General Information
Access
Hikes
Other Web Information
General Information Eaton Saddle is a saddle on the Mt. Wilson - Red Box Road, 2.4 miles south of the Angeles Crest Highway. There are wide turnouts for parking on both sides of the road. This is the first place on the Mt. Wilson Road where you can get a view to the south over the Los Angeles Basin.
The name Eaton is for Judge Benjamin Eaton, who developed the water resources in the canyon for his Fair Oaks Ranch in the 1860's.
The Saddle (5,120') is between San Gabriel Peak (6,161') and Occidental Peak (5,732') on the ridge that leads from Red Box to Mt. Wilson. It separates Eaton Canyon to the south from Falls Canyon to the northeast. Drainage from Eaton Canyon goes to the Rio Hondo and eventually to the Los Angeles River, while drainage from Falls Canyon goes to the West Fork of the San Gabriel River.
Access Map: Mt. Wilson Region (ES near the right center of the map)
See also: USGS 7.5' x 7.5' Map: Mount Wilson (34° 14' 25" N, 118° 05' 43"W)By Car: Take the Angeles Crest Highway, SR2, 14 miles north from I-210 to Red Box at Mile Marker 38.4, about 20 - 25 minutes driving time. Turn right on the paved road to Mt. Wilson. Eaton Saddle is 2.4 miles farther, at the first overlook to the south, with wide turnouts on both sides of the road. The gated Mt. Lowe Fire Road 2N50 begins here.
By Trail: Valley Forge Trail northeast from the West Fork. Mt. Lowe Fire Road from the west which is the beginning (or ending depending on your approach!) of trails to San Gabriel Peak, Mt. Disappointment, Mt. Markham, Mt. Lowe, and Bear Canyon.
Hikes Warning: This list does not get updated as often as the hikes listed in the region tables. Consult Mt. Wilson Region Hikes for the latest listing.
No. RT
milesElev.
gainSeason Name 30 3 500 nov-jun Eaton Saddle to Markham Saddle, Mt. Lowe 30.1 3.6 650 nov-jun Eaton Saddle to Markham Saddle, Mt. Markham 31 6 700 nov-jun Eaton Saddle to Mt. Lowe Trail Camp, Mt. Lowe Fire Road back to Eaton Saddle 31.1 7 1300 nov-jun Eaton Saddle to Mt. Lowe Trail Camp, Mt. Lowe Fire Road, Mt. Lowe East Trail, Mt. Markham 32 3.5 1000 nov-jun Eaton Saddle to Markham Saddle, San Gabriel Peak 33 10 +700
-2500nov-jun Eaton Saddle to Markham Saddle, Tom Sloan Saddle, Bear Canyon, Arroyo Seco, Switzer Campground 49 3
(1 way)1700 nov-jun West Fork via Valley Forge Trail to Eaton Saddle, Mt. Wilson Road 49.1 3
(1 way)-1700 nov-jun Eaton Saddle to West Fork via Valley Forge Trail 49.22 6 1700 nov-jun West Fork via Valley Forge Trail to Eaton Saddle, Mt. Wilson Road Round-Trip
Other Web Information
- To the Top of Mt. Lowe the Easy Way
- ANF's Rattlesnake Trail to Mt. Wilson includes a round trip option incorporating Eaton Saddle
- SoCalMtB.com's 7. Altadena to Eaton Saddle
- Seasons of the San Gabriels June 17, 1999
- San Gabriel Mountains Leaf Log Thursday, September 3, 1998
Go to Field Guide to the San Gabriel Mountains: Places
Copyright © 1999 by Jane Strong and Tom Chester
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to us at this source:
http://tchester.org/sgm/places/eaton_saddle.html
Comments and feedback: Jane Strong | Tom Chester
Updated 14 October 1999.