Mt Lukens by Haines Canyon Road

Overview: This trip starts at the end of Haines Cyn Ave in Tujunga, parking can be a challenge but as a fall back position you can park at the city property near the intersection with Apperson St.

Proceed through the locked gate POI 1 and past the Debris Basin, which is the site of the now long gone City of Tujunga water department to POI 2 another locked gate. Here you are greeted with a warning sign.

Up the road to POI 3 the junction with Graveyard Truck Trail, I believe this is so named for the now defunct cemetery which was in the news in the 1970's when coffins where washed out into the city during a rain event.

The road above here becomes increasingly rough and less maintained. The road was maintained until recently and was badly damaged in the rains following the 9 (10,& 11)/2009 Station Fire.

POI 4 is Azteca Spur, while it doesn't appear there is an old road grade here at all there is.

This area was once Homesteaded and if you look on the USGS Topo maps the dark shading indicates private property within the national forest. There was a small community named Azteca here until roughly 1934 and was certainly gone by 1938 after severe flooding. There is an old Auto Club city sign over at Bolton Hall Museum if you ever have time to see it on a Sunday afternoon.

POI 5 is the final locked gate but but it certainly isn't needed now as it would be nearly impossible to get even a 4WD ATV up to here unless you flew it in on a helo.

POI 6 is the first view of Cresenta Valley

POI 7 is a saddle, head of Bluegum Cyn, and XC route to the 3rd hairpin turn on this segment of road

POI 8 is the Cooks Cyn Trail AKA Rim of the Valley Trail down to Deukmejian Park. At this time the trail needs work which I'm sure the dedicated volunteers will get to.

POI 9 is a use trail to an old fire fighting cistern labeled "COOKS"

POI 10 is a restored segment of the old Mt Lukens trail to Haines Cyn and the Sister Elsie Trail. This to is in bad shape right now.

POI 11 is PIGPEN spur which takes you to the Stone Canyon trail. It has another cistern labeled "PIGPEN".

From here on up the road is in better shape and in 2/10 mile (POI 12) you'd turn right past another cistern "SISTER ELSE". Another 1/10 mile brings you to the summit of Mt Lukens 5074ft.

On a clear day I've seen Olancha Peak and other points to the north, Telescope Peak? and who knows what else. But there are many wide vistas here.

I've read there was a lookout here until the early 1920's but it was moved to Josephine Peak then because of poor visibility from pollution.

The hiking guide by John Robinson 100 hikes in the San Gabriels says the peak was named after Theodore Lukens the mayor of Pasadena (I'm paraphrasing) I'd thought that odd. I researched it some and he was the president of the city council, sorta like the mayor.

But I believe it was more because he was an early supervisor of the Sierra Madre Mountain Reserve, conservationist, activist, and forestry researcher. Sometimes referred to as the "Father of forestry"

This guide ends here and your return route is reverse of your trip here. In truth there are many options here for loop hikes and one way hikes with hakes back along city streets, or shuttles back to your start on Haines Cyn Ave

Tips: No Adventure Pass is required, but respect the no parking signs and the residents.

This hike like all hikes on the south face of Mt Lukens should be avoided in the hot weather. There is little shade and all day sun.

Bring plenty of water too.