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1 summit • 4.7 mi • 938 ft gain • 2 hr 19 min
Latest summits
"Though its only been two years, I felt long overdue in returning to Big John. It had been in my revisit plans for quite some time. The hike passes through a secluded area of the Angeles National Forest and goes through a transition zone before topping out on the peak. Desert views are expansive from the top. The route is not completely straightforward, but I certainly benefited by being there before and making navigation mistakes that I did not repeat this time around. A great afternoon in the mountains! " — MikeTeeples • Nov 13, 2021
"From Big Pines Highway, I turned right on Ball Flats Road and parked next to a building where the road turns to dirt. I followed the dirt road to its end at an overlook (this was a mistake. I actually needed to turn right at a junction shortly before the road ended). From the overlook I followed use trails in the direction of Big John. When the use trails ran out, I went x-country in the direction of a trail that I could see on a nearby ridge (this turned out to be the same road that I failed to take earlier). Once I reached it, the rest of the way to Big John was via this road. The forest slowly started to include Joshua Trees while I came close to reaching the forest boundary. To reach the summit, I left the road and took a steep use trail to the top. After appreciating the mountain and desert views, I stuck to the dirt road on the way back, which was easier to navigate." — MikeTeeples • Aug 18, 2019