Hike Mt Islip From Crystal Lake - HikingGuy.com

[@user-ck3qk2mt9h]

I did this hike two days ago and as others have noted gate to trailhead is closed. You need to park off the main road in a dirt lot and walk in. Trailhead toilet is also locked. This is a great hike for that solitude you might be seeking. I saw not one other person on the trail the whole day. As HG says the views are tremendous with varied flora along the way. HG, not sure why you start this hike with the circuit around the lake. It is nothing more than a cesspool with black water and algae and is swarming with mosquitos. After failing to find the trail out of the lake area, I returned to the parking area and found another trailhead where there was a trail sign indicating the start of the Islip Wawona Trail. The lake circuit trail meets up with this one so the trek around the lake isn't necessary. The trailhead is located right where that car is parked in the beginning of the video. Thanks for the great work you do. I tout your channel to everyone.

[@Hikingguy]

Glad you got to enjoy the hike and thanks for the thanks! So a couple of notes - the gate isn't always locked but it sounds like it is most of the time lately (I haven't parked there in a while) &&&& Crystal Lake is not always a shallow and gross - it's a drought year - at other times it can be very pretty, especially in the winter

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

I had tried this many years ago, and had stupidly gone up the down trail. It had been in terrible condition at the time, and wasted hours in scrambling over one uncleared log after another, because I kept telling myself it would be better a little farther on. But I was completely wiped and demoralized by the time I got to the pretty section on the summit approach, and had to give up only a few hundred feet short from sheer exhaustion and waning light. But I took one of my favorite pictures on that trip, and it still sits above my fireplace.

[@lopezexplora]

You are the man!! 🥾🥾

[@20robertang]

I’ve been wanting to take on this one, now I’ll follow your footsteps. Thanks for showing us the way.

[@danielmullins7883]

Hey Cris - Thanks again for pointing out this hike and providing your expert guidance, especially on the hikingguy website. Your gear reviews and tips are invaluable. I hiked this 11/30/22 in the clockwise direction to catch the sunrise and early peak views and it did not disappoint. Ridge trail up was in great shape and free of ice/snow. The only challenge on the descent was one of several washouts on the Windy Gap Trail between Windy Gap and the Hawkins Lookout Road. Taking a higher route around it (20 feet above) let me use rock footholds to get by. Saw a herd of deer in the closed Deer Flat Campground when starting the Lost Ridge Trail to finish the loop. Lost Ridge is in good shape and was a great way to finish this scenic hike. As others have said, you have to park directly across Crystal Lake road from the locked gate that prevents you from parking at the Islip Wanona Trailhead but it only adds a few minutes to the hike.👍

[@Hikingguy]

That's great - glad you got to enjoy this hike - I'm due back to update it, will head there in the spring when the snow is gone and document it again. Thank you for the update. I love this one 👍👍

[@thelonehiker4698]

Thanks, the only video that explains it

[@goatbacon2977]

Hell yea love these lesser known hikes

[@Hikingguy]

Stay tuned, more to come...

[@goatbacon2977]

HikingGuy.com woooo

[@landrews7280]

Great suggestion, I just added it to my list and look forward to doing it.

[@fedora296]

thank you for this video makes us enthusiastic hikers life more easy. I definitely doing this

[@Hikingguy]

Ha cool cool, you're welcome, glad it's helpful!

[@fedora296]

@@Hikingguy thank you so much amigo you inspired me to do this hike it was brutal took me 7 hours ... I am in a good shape I did mount Wilson following your directions thank you. this one I got lost and tested my endurance luckily I found the trail after a couple of hours and got to the summit coming back it was much easier I just followed your video. thank you....

[@gnome2024]

This is a great hike especially after a good snowfall. Definitely kicks butt with beautiful views if one can make the expedition to the top in knee deep snow.

[@Hikingguy]

Agreed. I've done it once in the snow and it was beautiful (and I had the entire trail to myself!).

