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.

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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

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

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Video Directions

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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.