Trail Details: High Desert Trail |
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| Length | 27 miles / 43.45 Km Loop? Yes | ||
Description |
The High Desert Trail is a continuous network incorporating several trails including the Burhhart Trail, Devil's Punchbowl Trail, Manzanita Trail and Southfork Trail. The High Desert Trail system joins the San Gabriel Mountains with the Mojave Desert, and combined with the Pacific Crest Trail crossing the Angeles Crest, it forms two small loops or one large loop. The trail affords the PCT traveler a "high desert experience" alternative. The trail navigates steep-sided canyon walls with exposed granite masses and gravel screen slopes as it parallels and crosses creek beds. |
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Type |
Backcountry |
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Uses |
Bicycling - any
Bicycling - Mountain
Camping
Camping - Backpacking
Dogs - Mushing
Dogs - On leash
Equestrian - riding
Equestrian - pack trips
Equestrian - other stock
Fishing
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Swimming
Swimming - Diving/snorkeling
Wildlife observation - Birds
Wildlife observation - Mammals |
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Elevation |
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Visitor Information |
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State |
CA County: Los Angeles |
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Directions |
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Facilities |
Bench(es)
Camping area(s)
Corral(s)/Hitching rail(s)
Parking
Parking, trailer
Picnic area(s)
Restroom(s)
Sign(s), directional
Telephone(s)
Trail access information
Trail intersection(s)
Trailhead(s)
Trash disposal
Vistor center(s)
Water, non-potable
Water, potable
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| Features | Climbing area(s) Creek(s) Geological feature(s) Mountain peak(s) Scenic viewpoint(s) Valley(s)/canyon(s) | |
| Fees | ||
| Date and Time Open | 1/1 to 12/31 0:00:00 to 24:00:00 |
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Contact Information |
Trail management | Diane McCombs Angeles National Forest 30800 Bouquet Canyon Rd. Saugus, CA 91390 (661) 296-9710 dhmccomb@fs.fed.us |
Additional Information |
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Trail Surface |
Primary: Grass or vegetation Average Width: 24 inches Minimum Width: 12 inches |
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Trail Grade |
Average: 5% Maximum: 9% |
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Date Designated |
3/4/1981 |
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Date Updated |
4/16/2004 |
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Other Designations |
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Notes |
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Trail Design and Construction |
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Connection with other Trails |
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Partnership and Support |
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| Natural, Cultural or Historical Resources | The pinyon-juniper woodland in the desert foothills falls within the Upper Sonoran Life Zone while the Transition Life Zone holds the conifer forest. As the trail continues down the mountains, the plants of the Sonoran Life Zone appear. The trail network then descends onto chaparral foothills and continues through them below the timber line. The Devil’s Punchbowl is one of the most spectacular displays of nature along the trail. It is also the richest in geological history. The punchbowl is a deep canyon-like depression composed of thick, tilted slabs of rock. This rock has been compressed, folded, broken, faulted and uplifted buy movements along the San Andreas Fault Zone. Sediment deposits are 13 to 60 million years old. Fossil remains of ancient animals are numerous. There is evidence that several Indian tribes have occupied the area; some pictographs exist on private land in the Big Rock drainage and permanent mortars are imbedded in the large stones at Buckhorn Campground. | ||
| Miscellaneous and Additional Notes | |||
Warning:
Some of the data in this
record may be outdated or incomplete.
American Trails is working to update the data. In the meantime, please contact the trail management agency for current information.
Do you see a problem with this trail data? Contact either the trail manager (listed above) or email trailhead@americantrails.org.