[@nelsonmolina1846]

Best guide I’ve seen, thank you so much for the info. Great work, love the web site

[@exalhoa]

Did it yesterday afternoon (5/4/22). I owned the trail as I did not see another hiker from start to finish. And the weather was perfect, nice and cool. It would be advisable to get an earlier start in the summer as there is a lot of exposure due to the fires. The gate for the Crystal Lake day use area was locked so had to walk up the road to the trailhead (about 0.3 m) making the total mileage around 11. A little buggy at the beginning and the end but not too bothersome. I was curious about Deer Flats campground as it looked abandoned and according to the Forest Service website it's been closed since 2015. Great hike! Going to use your guide for the Mt Hawkins loop next. Thanks!

[@Hikingguy]

Thanks for the report and you'll love the Hawkins loop, it's a great time.

[@fedora296]

great video thank you.... I did that one 7/25/2020 I could not find the lake trail. do not do this alone unless you have some kind of map I got lost and ended going up a dried up stream. I finally found the trail it took me 7 hours round trip. luckily I sow your video it helped me to get back to the parking lot. it's a hard hike lots of rocks... there are long parts of the trail that there is no shade be aware and use sun block... I think it will better if I do it again to do it reversed going up where the cafe is and coming back through the lake. thank you

[@Hikingguy]

Sorry to hear that you got lost - and yea, always bring a map and if you load my GPX file onto your phone or GPS unit it's also a great way to confirm where you are. At least you got lost in a beautiful area!

[@melindakier1661]

Hey starting at ( silly question).. hwy 39 trailhead up to the first cienega trail sign (2nd) road crossing… what’s the elevation gain. My app tells me 1400… it was all uphill .. but was it that far? Do you know? It was 1.25 miles only

[@shastabob56]

Hey Cris. How can we find out if this trail is open tomorrow?

[@Hikingguy]

Check out the official Angeles NF Alerts page - looks like it's open to the summit from Crystal Lake.

[@shastabob56]

@@Hikingguy Thanks, Kris. I watched your incredible video today regarding the fires and trails.

[@GaryBaum]

What do you use to attach your Garmin 66i to your pack shoulder strap?

[@Hikingguy]

There is a Garmin pack mount that I was testing which velcros on to the strap, but it would fall off when I went through brush. I ended up just carrying it in a side pocket on my backpack now.

[@GaryBaum]

@@Hikingguy Thanks, Cris for your response. Yes, I am familiar with that Garmin Backpack Tether Accessory mount and I had the exact same experience, totally worthless. I currently use the Garmin Universal Carrying Case on my belt, but it has some durability issues Thanks for all you do I am a big fan of your web site

[@Hikingguy]

@@GaryBaum thanks, glad the website is helpful

[@kermit1]

Is this harder then Sitton peak? Thinking of trying this one tomorrow👍🏽

[@Hikingguy]

Probably a bit harder - I'd call the ranger station before you go. I think there's snow up there and not sure if CA39 is open. If there's snow and ice it can get dangerous.

[@ginakim824]

Is there snakes in this area?

[@Hikingguy]

Yup, all over SoCal there are snakes, but if you just stay on the trail you'll be fine. If you see one just give it room and walk around it.

[@stewpidasso288]

Why do all your videos get posted twice?

[@Hikingguy]

One is a 360 version that you can only view in certain places like KZbin.com, the KZbin app, and in some browsers. The other is a regular HD video that you can view anywhere. The 360 version has a different thumbnail and title. Check this out > kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZ7GpZqui8anp9k

[@brianpowell5082]

Nice one Chris! I've done the peak 3 ways over the last 4 years. I did it from the Windy Gap Trail, and also from Islip Saddle. Then, the last one's route was up Islip Ridge, down Islip Ridge, then down Big Cienega Trail to the Deer Flats, and along the road to Windy Gap trail a short distance to Crystal Lake CG. If you haven't, check out the Big Cienega; there are some areas of lush, tall conifer forest along that stretch! I had no idea that there was a trail running along the Deer Flats service road! I did the hike in April and saw the toads you mentioned in mating inside the lake! The views from Islip Ridge Trail are insanely vast into the San Gabriel Wilderness!

[@Hikingguy]

Hey Brian, thanks for the note! Yea, that whole area is so pretty, and Islip Ridge is one of my favorite trails, the views are incredible. I've also done Big Cienga and agree, it's a really nice trail. I'm thinking of doing a guide up from Deer Flat on Big Cienga that grabs some peaks and then returns, but still planning it on paper though.

[@brianpowell5082]

I can't wait to see that one!