"From Red Box, I took the Strawberry Peak Trail to Strawberry / Lawlor Saddle. From there, a trail gradually goes up the side of Mt Lawlor. Most of the elevation gain for the day happens there. Once on the summit, I continued east on the brushy firebreak to Barley Flats. I took the staircase to the top of the water tank to make the summit climb official. Instead of coming back the same way, I formed a loop by returning on a trail that parallels Angeles Crest Highway before reconnecting with the Strawberry Peak Trail near Red Box. " — MikeTeeples • Nov 13, 2022

"Easy paved road 99% of the way up. Seems like commonly unofficially agreed upon summit point is the 2nd water tank (the higher and less rusty one). Road turns to dirt toward the very end, then you have to go through a tree planting area (please tread carefully!), then a minor scramble up a use trail to the tank. There has been substantial poodle dog brush up toward the top, most of it looks dead now but not all of it, so keep your eyes open. Note on the Barley Flats Road... there is one sign that says No Public Access No Trespassing, and another (smaller) one that says that hiking is OK. I spoke with a Forest Service ranger and he confirmed that they are cool with people hiking up there, just don't block the gate with your parked car." — walterplittle • Jan 14, 2018

"After leaving Winston Ridge, I stopped at Mt Sally. After taking two steps on the trail, I heard two gun shots just ahead. Did I mention yet that it was hunting season in the mountains? Instead of continuing on, I returned to my vehicle and headed off to the next destination, which was Barley Flats. I didn't notice any pickup trucks with gun racks parked near the locked gate, so I began my hike there. The hike follows a paved road to the top of the peak, which has a sheriff's helicopter station on top. This shaded section is off limits to hikers. However, by continuing to the end of the road, there is a high point with a water tank on top. This serves as a suitable high point for Barley Flats. I worked my way up to the water tank and declared my climb a success before returning on the not so exciting paved road back to Angeles Crest Highway." — MikeTeeples • Oct 14, 2017

"Easy Sunday morning road walk to finish out the western San Gabriels. The access to this peak is completely open unlike what is variously reported on line. Saw a fox slightly below the summit." — edg • Jul 23, 2017

"I did an interesting hike-and-bike loop in the Angeles NF. I stashed my road bike on the Angeles Crest at the bottom of the Barley Flats Road (the gate was closed) then jumped in the car and drove to the Colby Canyon TH. From there I set out on foot to Josephine Saddle then up the fire road to Josephine Peak. I then retraced my steps back to the saddle then over to Strawberry Peak, climbing the cl. 3 West Ridge. From there it was a straight-forward but steep hike down than up to Mt. Lawlor. The hardest part of the traverse was the segment between Lawlor and Barley Flats - it was very overgrown, much with Poodle Dog Bush. Not so pleasant. Climbing up to the top of the water tank almost made up for it. From Barley Flats, I briskly walked down the fire road taking in good views east towards Mt. Baldy until I came across my bike locked to the gate as well as some water I had stashed. From here it was a pretty tough 2 mile ride uphill (I'm no cyclist), then an exhilarating 6 miles careening down SR2 back to Colby Canyon TH. I finished the day off with some other peaks I needed int he area - Occidental and Mt. Deception. Barley Flats was the toughest peak of the day due to the r..." — klotito • Jun 4, 2017

"A four-peak (Barley Flats, Mount Lawlor, Strawberry Peak, Josephine Peak) HPS hike led by the Doggetts. Lots of poodle dog bush from the summit of Barley Flats onward. On Barley Flats, the gate to the steps of the water tower was open, so several of us considered that the "summit block" and climbed up." — HikerMark • Aug 23, 2014