Hello fellow hikers! Welcome to my article on Strawberry Peak Trail. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and as a kid I was never active in sports and didn’t have much outdoor experiences like hiking or camping. But then in my 30’s I was introduced to national parks, car camping and hiking and I fell in love with camping at various amazing places in California.
I actually only started to get into hiking this year. I couldn’t camp as much due to the pandemic, and so hiking was the next best thing. Taking hikes challenged me both physically and mentally – plus the views were all amazing. I have lived in Los Angeles for my entire life and it was only until recently that I discovered all the cool hiking trails here in my backyard.
My Experience Hiking up Strawberry Peak
As I started my hiking journey, I tested my fitness levels on easy hikes first. Then as I got more advanced doing two or three hikes a week, I looked for bigger challenges. I follow many peers with the same interests and Strawberry Peak became a goal of mine after being inspired by my peers.
Strawberry Peak is not an easy hike as it’s around eight miles in distance. I took the challenge of hiking up this peak in March, 2021 and the weather was ideal: still a bit cool in the 50’s – 60’s with a slight breeze. There is not much shade on this trail, so it would be quite difficult to do on a hot day.
I utilized the AllTrails app for his hike, which as you know has amazing details of not just Strawberry Peak but many other trails. I started at the Red Box Canyon parking lot in the Angeles National Forest. It’s an out-and-back trail and so you end at the same starting point. The hike took about five hours in total and the view at the top made it well worth the effort!
The terrain along the way was a mix of loose and packed dirt with a few rocky areas. There were some shaded areas within the trees and mountain cliffside, and some fully exposed areas to the sun. Strawberry Peak Trail has many amazing views of the valley along the trail all the way to the top.
How Challenging is the Strawberry Peak Trail?
This hike is challenging – the incline on the last two miles is intense. However, if you take your time and have multiple breaks, I would say a casual hiker could complete it. I saw many people with different hiking abilities at the peak and it was great to see everyone make it to the top.
A small portion of the hike knocked the wind out of me and made it a bit unbearable to continue, but once you take a breather and push through – it’s all worth it. I would cautiously recommend this hike to everyone. The view at the top is breathtaking but the journey to get there is a challenge.
Need to Know Before you Go
Always pack your trash out. I suggest bringing strawberries and snacks to enjoy at the summit since you hiked all the way there! However, whatever you bring in, please bring it out with you. It’s vital to keep the trail clean.
Bring a lot of water and plan the trip early. It gets very hot near the summit, especially with no shade for the last two miles. It took me over five hours there and back with breaks along the way. Also, the parking lot requires an Adventure Pass ($5) that can be purchased at the local 7-Eleven. Overall this hike was amazing and I recommend it to both locals and visitors alike!
