Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat

9 miles - Hard Effort
4-5 Hours (Total)
2,740 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 3,575 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

The Mt Zion loop hike is a great option for those that have hiked from Chantry Flat before, maybe to Mt Wilson, but want something a little more off the beaten path. On this loop, I'll take you on the Upper Gabrielino Trail, then on the historic Mt Zion Trail, built in 1896 and once the main trail into the area, then up to Mt Zion for panoramic views, and finally back to the start on the Upper Winter Creek Trail. And while there might be crowds on the nearby trails, this loop route on Angeles National Forest's secondary trails offers peace and tranquility.

In this Guide:

Video & Turn by Turn Directions
How to Get to the Mt Zion Trailhead
Everything You Need to Know To Prepare for the Hike

Quick Links:
Parks Pass - Park Website - NOAA Weather Report - My Apr 2024 Gear

How to Get to the Trailhead

This hike starts at the popular Chantry Flat Picnic Area. There are popular waterfalls nearby and the parking can get crazy. Do yourself a favor and get here at sunrise. The gate to Chantry Flat opens at 6am but sometimes is open earlier. Use this trailhead address:
Chantry Flat Recreation Area, Chantry Flats Rd, Arcadia, CA 91006

You need a parks pass or Adventure Pass to park here, even if you are parking in the street overflow.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 2 — You've probably been to Chantry Flat before if you're doing this hike. Come early and avoid the crowds. There are primitive toilets here.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 47 — If the lot is full you can park on the street. Just not like this guy in the no-parking zone.

Gear for the Hike

This is longer hike in the backcountry, so you're best served by using proper hiking gear. There are some stream hops and climbs, so proper footwear and trekking poles are handy. In the summer the bugs can be intense. This route is also generally snow-free (since it's at a lower elevation).

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.

Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can see my review here.

HOKA Speedgoat 5These are a great balance of comfort and performance. The high stack height leaves my feet feeling great after a hike.

Check out the complete list here.

Mt Zion Loop Trail Maps

I've purposely routed this hike on some of the lesser-used trails in the area to give you a different experience. The first section on the Upper Gabrielino Trail offers some views of Mt Zion and distance from the crowds of people at the falls. And coming back, you'll take the Upper Winter Creek Trail, which winds along a ridge, high above the lower trail and campsites.

Use This Map:
View in CalTopo | PDF Map | GPX File

How Will You Navigate?

Using the Apple Watch for Hiking

Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For Hikers

How To Read a Topographic Map

Garmin GPSMAP 67i Review

Mt Zion Loop Hike Directions

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 3 — Hike down through the gate at the beginning of Chantry Flat.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 4 — We're heading to Sturtevant Camp in 4.3 miles, and then up to Mt Zion.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 1 — Keep heading to the bottom of the paved road, passing the trail to Hermit Falls.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 5 — At the bottom of the hill, head to the right and over the bridge.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 6 — Once over the bridge, make the right through the big intersection. If you need to go to the bathroom, there's one here.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 7 — Head up the Gabrielino Trail from the intersection.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 8 — Leave the crowds behind and hike up the Gabrielino.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 9 — You'll hike through the area with all the cabins.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 10 — Make the hard left at the first junction (going straight heads to the falls).

