This is an out and back ride on paved road climbing the North side of Mount Wilson starting at Red Box (Highway 2). The side road to Mount Disappointment is also paved, but unlike the Mount Wilson road is closed to traffic.
On a clear day this ride affords some of the best views in the San Gabriel front range. The climb is constant but a fun downhill. While the road to Mount Wilson sees some traffic on weekends it is quiet on weekdays and early weekend mornings. A caution that there are frequently small rocks scattering the pavement (especially the section to Mount Disappointment)
Getting there
From Highway 2 proceed to Red Box (~14 miles from the 210 freeway exit in La Canada Flintridge) and park in the Red Box parking area. There are restrooms, and picnic tables but no water last time I checked. Note an adventure pass is required for parking in this area. Google directions to start
The Ride
Join the road signed to Mount Wilson and begin the steady climb. After just 0.37 miles you will come to a gated road on the right. As you round a right-hand corner at 1.5 miles you will see the summit to the left. After passing a single tack joining on the left at 3.08 miles, take a sharp right at 3.29 miles and be ready to draft into the lowest gear - this is a short but tough climb. Mount Disappointment is reached at 3.58 miles, after approximately 41 minutes. At almost 6000’ it is slightly higher than Mount Wilson, but does not afford a 360 view (hence the name Disappointment - seriously!) due to other peaks such as San Gabriel Peak, at 6161’. What you will find at the top is a lot of communication equipment and some pretty good views of the San Gabriel valley on clear days.
Descend the way you came and rejoin the road to Mount Wilson at 6.77 miles, bearing right. The gradient to Mount Wilson is a little less steep than to Mount Disappointment, but it’s still a good workout.
At 10.63 miles you reach a divide in the road - it’s a one way system so bear right and follow the road around the towers. At the time this trace was made the Observatory Park was open - a short but pleasant extension to the ride is to continue through the gate on the right at 11.02 miles, to the end of the paved area. Once you leave the park and continue around the one-way road the return retraces the ride up
