Hike Wright Mountain From Inspiration Point
| In This Guide |
|
| Total Distance (?) | 14 miles (22.5 km) |
| Hike Time | 5-7 Hours (Total) |
| Difficulty (?) | Hard |
| Total Ascent (?) | 2,600 feet (792m) |
| Highest Elevation | 8,505 feet (2592m) |
| Fees & Permits | Parking Permit |
| Dogs Allowed | Leashed |
| Alerts & Closures (?) | Angeles National Forest |
| Park Phone | 626-574-1613 |
| Weather & Forecast | Latest Conditions |
| Stay Safe | Copy this webpage link to the clipobard and share with a friend before you hike. Let them know when to expect you back. |
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While there are several ways to summit Wright Mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains, this route from Inspiration Point is my favorite. You’ll follow the spine known as the Blue Ridge, which is packed with views of the surrounding high peaks, and you’ll get to experience the iconic PCT along the way. It’s also one of the rare hikes in the area that traverses Angeles NF and San Bernardino NF on the same trail.
Where is the Inspiration Point Trailhead?
One of the reasons I like this route to Wright Mountain is that there is plenty of parking at the Inspiration Point Trailhead off Angeles Crest Highway. Inspiration Point is 5 miles west of the town of Wrightwood. Use this trailhead address:
Inspiration Point Trailhead, Angeles National Forest, Blue Ridge Truck Trail, Valyermo, CA 93563
You need a National Parks Pass or Adventure Pass to park here.
Gear For the Hike
This is a mountain hike, and you need to prepare accordingly. Bring 3L of water, clothing for high altitude conditions, and trekking poles. In the winter, this area can be closed, and lingering snow can make the PCT treacherous in the shoulder seasons. If there is a chance of snow or ice, carry micro-spikes.
Garmin InReach Mini 2
I’m a firm believer in carrying a satellite communications device which works where cell phones don’t. I use a Garmin InReach which lets me send text messages back and forth to my family to let them know that I’m okay or if my plans change when I’m out in the backcountry. It also has an SOS subscription built-in so that you can reach first-responders in an emergency. The devices also offer weather reports, GPS, and navigation functionality (what’s the difference between a GPS and satellite communicator?). For a few hundred bucks they could save your life, so for me it’s a no brainer to have something like a Garmin InReach. If you use a smartphone to navigate and want a more affordable option that integrates with your phone easily, check out the ZOLEO.
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Latest Prices: Amazon | REI
Altra Lone Peak 6
For most people, the Altra Lone Peak is a solid choice that will leave your feet feeling great at the end of any hike. The feel is cushy and light, and if it had a car equivalent, this would be a Cadillac or Mercedes Sedan. The grip is great and they’re reasonably durable for this type of trail runner, which I think is better in most conditions than a hiking boot, and here’s why. The downside of this shoe is that it won’t last as long as something like the Moab 2 (see alternate footwear choices at the bottom of my gear page). I’ve been using mine for many miles and my feet always feel great. I have a video on the details of the Altra Lone Peak 6 here.
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Women’s Latest Prices: REI | Amazon
Men’s Latest Prices: REI | Amazon
Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles
I’ve gone back and forth on trekking poles, but I think for most people they are a good investment. They help you dig in on the uphills, provide stability on loose downhills, act as a brace when crossing streams, and can probably poke away aggressive wildlife in a pinch. The Trail Ergo Cork poles are a good balance of light weight, durability, affordability, and ease of use. If you want something ultralight and a little more pricey, I’ve had great luck with the Black Diamond Z Poles too.
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Trail Ergo Poles: REI | Amazon
Z-Poles: REI | Amazon
Gregory Zulu 30 & Jade 28
After testing quite a few backpacks, the Gregory Zulu 30 (and Jade 28 for women) is, for most hikers, the best all-season day-pack. First off, it’s very comfortable, and the mesh “trampoline” back keeps your back dry. Its 30L capacity is enough for all the essentials and plenty of layers for winter hiking. External pockets make it easy to grab gear. It’s hard to find something wrong with the pack; if anything, it could be a bit lighter, but overall, it’s not heavy. And its price-point makes it not only affordable but generally a great value.