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 12 — Okay, make the hard left to head on the Upper Gabrielino Trail.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 13 — The trail climbs about 400 feet in a half mile and is manageable.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 14 — As the trail winds around the ridge you'll get some views of Mt Zion.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 15 — The trail has some level sections and is easy to follow.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 16 — At around 2.4 miles in you'll rejoin the lower trail at the Falling Sign Junction. Go straight.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 17 — Here's a closeup of the sign at Falling Sign Junction, which should be familiar if you've done the hike to Mt Wilson from Chantry Flat.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 18 — The Gabrielino Trail continues uphill through the shaded Angeles National Forest.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 19 — Hike through the Cascade Picnic Area.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 48 — If you're wondering about these dams that you see all through this section of Angeles National Forest, here's the deal. In 1954, the government laid out a program to protect the property and watershed (which served LA) here. They set up a series of check dams to ease flash flooding but also to help fight fires. In subsequent floods many of the dams blew out. That, combined with new schools of thought about fire and flood prevention, led to the abandonment of the project. Chris Kasten has an interesting article on the check dams here.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 20 — Cross over the creek and keep heading up the trail.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 21 — Hike through the Spruce Grove campsite.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 22 — After Spurce Grove you'll leave the Gabrielino Trail by heading to the left.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 23 — Here's a closeup of the sign at that junction. We're heading up the Sturtevant to the Mt Zion trail in 1/8th of a mile.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 24 — Just past the last junction, make the left before the Sturtevant Camp sign. You can also go straight through the camp and then join the trail later if you like.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 25 — Head up the trail across the stream from Sturtevant Camp.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 26 — And here's the important trail junction for Mt Zion. Look for the trail to the right up to Mt Zion.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 27 — Here's the sign at the Upper Zion Trail junction. We're going to Mt Zion summit and then onto (upper) Winter Creek.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 28 — While not a majorly popular trail, it's still often well maintained. There might be a downed tree or branch, but they are generally cleared rather quickly.

This path was the original trail from Chantry Flat to Sturtevant Camp, built by Wilbur Sturtevant in 1896, allegedly by following the path that a bear took over the mountain to get to the camp. In the fire and subsequent landslides of 1953, most of the trail was destroyed. It was rebuilt by volunteers and reopened in 1985.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 29 — The trail climbs for a good portion, but it's not a huge mountain grind. You've done most of the climbing already.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 30 — When you get to the junction with the trail history display, make the left to head up the spur trail to the Mt Zion summit.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 31 — The trail to the summit can get a little narrow and overgrown, but it's there.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 32 — When you reach the clearing, you're at the summit! It's not a high peak but it does have about 100 feet of prominence above the surrounding terrain.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 33 — To the east you can see as far as Mt Waterman and Twin Peaks.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 34 — And to the west you'll see Mt Harvard and Mt Wilson

When you're done at the summit, head back to the spur junction.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 35 — At the spur, make the left and start heading back to the start on the loop at Chantry Flat.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 36 — The trail winds downhill as you lose about 1000 feet in a mile.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 37 — The views into Santa Anita Canyon are great.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 38 — When you reach the junction by Hogees Camp, make the right.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 39 — After a short uphill stretch you'll reach the junction with the Upper Winter Creek Trail, which might look familiar if you've come down from Mt Wilson toward Chantry Flat in the past. Go straight onto the Upper Winter Creek Trail.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 40 — Here's the sign at the trail junction. We're heading back to Chantry Flat, about 3 miles ahead.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 41 — At the beginning of the Upper Winter Creek Trail, there is some uphill hiking.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 42 — But soon the trail levels off (with some small ups and downs) and winds along the ridge above the canyon.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 43 — Soon you'll hear the screams and Bluetooth speakers at Chantry Flat, which will come into view from the trail when you reach the end.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 44 — The Upper Winter Creek Trail ends at the road. Go straight downhill.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 45 — And look for this little side trail downhill. You can follow the winding road or cut straight down the trail back to the picnic area and parking lot.

Mt Zion Loop Hike From Chantry Flat 46 — When you reach the fence, hop over and head straight down to the parking lot to end the hike.

Need More Info?

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

Related Guides

Mt Wilson Hike From Chantry Flat

Gabrielino Trail (NRT) Guide

Hike Mt Waterman & Twin Peaks

Mt Hillyer Trail Hike

Hike Jones Peak on the Bailey Canyon Trail

Los Angeles Hikes

Angeles National Forest Hikes

LA Mountain Hikes

San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Hiking

Popular Guides

Best Hiking Gear 2024

Hiking Boots or Shoes: Do I Really Need Hiking Boots?

When to Hit SOS on inReach

This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.