Trail Stats
Mileage	3.0
Trailhead (Hwy 2)	7250'
Windy Gap	7588'
Mt. Islip	8250'
Total gain/loss	1000'
Gain/loss per mi.	666'

Mount Islip (pronounced "eye-slip") is one of the must-hike peaks of the San Gabriels. From its 8250-foot summit, the hiker is rewarded with a splendid panoramic view in all directions. The pointed and nearly bald summit stands in relative isolation along the high-country backbone, separating the Crystal Lake basin on the south from the vast Mojave Desert to the north. The Forest Service took advantage of the outstanding vantagepoint of Mount Islip when it built a fire lookout on its summit in 1927, which was moved to South Hawkins in 1937. The concrete footings of the tower and the stone cabin shell still remain. The mountain gets its name from George Islip, an early pioneer who homesteaded in the San Gabriel Canyon in the 1880's.

There are a variety of popular routes or combinations of routes that offer fine hikes to Mount Islip (see alternate routes below). The often-overlooked hike presented here is the shortest. It begins at a curve on Highway 2 and takes a direct route straight up the ravine to Windy Gap, about a quarter mile. Then it follows the trail another mile to the peak.

Season: May - November

The San Gabriels's high country provides splendid hiking in the summer with plenty of sunshine, pleasant temperatures, and long days. Hard snow or ice can linger on the steep, north-facing slopes until sometime in May. You can avoid those areas by climbing straight up the east ridge of Mt. Islip from Widy Gap. However, you may have snow in the ravine Between Hwy 2 and Windy Gap.

Getting to the Trailhead:

From the Foothill Freeway (I-210) in La Canada, drive the Angeles Crest Highway (Hwy 2) north and east), about 41 miles to Islip Saddle, and continue another couple miles to mile marker 66.37, at a bend in the road. If you're driving on Hwy 2 from the east, the mile maker is 66.38, a few miles past Dawson Saddle. There are turn-outs on both side of the road adjacent to a ravine. Park on either side. The trail begins on the left (east) side ravine. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for parking.

Trail Description:

Take the informal use trail on the left side of the ravine under the shade of white fir and Jeffery pine. The easy-to-follow path proceeds in a southwest direction on the left bank. The climb is steep but not precarious. The patch of blue sky directly in front of you marks Windy Gap. When you reach a large fallen Jeffery Pine, you're almost there. After about a quarter mile from the highway, you'll arrive at Windy Gap, a major trail junction with routes heading all directions.

Looking southwest from Winday Gap.

From Windy Gap, take the trail that heads northwest, marked with a sign, "Mt. Islip 0.9." The trail contours the northeast slope of Mt. Islip. After about 0.2 mile, you come to a trail junction. If you continue straight you end up at Little Jimmy Trail Camp in 15 to 20 minutes. But instead, turn a sharp left (south). The sign reads, "Mt. Islip 1.2" (Note, this is a discrepancy from the sign at Windy Gap. See Trail Notes below). After 3 or 4 minutes you reach Mt. Islip's east ridge with great views down into the Crystal Lake basin and beyond. This is the point at which the informal route straight up ridge from Windy Gap meets trail. The trail veers right (west) and traverses just below the ridge, first on the north side of the ridge, then on the south. After a few tenths of a mile, you reach a trail junction. If you continue straight you head down Islip's south ridge toward Crystal Lake. The sign reads. "Islip Ridge Trail | Big Cienega Trail .08 | Crystal Lake 4.7." But instead, veer right (north). The sign reads "Mt. Islip 0.1 | Little Jimmy Campground 1.1" (points back toward the trail you just came up). Follow the trail to the peak of Mt. Islip (8250').

Looking south toward Crystal Lake basin from Mt. Islip (8250')

Enjoy the views atop of Mt. Islip. To the west, Bear Canyon, the East Peak of Twin Peaks (7761'), and Mt. Waterman (8038'). To northwest, Will Thrall Peak (7845') and Mt. Williamson (8214'). To the north, the Mojave Desert. To the northeast, Mt. Lewis (8396'). Looming on the east, Throop Peak (9138') and Mt. Hawkins (8850). To the southeast, Hawkins Ridge and South Hawkins (7783'). Notice Mount Baldy (10,064) at a distance peeking over the gap on Hawkins Ridge. To the south, Crystal Lake basin, San Gabriel and Morris Reservoirs, Smith Mountain (5111') and past the mountains, the San Gabriel Valley and beyond. To the southeast, Pine Mountain (4539), Monrovia Peak (5409'), Mt. Wilson (5710') and its cluster of front range peaks.

