Winston Ridge

"My second go around for visiting Winston Ridge. This time around, it was more peaceful, since it wasn't hunting season. I started out by going up Winston Peak, then descending its steep north slope. The recent fire damage cleared out much of the underbrush, so to reach the summit of Peak 6903, I just hiked up its brush free south facing slope. I continued on to Winston Ridge before wrapping it up with a visit to Peak 6850. Actually, Peak 6850 was the true focus of hike for me, because it was the only peak in the chain that I did not visit previously." — MikeTeeples • Apr 24, 2022

"Finally! after the nonsense of 2020, I finally was able to get back on the area hiking trails (only having been opened up a few weeks ago). Rainy and foggy coming up from LA, but above the fog layer, sunny, but pretty windy. So good hike hitting the 4 peaks and (re)building the leg strength after a lengthy hiatus." — marc • Jun 28, 2020

"I'm a fan of this peak now. Might even put it on a short list for San Gabriel peaks. It commands in incredible view north and west through the region from a friendly, rounded boulder summit. Part of a sweep of some HPS peaks I needed in the area: Hillyer, Winston Peak, Winston Ridge, Mount Akawie, and Kratka Ridge." — JustinB • Jun 27, 2018

"Third peak of a 3 peak day. I previously hiked up from Cloudburst Summit on Angeles Crest Hwy to Winston Peak. I then hiked down the super steep slope from Winston Peak to the saddle between it and Peak 6903. I hiked cross country up to 6903 and then down its backside to the saddle between 6903 and Winston Ridge then picked up the use trail up Winston Ridge. It was a nice short but rugged hike over 3 peaks. I returned by hiking around the east side of 6903 and Winston Peak to a dirt road and followed it back to Cloudburst. The entire hike was about 4.25 miles with 1,100 overall gain (with about 300' of it up the dirt road to Cloudburst. The area is serene and peaceful with some awesome vistas to Pleasant View Ridge and other locales of the San Gabriels. There are also some great views of the Mojave Desert." — brianpowell • May 27, 2018

"The third of three peaks visited on the hike. I reach the summit of Winston Peak and Peak 6903 first, then elevated to Winston Ridge. I signed the register on top of Winston Ridge (without finding one on the other two peaks). This is a nice secluded summit with great views of the surrounding high country. On the return to the saddle, i followed a use trail to the north of Peak 6903 and picked up the Pacific Crest Trail. I took the PCT back toward Cloudburst Summit. Along the way the PCT crossed a dirt road. Little did I know at that time, but a right turn on the dirt road would quickly return to Cloudburst Summit. Instead, the PCT meandered its way back, adding some additional mileage through some scenic sections of the forest. I didn't mind this little bit of a diversion at all." — MikeTeeples • Oct 14, 2017

"This turned out to be a bit harder than I anticipated. After descending the east ridge of Winston Peak, I contoured around to the saddle south of 6903. HPS guide recommended the north use trail, so I went that way. One very sketchy snow chute almost all the way to the north saddle forced me to don the crampons yet again for a 50 foot traverse. On the way back I just went directly over 6903. Not that much more climbing for way less sidehilling and sketchy traverses. Gotta love north facing aspects." — edg • Feb 13, 2016

"Hiked 12/28/2013 with some snow on the shady parts of the trail. We spent some time looking, but we could not locate the register shown in the pictures by klotito, Oct. 6, 2011." — thesearcherextraordinaire • Dec 28, 2013

"From Cloudburst Summit(7,020') at Hwy 2 mile-marker 57.15, took road NE then road near PCT crossing NW to Point 6903 (bagged it), then NW along roller coaster ridge line to HP. " — BradStemm • Sep 29, 2012

"The 60mph gusts were the worst on Winston Ridge, although pretty bad on the upper east face of Winston Peak as well. For some reason most of the snow was gone from Winston Ridge despite it being at similar elevations on other nearby peaks." — Christopher • Dec 16, 2011