Hike Mt Lukens From Deukmejian Wilderness Park

10 miles - Hard Effort
5-6 Hours (Total)
2,800 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 5,066 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

The hike to Mt Lukens, the highest point in the city of LA at 5,066 feet, is a fun one that doesn't get as much traffic as other more popular Southern California hikes. It's a tough 10 mile loop with almost 3,000 feet of total ascent, and you're rewarded with great views and pristine wilderness, all within the city of LA.

In this Guide:

Getting to Mt Lukens Trailhead
What to Expect on the Hike
Turn-by-turn Hike Directions
Mt Lukens Hike Maps & Video

Quick Links: Deukmejian Wilderness Park - Weather Forecast - Top Gear Picks (Sep 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

Mt Lukens is the westernmost peak of the San Gabriel Mountains front range. Hiking to the peak gives you a glimpse into the mountainous innards of Angeles National Forest. Looking back to the west you have about 3,000 feet of prominence, with terrific views of LA and the Verdugo Mountains. On a clear day you can see from Catalina to San Gorgonio. The summit has radio towers on it, but who cares, it's still a great hike.

Where is the Mt Lukens Hike?

There are a few trails to the Mt Lukens summit, and this guide covers the most popular loop route from Deukmejian Wilderness Park, which is only 20 minutes from downtown LA (if the traffic gods are on your side).

Use this trailhead address: Deukmejian Wilderness Park, 3429 Markridge Rd, Glendale, CA 91214.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 3 — The park is open 7am to dusk. Some websites list different hours, but I can confirm that every time I've shown up before 7am the gates have been locked.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 1 — If the gates are locked or the parking lot at Deukmejian Wilderness Park is full, there is street parking around the entrance.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 2 — Make sure you time your hike so that you're back before the gates close.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 4 — After passing through the gates, drive up the hill and head right into the parking lot.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 5 — The parking lot is a decent size but does fill up.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 6 — There are water fountains to fill up your bottles and bladders. And bathrooms to empty your bladders.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 7 — There's also a cool little picnic area for a snack after your hike. I got here early when the coyotes were making their rounds on the trash cans.

Gear For the Hike

Although you could get away with doing this hike with fitness gear as many trail runners do, I strongly recommend using proper hiking gear. It's a tough 10 mile hike and you need to be prepared. There's also not a lot of shade so you'll want to be ready for hot temperatures in the summer.

My Latest Gear Picks

Garmin inReach Mini 2 ( Amazon | REI )
HOKA Speedgoat 5 ( Men | Women )
Zpacks Sub-Nero Ultra ( Zpacks | Review )
Alpine Carbon Cork Poles ( REI | Amazon )

As a hiking guide, I test lots of hiking gear. On my picks page, I'll show you all of the gear that I actually use. I don't accept paid promotions or talk about the stuff that doesn't make the cut. It's just the gear that works best, so you don't have to waste your money.

All My September 2023 Top Gear Picks

Mt Lukens Trail Maps

There are several trails and hikes to the top of Mt Lukens and as I mentioned earlier, this guide covers the most popular route which starts in Deukmejian Wilderness Park and makes its way into Angeles National Forest. The hike heads up the Crescenta View Trail, visits the summit, then descends back to the start on the Rim-of-the-Valley Trail.

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

Best Smartphone Apps to Navigate: AllTrails | GaiaGPS | OnX

Mt Lukens Elevation — Yea, it's one of those hikes. You go up, and you come down. One thing I like about this routing is that the descent is a gentler gradient which makes it easier to enjoy the views on the way down.

Mt Lukens 3d Map — The hike goes counter-clockwise up the south side of Dunsmore Canyon, then after a visit to the summit, descends on the north side.

What You Need To Know About the Hike

Muir Lukens — John Muir and Theodore Lukens, two guys who loved big beards.Photo Shirley Sargent.

Mt Lukens is the highest point in the City of Los Angeles. Mt Baldy is the highest point in the County of Los Angeles.
Before it was called Mt Lukens, it was called Sister Else Peak, allegedly named after a Roman Catholic nun who cared for those with smallpox. But no one is really sure who Else was. It was renamed by ranger Donald McLain (an interesting character) who declared that "mountains should be monuments to the men who have treasured and protected them. What did Sister Elsie ever do for the mountains?"
Its current namesake, Theodore Parker Lukens, was a Pasadena mayor and businessman who also had a love for the outdoors. Lukens helped John Muir survey the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite and was a prominent member of the local Sierra Club. At the turn of the century the San Gabriels were showing the signs of abuse by miners, livestock, and loggers. Lukens started a tree nursery at Henninger Flats with mixed success, but was noted as a prominent conservationist and advocate of the mountains around LA.
Deukmejian Wilderness Park, opened in 1989, is named after the former Armenian-American California governor (1983-1991), George Deukmejian.
The park used to be home to one of LA's top wine-producing regions. The large stone building that you see in the parking lot was constructed in 1914 as a barn at the center of George Le Mesnager's vineyard, a French emigrant with an interesting history. There are still vines here, and if you join the Stone Barn Vineyard Conservancy, you get to taste a bottle of the wine as part of your membership.
In 2009 the Station Fire burnt much of the area that you cover on this hike, leaving only the radio towers standing. Although the chaparral has grown back, you can still see evidence of the fire on some sections.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions

Stay in Touch: Monthly Email - New YouTube Videos - Instagram

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 9 — Here's the trailhead as seen from the end of the parking lot.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 10 — Hike up the walled path.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 11 — Go straight through the intersection with the trail sign.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 12 — Keep heading straight on the path through this intersection.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 13 — Soon after the last intersection, you'll see a trail to the right marked the Vineyard Trail. Head down this trail.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 14 — You'll cross Dunsmore Creek, almost always dry but after big rains it can be impassable. If it's been raining, call ahead. Head through the little grove of trees and bench to follow the trail.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 15 — Soon the trail becomes more evident as you gradually climb up Dunsmore Canyon.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 16 — Keep your eyes open for an abandoned playground. It's especially spooky when there's morning fog.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 17 — You'll see radio towers on the peak above. That's Mt Lukens. Only 5 miles of uphill to go! Almost there!