The Curve Fire of September 2002 devastated much of the Crystal Lake basin and the slopes and ridges around it. As you hike to Mt. Islip, from any route, you'll see burned trees and sticks which used to be beautiful displays of manzanita. But you'll also see some trees and manzanita that was spared. And once you reach the summit of Islip, you'll be thankful that it was virtually untouched by the fire.

Mount Islip is a splendid peak, well worth the visit. Return the way you came.

Trail Notes:

• Topo map note: The USGS map topo (Crystal Lake Quadrangle, 1995) does not show the use trail from Hwy 2 to Windy Gap. It also does not show the trail from Windy Gap to the upper trail from coming from Little Jimmy trail camp. There are two trails from Little Jimmy trail camp to Windy Gap. The lower one is the Pacific Crest Trail, which passes just above Little Jimmy Spring. The upper one splits, one way goes up to Mt. Islip, the other goes down to Windy gap. The map also does not show the new Islip Ridge Trail that traverses the south ridge. View larger topo map.
• Mileage: The sign at Windy Gap reads. "Mt. Islip 0.9." But after following the trail about .02 mile, the sign at the junction reads, "Mt. Islip 1.2." Obviously something is amiss here. Perhaps the Windy Gap sign mileage is for the informal route straight up the ridge rather than following the trail. The Tom Harrison trail map shows 0.8 from the Gap to the junction that is a tenth of a mile below Islip's summit, however, the red-dash trail on the map appears to follow the formal trail rather than the ridge path. Maybe the mapmaker got the mileage from trail sign. At any rate, it took me 42 minutes following the trail from Windy Gap to Mt. Islip summit. I walk a little slow going up hill.
• Alternate routes: There are a variety of popular routes to Mt. Islip well represented in the literature. Here are several of the most common:
  • North Route 1 - Islip Saddle (Hwy 2) to Little Jimmy Campground via the Pacific Crest Trail, to Mt. Islip - 7 miles rounds trip, 1500' gain (Robinson, Hike 77).
  • North Route 2 - Little Jimmy Campground service road (3N04 at Hwy 2 - mile marker 65.5) to Little Jimmy Trail Camp to Mt. Islip, - 5.6 miles round trip, 1250' gain (Schad, Area A-11, Trip 5). This trailhead is sometimes referred to as Pine Hollow, since it is opposite the now-removed Pine Hollow Picnic Area.
  • South Route 1 - Crystal Lake to Windy Gap via the Windy Gap Trail (See Windy Gap trail description), to Mt. Islip, down the Islip Ridge Trail and the Big Cienega Trail. - 7.5 miles, 2200' gain (See Big Cienega trail description) (Robinson, Hike 76 | Schad, 101, Trip 30). A variation of this route is to hike it as an out-and-back hike rather than a loop, using either route. The shortest of these is up the Windy Gap Trail and then to the Mt. Islip and back - 7 miles (Schad,Afoot and Afield, Area A-9, Trip 4).
  • South Route 2 - Crystal Lake via the new Islip Ridge Trail 9.6 miles round trip, 2678' gain. I have not seen this route written up anywhere. It is not on the USGS topo map, but it is on the Tom Harrison Map. It is a fine trail and the San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders have done a great job in restoring it back to good condition after the Curve Fire (Sept. 02)
  Note: south routes closed: The Crystal Lake recreation area had been closed by the U.S. Forest Service, repairing it from the Curve Fire (Sept 2002) and bark beetles. It was scheduled to re-open in June 2003, then June 2004. Never happened. Then the torrential storms of October 2004 through January 2005 badly damaged the road. Caltrans has been making good progress on the repairs. The FS is hoping it will be open for summer 2006, but don't hold your breath.. If you'd like to access these trails before then, come work with the San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders.
  • East Routes - You can reach Mt. Islip via Windy Gap coming down the PCT from Hawkins Ridge. From Dawson Saddle, 5.7 miles one way; from Vincent Gap, 11.9 miles one way; From Crystal Lake via South Hawkins, 8.9 miles one way. (Mileages from the Tom Harrison Map.)
• People traffic: 9-6-03 (Saturday) - For the entire hike, I encountered only one party of two hikers; they were coming down as I was going up. They had camped on Friday night at Little Jimmy Trailcamp. When I did a side trip to Little Jimmy I was surprised to see the camp empty on such a nice weekend. Met three three day hikers in one party at Little Jimmy. Total: 5 people in 2 parties.
• Bugs: 9-6-03 - There were none that bothered me, but there were lots of bees enjoying the yellow blossoms of the rabbit brush.