Get Outside and Explore
I drove up to Crystal Lake Recreation Area from Hwy-39, parking at the Islip Ridge trailhead. After climbing up to four peaks a year ago, to “The Four Hawkins,” I was back again in a beautiful alpine wilderness, standing deep within a giant granite bowl. But there was one more adjoining peak I had not climbed, Mount Islip, which is included in the Sierra Club’s Hundred Peaks section.
The month of October is one of my favorite times of year to hike. I would hike up to Josephine Peak (5561 feet) in early October with my two hiking buddies. The weather was a bit on the cool side in the morning, and so it would be just about perfect temps for this hike, hovering between 50 and 70 degrees that day. This peak is located within the San Gabriels, a National Monument and mountain range, located northeast of Los Angeles.
I set out on the Arroyo Trabuco Trail, which is a 16 mile long trail along Aliso Creek in Ladera Ranch, CA. The trail terminates at O'neil Park, in Trabuco Canyon, within the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. There are actually two trails, one along each side of the creek. Depending on how high the water level is, there are a few possible spots to cross it, and reach the other side of the trail. The alternative is to cross via the bridge at Crown Valley Parkway, or Oso Parkway.
Serafina Hikes 