Slide Mountain Lookout

About this event

DESCRIPTION: This is one of the best fire lookout hikes close to home, and one of the few where you can still see a working lookout tower up close. The Slide Mountain Trail climbs above Pyramid Lake and the Piru Creek drainage to a two-story metal lookout perched on the 4,631-foot summit. From the top, the views take in Pyramid Lake, Piru Gorge, Lake Piru, and the Sespe backcountry, and on a clear day you can see all the way to downtown Los Angeles. It’s the kind of hike where you earn every view.

The route starts at Frenchman’s Flat Day Use Area on Piru Creek and follows a closed section of old Highway 99 north through Piru Gorge for about 1.5 miles, crossing a bridge over Piru Creek along the way. Just past a white gate on the left, the route leaves the road and the Slide Mountain Trail begins its steady climb. The trail was built to switchback away from the steep ridge crest, so the grade stays reasonable: one long switchback up to the southeast ridge, a saddle that makes a good rest stop, then a final stretch that wraps around the south and west sides of the peak and spirals up to the lookout. The tower was built in 1969 along with Pyramid Reservoir and is staffed by volunteer lookouts. If a lookout is on duty, you may be invited up for an even better view. Note: trail markings are minimal, but there are mile markers along the way. The mileage on the markers starts at the end of the road walk, not at the parking area.

DETAILS:

• Hike organizer(s): Tim R.

• Meet: Frenchman’s Flat Day Use Area on the Old Ridge Route (old Highway 99), north of the Templin Highway exit off I-5, at 7:45 am, departure at 8 am sharp (Dec 5).

• Distance: Approximately 11.0 miles (out-and-back).

• Elevation gain: Approximately 2,562 feet.

• Time: Approximately 5.5 hours hiking, depending on pace and time spent at the lookout.

• Conditioning: You need to be in good physical condition. Most of the route is sun-exposed, and the summit ridge can be windy and cold.

• Dogs: Not allowed.

• Restrooms: Vault toilets at Frenchman’s Flat Day Use Area.

• Adventure Pass: Required. Display an Adventure Pass or Interagency (America the Beautiful) Pass, or pay the $5 day-use fee. Be prepared to pay with cash or check.

• Turnaround: If you want a shorter outing, the 1.5-mile road walk through Piru Gorge along Piru Creek makes a pleasant, mostly flat out-and-back without committing to the climb.

IMPORTANT NOTES: There is no water on the trail. Piru Creek runs alongside the road walk, but plan to carry all the water you need. Daylight is short in November, so we will keep a steady pace and stick to our turnaround time. As always, people may slip and fall, encounter wildlife, or face unexpected conditions on this hike. Finally, this event may be cancelled due to inclement weather.

ESSENTIAL GEAR: Sturdy hiking shoes or boots with good tread. Trekking poles helpful for the climb and descent. Layers, including a wind-resistant jacket for the summit. Hat, sunscreen, and sun-protective clothing for the exposed sections. Snacks and a packed lunch. Refillable water bottles with 3+ liters of water. A headlamp, in case we finish close to sunset.

The Ten Essentials of Hiking (link)

THIS HIKE RATING: Level 4, Intermediate/Advanced (see chart below).

Please only sign up to attend hikes that are consistent with your ability. Based on your hiking during the last 90 days, how would you score on the Santa Clarita Valley Hikers (SCVHikers) hike rating scale of one to five, assuming a moderate pace (~2.5 mph)?

SCVH HIKE RATING SCALE:

• Beginner: 1–3 miles, less than 500 feet elevation gain.

• Beginner/Intermediate: 1–7 miles, less than 700 feet elevation gain.

• Intermediate: 5–10 miles, 1000–2000 feet elevation gain.

• Intermediate/Advanced: 7–12 miles, up to 3000 feet elevation gain.

• Advanced: 10–17 miles, 3000 feet or more elevation gain.

TRAILHEAD LOCATION:

Frenchman’s Flat Day Use Area: Old Ridge Route (old Highway 99), Castaic, CA 91384

Driving Directions (link)

NAVIGATION: We highly recommend the AllTrails app be installed on your cell phones and/or you print a copy of the trail map so you can personally navigate the trail if you need to. Cell service may be spotty in Piru Gorge, so download your AllTrails maps for offline access before you leave home. To reach the trailhead, take the Templin Highway exit from I-5 north of Castaic, pass under the freeway, and turn right (north) on the Old Ridge Route; some map apps suggest unsuitable routes, so follow these directions. On the trail, markings are minimal past the white gate, but mile markers help you track progress.

GPS Trail Map (link)

USFS Frenchman’s Flat Day Use Area Info (link)

If You Need Help on the Trail

In AllTrails, swipe up on the Navigate drawer and tap “GPS details” to see your coordinates. Screenshot them, then call 911 and read off the numbers. As a backup, the What3Words app names any location with three words that are easy to read aloud to a dispatcher. Your GPS works even without cell service—you just need signal to make the call.

We rely on donations to continue sponsoring hikes like this. Please contribute via cash or Venmo at each hike.

DISCLAIMER / RELEASE OF LIABILITY — PLEASE READ IN ITS ENTIRETY

When you sign up for this event, you are releasing Santa Clarita Valley Hikers (SCVHikers) and its volunteer organizers from any liability or responsibility in connection with your participation in this activity. Hiking is inherently risky. By signing up, you are taking full responsibility for your own safety and well-being.

SCVHikers and its organizers are not trained, certified, or compensated guides, and the club does not confirm the qualifications of any member to lead or participate in its events. All participants take full responsibility for their own actions and judgment.

By signing up for any SCVHikers event, you are releasing SCVHikers and its organizers from all liability for possible injury or death, as stated in paragraph 6.2 of the Meetup Terms of Service (available at the bottom of the Meetup website). Your personal safety depends on your own judgment and experience. If you sign up for this hike, you are confirming that the hike is within your current abilities.

At the trailhead, we will ask every participant to read and sign the SCVHikers Release of Liability and Express Assumption of Risk before the hike begins. If you are unwilling to sign, you will not be able to join the group that day. Signing up on Meetup does not substitute for the trailhead sign-in.

The outing begins and ends at the trailhead. SCVHikers does not organize, advertise, or coordinate carpools. Transportation to and from the trailhead is your own responsibility, and all risks of that travel are yours alone.

This event may be cancelled or modified due to weather, trail conditions, or other safety considerations.

From Santa Clarita Community Hiking Club