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Women’s Latest Prices: REI | Amazon
Men’s Latest Prices: REI | Amazon
Here’s my complete gear list that I personally use, have tested, and recommend, updated May 2022.
No company pays me to promote or push a product, all the gear you see here is gear I use and recommend. If you click an a link and buy gear, I get a small commission that helps keep the website ad and promotion free. There is no cost to you.
Wright Mountain Trail Maps
Overall, navigation is relatively simple here. We’re mainly following the PCT along Blue Ridge to a turn-off for Wright Mountain. There’s one section where we’ll hop on East Blue Ridge Road, a small dirt road that gets minimal traffic when open in the summer. The final push to Wright Mountain summit is on a small use trail.
Explore Map on CalTopoView a Printable PDF Hike MapDownload the Hike GPX File
If you try to download the GPX file and your browser adds a “.txt” or “.xml” extension to it, simply rename it as a “.gpx” file.
How Are You Going to Navigate This Hike?
Here’s what I use. If you are a hardcore hiker and/or hike in extreme conditions, I recommend getting a dedicated GPS like a GPSMAP 66sr or 66i, or a wrist-based GPS with maps like the Garmin Fenix 7 or Epix. If you only hike in fair weather and a touchscreen is fine, or just want a solid tool, I highly recommend downloading the smartphone app, Gaia GPS. It’s a piece of cake to use and very powerful, just make sure your phone is in airplane mode so the battery doesn’t drain. You can also check for wildfires, weather, snow, and choose from dozens of map types with a premium membership (HikingGuy readers get a big discount here). Note that I also carry a paper map with me in case the phone dies or gets smashed.
To access this guide when out of cell phone range on the trail, simply save the webpage on your phone ( iPhone – Android ).
Elevation Profile
Landmarks on the Hike
| Landmark | Distance | Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Trailhead | 0 | 7381 |
| Ski Area | 1.1 | 7741 |
| Blue Ridge Camp | 2.1 | 7900 |
| Hop on Road | 3.9 | 8460 |
| Guffy Camp | 4.9 | 8250 |
| Acorn Trail | 6.1 | 8250 |
| Wright Mountain | 7 | 8505 |
3D Map
Alternate Return
If you’d like to avoid some of the up and down on the way back, you can follow East Blue Ridge Road back. It will wind back and forth over the ridge, but the gradients are smooth and gradual. Or you can choose to hop on and off the PCT and road as you go. The views from the road tend to be better than from the PCT on the way back.
Hike Brief
- Wright Mountain is the high point along the Blue Ridge formation, connecting the Baden-Powell high country to the San Antonio high country. Blue Ridge is named for the color of the rock, a distinctive blue-gray Pelona schist.
- The larger area that we hike through, including the ski areas down in the valley, was once known as the Big Pines Recreation Camp. Built in 1923 by the LA County Board of Supervisors, this area would attract 10,000 people on a busy weekend. Over the years the area was handed over to Forest Service and the ski areas became Mountain High Ski Resort. Today the beautiful views along this hike go unknown to most tourists, but the campgrounds remain for those in the know.
- Wright Mountain is named after the town below it, Wrightwood. Wrightwood is named after Sumner Wright, who bought a large property in the valley in 1906. When he hit hard times in the 1920s, he subdivided his land and created housing lots, which became Wrightwood.
- Wright Mountain is disappearing. Heavy rains, freeze-thaw patterns, and seismic activity from the nearby San Andreas Fault have been breaking chunks of the mountain off over the years, causing mudslides and debris flows into Wrightwood below. The rock along the Blue Ridge has moved about 350 miles along the fault over the last 11 million years.
Wright Mountain Hike Directions
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Video Directions
Turn by Turn Directions
The first chair lifts were built here in the late 1920s in preparation for the 1932 Olympics. However, the lack of snow in the mountains changed the venue to Lake Placid.
Guffy Camp is named after Samuel Guffy, who homesteaded in the valley and sold his land to Sumner Wright, Wrightwood’s namesake.
From here just go back the way you came.
This guide last updated on April 21, 2022. Did something change on this hike? If so, please contact me and let me know. I'll update the guide.
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