"Kicking off the fourth chapter with a one of a kind unique route. Started below from Josephine Gap and made it to the peak. Ran back down approaching to Daniel's. Wrapped around Strawberry by Colby Canyon Trail. Well shaded and got a nice back view of Strawberry reminding me of when I walked past Corte Madera coming from the left side. Enjoyed a nice break at the Strawberry Junction before the real deal starts. Made my way to Lawlor Saddle where the 4 points meet, I'm going to all of them. Lawlor was more of an extra credit flex peak that put me in preparation for Strawberry. With Lawlor down, I slowed even more going up Strawberry. Almost the same as Smith Mountain with nasty rock steps but the more popular of the 2. All 4 peaks down, rushed back to Red Box Gap, going on the Gabrielino Trail for a brief moment, making 2 rights before the u turn with the running creek bridge back on the road enjoying the breeze." — ChristianFlowerstheczywildhikr • Apr 18, 2026

"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

"What a climb. Decided on a short hike (~2hr), so strawberry was out, but I've wanted to climb Mt. Lawlor for a while. The approach from the direction of red box is bulldozed from the bobcat fire in 2020 and was the most direct route for my purpose. Took the strawberry peak trail until it intersects the fire break and headed up. It is steep with lots of loose dirt and rocks, and with hiking shoes, it proved challenging to get a footing, especially starting about 2/3rds of the way to the summit. On the way down I ended up sitting on my butt a few times (versus rolling down the mountain) and sent at least two rocks rolling more or less all the way down (there isn't much to stop them now if you step on them and they get dislodged). Enjoyed the hike, but I think I'll take the easier route from strawberry saddle next time I decide to climb Mt. Lawlor." — stevemieskoski • May 21, 2021

"Started from Red Box and reached Strawberry Peak just fine. But on the way back we decided to give that ridiculously steep use trail along the old cable route up to Mt Lawlor a try. It was not pleasant but we kept going and eventually got there. Then we had to go back down it. Though regretful in the moment, was still pretty fun." — jodola • Mar 6, 2021

"This day, 11/24/19, was the day to finally up the ante in my post-accident hiking I wanted to up the challenge factor as I have not hiked more than a 6 mile hike with 1,300' gain since before my June 9th hiking fall near Mt. Wilson. I decided to try at least Peak 5166 and Lawlor and leave Strawberry Peak as a possibility. I parked at Red Box, crossed Angeles Crest, and picked up Barley Flats Road, which at first also is the same path as the Strawberry Peak Trail until after 1/3 mile, the old road continues straight and becomes overgrown, and the Strawberry Peak trail curls left and heads more uphill. I then found the saddle between Mt. Lawlor and Peak 5166, turned left onto the firebreak which crosses the Strawberry Peak Trail (SPT). The firebreak is partially overgrown, so some wading through thorny ceanothus and spiky yucca is inevitable. Then, after a short while, the firebreak steepens and is more conspicuous. It is a short hike to the top of 5166, but there is one small false summit very shortly before the true summit. In a couple of spots, there is a cable running through the firebreak, so watch that you don't trip on it. The summit has a wooden pole, and 2 tiny rock..." — brianpowell • Nov 24, 2019

"This was a cold, misty day and the Ceanothus were blooming. I couldn't see the summit from below as it was covered in the clouds. I reached the summit and signed the register. I went down the steep trail from the summit. It was steep with a lot of loose footing. Be careful heading down this way." — rickb • May 1, 2018

"On this hike, I was more excited to get started rather than being prepared. After one mile into the hike, I decided to check on my water, only to find that I had just a half bottle. "No problem" I thought, since I don't usually guzzle a lot of water anyway. This seemed fine until I went up the fairly discernible use trail after leaving the Strawberry-Lawlor Saddle. Some of it involved scrambling and climbing over large rocks, but nothing too extreme. Most of the elevation gain occurs on the climb from the saddle as well. Since I am still trying to work myself back into shape, I took seated breaks on the way up. I had to sit sheepishly as a pair of good conditioned female hikers blew past me, while not even pausing in their conversation. By the time I gathered up the energy, I reached the summit with barely any water in my bottle. Meanwhile, the other hikers continued down the trail-less steep face of the mountain (which looked almost straight down to me). I admire that quality in a hiker, I just don't exemplify it!. So when it was my turn to depart from the summit, I simply went back the way I came, while nursing my water resources. Needless to say I was well dehydrated in the end ..." — MikeTeeples • Aug 5, 2017

"Went up the traditional route (along the trail to the Strawberry-Lawlor Saddle, then up the use trail to the summit). There were a couple of slightly technical rocky parts toward the summit but nothing too complicated especially if you have good trekking poles. For the descent, I dubiously decided to take the firebreak down the south face. It's doable (obviously, because I did it...) but it is *really* steep, has a *lot* of scree (there were parts where sliding, carefully, was the only option), and Spanish Bayonet everywhere. There are parts where getting stabbed by those bayonets is unavoidable, you just have to try to minimize it. Also, watch out for the telephone cable that is exposed for part of the trail, last thing you want is to have successfully negotiated the scree but trip on wire! It does take a good amount of the distance off the hike, and I enjoyed the challenge." — walterplittle • Jul 15, 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." — klotito • Jun 4, 2017

"My buddy and I Started from the 2 on the Strawberry Peak Trail which was very nice on a gorgeous morning. We then cut off the trail early to go straight up the south slope of the mountain rather then the north west slope that people usually take up. It was a tough precarious climb in spots but it was fun and we eventually made the summit. #69 of my 100 in 2014 Goal. From here we headed down the North west side which was very fun and then went up Strawberry Peak." — 1-with-Nature • Sep 22, 2014