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 18 — At the T-junction, hike right on the Crescenta View Trail.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 19 — Now you start the real work as the trail climbs upward.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 20 — If you have an acute fear of heights, there are some sections along the side, but nothing out o the ordinary for most Southern California hikes in the mountains. This is about as bad as it gets.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 21 — Take breaks and soak in the views of the Verdugo Mountains and the canyons below. Here you can see the Rim-of-the-Valley Trail in the distance across Dunsmore Canyon, which you'll be coming back on.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 22 — Stay right at this little cutoff for a viewpoint. There a few places on the hike that have side trails to vista points.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 23 — If you want to do some backcountry camping there's a little windbreak along the trail about halfway up.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 31 — Some maps have a trail going straight here, and if you use any kind of auto-routing, it will probably have you going straight here. The only problem is that there's not really a trail here, at least anymore. In general you're going to avoid the dead trail and continue up the switchbacks until you reach the firebreak.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 25 — Make the hard right and continue up the switchbacks. Avoid the (overgrown) trail that shows a route straight here on some maps.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 26 — There's a little stone bench after that last switchback to rest on.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 27 — Make sure you cut back on the switchbacks and avoid any trails heading straight.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 28 — You'll get some nice views into Pickens Canyon, the next canyon over from Dunsmore. Stay left on the switchbacks.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 29 — Stay cutting back on the switchbacks, avoiding any trails off to the right (straight)

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 30 — After the switchback section you'll emerge onto Pickens Ridge. The trail follows a firebreak and offers a good place to catch your breath.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 32 — The firebreak turns into a primitive dirt road. Keep hiking straight. Almost there.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 33 — Eventually you reach Mt Lukens Road. Make the left.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 34 — You get spectacular views into Angeles National Forest from Mt Lukens Road here. Notice Angeles Forest Highway and Big Tujunga Canyon Rd below.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 35 — Keep going straight on Mt Lukens Road until you reach the radio towers. Keep your eyes open for mountain bikes.

An update from HikingGuy reader Mark: they are building a new tower on the summit and there's some major construction going on. Be careful of trucks passing and closed areas as the workers do their thing.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 41 — Here's a map of the summit area which can get a little confusing.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 36 — When you reach the complex of towers and buildings, hike straight through the intersection.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 38 — Don't linger too long lest you get irradiated.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 37 — Head behind the fenced in area for the peak marker and views.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 39 — Soak in the views, and look to the NW to see the trail that you'll be descending on shortly.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 40 — The summit marker is embedded in a big rock behind the fenced in area.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 42 — When you've had your fill of the summit, head back down to the intersection where the towers are and make the hard left.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 43 — It can be overgrown here. Just head straight.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 44 — And eventually the trail, Haines Canyon Road, becomes more evident. There are great views to the east into Angels National Forest here.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 45 — Stay straight on Haines Canyon Road and avoid the Old Mt Lukens Trail to the right.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 46 — Avoid side trails to vista points unless you want a peek.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 47 — Keep your eyes open for this post, where you turn off left onto the Rim-of-the-Valley Trail.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 48 — You'll get a nice view of the Rim-of-the-Valley Trail unfolding below. Also note the vista spurs and cutoffs.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 49 — The main trail, while sometimes overgrown, is generally pretty gradual. The cutoffs are generally much steeper and don't follow the GPX.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 50 — Follow the trail down the switchbacks. Some sections can be overgrown, so again, it helps to have a GPX on your device.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 51 — There are some minimal markers on the trail. Just go slow and keep your eyes open.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 52 — Towards the end of the descent you'll come to a shaded area of Cook Canyon. Keep hiking through the shaded area along the stream. Watch out for poison oak.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 53 — After the stream, there's a little uphill section. After the last 9 miles and long descent, it's an ouch moment.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 54 — Almost there. The last section has some twists and turns. Stay straight and avoid the Le Mesnager Loop Trail.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 55 — At the plateau, bear left.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 56 — You'll see the park entrance down to the right.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 57 — Stay straight and avoid any little side trails.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 58 — Continue around a sweeping turn by some picnic benches.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 59 — The trail comes to an end, make the right.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 60 — You'll be on the paved road that you hiked up next to at the beginning of the hike. Head down toward the parking lot.

Mt Lukens Hike Directions 61 — And here you are, back at the parking lot. And that's the hike.

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.

Related Guides

Echo Mountain & Inspiration Point Hike

Mt Baldy Hike

Vital Link Trail to Verdugo Peak Hike

How to Check If There Is Snow On the Trail

Condor Peak Trail

Stone Canyon Trail to Mt Lukens Loop

Baldy Bowl Trail (Ski Hut Trail) to Mt Baldy

Los Angeles Hikes

Angeles National Forest Hikes

LA Mountain Hikes

Sierra Club 100 Peaks

Popular Guides

Backpacking For Beginners: Hiker → Backpacker

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

When to Hit SOS on inReach

Garmin inReach FAQ: The Questions You Forgot to Ask

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!).

Don't Miss Out

Monthly(ish) Email Newsletter - A list of new guides and important info for hikers.
YouTube - Subscribe for new video notifications. The best way to get notified every time a new guide goes up.
Instagram - I occasionally share pretty pictures from my hikes, broadcast live from the trail, and let you know about new guides.