Potato Mountain Hike (Angeles National Forest)

In This Guide	Turn by Turn Directions and Video for Potato Mountain Directions to the Potato Mountain Trailhead Everything You Need To Know To Do the Hike
Total Distance	4.5 miles (7.2 km)
Hike Time	2 Hours (Total)
Difficulty (?)	Moderate
Total Ascent (?)	1,270 feet (387m)
Highest Elevation	3,422 feet (1043m)
Fees & Permits	None
Dogs Allowed	Leashed
Alerts & Closures (?)	Angeles National Forest
Park Phone	626-574-1613

For a quick mountain fix without driving into the mountains, try the Potato Mountain hike, right at the beginning of Angeles National Forest. It’s a moderate climb through some beautiful oak forests. The hike ends at the Potato Mountain summit, which offers views of the high peaks in Angeles NF, including Mt Baldy. And of course, there are the potatoes that everyone decorates and brings to the summit. It’s a fun hike that especially great for beginners who want to train or get a taste for the bigger mountain peaks.

How Do I Get to Potato Mountain?

The trailhead for Potato Mountain is unmarked along the side of Mt Baldy Road. It’s about 0.7 miles after you pass the last housing development on Mt Baldy Road. After the housing development, about 0.5 miles up the road, you’ll pass a huge dirt area on your right. Shortly after that (0.2 miles) you’ll see another area with parking on either side of the road, which is the trailhead. There are usually cars parked there.

Potato Mountain Trailhead Location — You can see that the trailhead is just up the road from the big dirt area on the bottom of the map here.

Use this address:
Potato Mountain Trailhead, Claremont, CA 91711

Potato Mountain Hike Directions 2 — There’s parking on the side of the road. If you can’t park here, go back to the huge dirt area before the lot and walk the 0.2 miles back up to the trailhead.

You don’t need a parking pass here. There are no bathrooms anywhere on the hike.

Gear for the Hike

The trail is wide (a fire road) and easy to follow. Light hiking gear is ideal, but you can get away with fitness clothes too. Trekking poles will be helpful on the steep sections. In the summer it can get really hot, bring at least 1L of water.

The La Sportiva Spire boots feel like comfortable sneakers but offer the protection of hiking boots. They’re great on everything from short hikes to longer hikes of 10+ miles. You don’t want to skimp on your feet.
Reviews & Lowest Prices: Women – Men

I test a lot of gear, and for short to medium day hikes, travel, and everyday use, the Osprey Stratos (men) and Osprey Sirrus (women) are consistently the best. They’re lightweight, hold a hydration bladder to make drinking water easy, have lots of pockets to organize gear, and most importantly, are incredibly comfortable. Check out the reviews; they are impressive.
Reviews & Colors Here: Osprey Stratos (men) and Osprey Sirrus (women)

If you’re not familiar with the Garmin InReach technology, it allows you to send and receive text messages where you don’t have cell phone signals. You can also get weather reports and trigger an SOS to emergency responders. Even if you don’t have an emergency, sending a quick message telling a loved one that you’re okay or are running late is well worth the cost. The Mini fits in your palm and weighs next to nothing. Read my review and see the lowest prices and reviews at REI (or Amazon).

Here’s my complete gear list that I personally use, have tested, and recommend, updated September 2020.

My September 2020 Top Gear Picks

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 offset website expenses. There is no cost to you.

Potato Mountain Trail Maps

There are a few ways to climb Potato Mountain, and this route describes the most popular route from Evey Canyon.

Download the Hike GPX File View a Printable PDF Hike Map

Your best move to navigate this hike is to take a paper map, compass, and a GPS device. Load the GPX track from this hike onto your GPS to ensure that you’re on the trail. I’m a big fan of GPS watches; I just glance down at it to cross-check my position and use paper when I want a deeper dive. The GPS watch that I’m using now is the Fenix 6 Pro Solar (price: REI or Amazon). It’s pricey but has a great battery, accurate GPS, and tons of other wellness, fitness, and smart-watch applications. For a more affordable option, check out the value-packed Garmin Instinct (price: REI or Amazon), a similar watch without some of the features. There are also great smartphone GPS apps like GaiaGPS. If you end up getting GaiaGPS premium, I’ve arranged for a 20-40% discount for my readers.

Elevation Profile

Potato Mountain Elevation — Aside from a small dip or two, you basically just climb uphill about 500 feet each mile. It’s a long, gradual climb that’s challenging but not harsh.

3D Map

Potato Mountain Hike Directions

It’s easy to say thank you! Support these free hiking guides by buying anything at Amazon or REI using the links below. There is no cost to you.

Buy Anything on Amazon Buy Anything on REI.com Donate with PayPal

Video Directions

Watch This Video In 360/VR Why 360/VR Is Great

Turn By Turn Directions

Potato Mountain Hike Directions 3 — The trail starts in the southwest corner of the parking lot area, hidden down a small hill.

Potato Mountain Hike Directions 4 — Look for the yellow gate that marks the beginning of the hike. Head through the gate.

Potato Mountain Hike Directions 5 — You’re treated to a slight downhill at the start as you hike through an oak wonderland.

Potato Mountain Hike Directions 6 — But after a short stretch the trail starts to climb and then keeps on climbing.

Potato Mountain Hike Directions 1 — You might here the creek flowing as you climb. There are some steep viewpoints to your right where you can see the shady canyon and babbling brook.

Potato Mountain Hike Directions 7 — After about a mile the oak trees will thin out as you gain in elevation and continue climbing.

Potato Mountain Hike Directions 8 — And at 1.4 miles you’ll see the turn up to the summit. Make the sharp left here.

Potato Mountain Hike Directions 9 — At the sharp left continue up the trail to Potato Mountain.

The trails you are on are part of a few park areas. Overall you’re in Angeles National forest, but you are also in Claremont Hills Wilderness Park and the (ex) Herman Garner Biological Preserve. This area was saved from development by Herman Garner, who donated it to the Pomona College biology department on condition that it remain pristine wilderness. In 2017 the college gifted it to Claremont Hills Wilderness Park.