of Mt. Waterman at 8038 feet. A bit longer version allows completing a loop by returning down the dirt road that is part of the Mt. Waterman ski area.
Trailhead: Leave the 210 freeway at Highway 2, the Angeles Crest Highway. Continue up the Angeles Crest Highway until mile marker 57.8 where there will be a small parking turnout on the uphill side. There is a larger parking area 100 feet further on the downhill side. Park at either turnout. The party will be at the Buckhorn day use area, which is a few hundred feet past the hike parking areas. There are no rest rooms at the trailhead, but there are at Buckhorn day use area. A map will be supplied on hike day. Use your Golden Age Passport for parking.
Hike: Begin the hike by taking the upward trail from the smaller uphill parking area. After about a quarter of a mile the trail will cross the road, which will be the return for those who complete the loop version. Continue up the trail and at a little less than 2 miles there will be a first look down at the Los Angeles basin. A bit further a junction with the trail that leads to Twin Peaks will be reached. Only real tigers should choose to go toward Twin Peaks. As the ridge like summit of Mt. Waterman is approached there are trail choices and the higher choices will get you to the boulder outcroppings that form the summit. Returning as you came will result in a 6 mile hike with a gain of 1200 feet.
Those wishing to complete the 7.5 mile loop should continue west along the crest and drop down a bit to find the ski areas upper dirt road. Follow the dirt road down through the ski area to the crossing of the trail near the trailhead.
Google Earth Photo - Previous Mt. Waterman Hikes
2017-03-21
