"Didn't have a valentine, so I made one of my own. I decided to go up Rattlesnake. Started a 5:30, when I got to the trail, there was a group of 3 people and another 2 boys around my age. We stick together in the darkness on the way up to Rattlesnake. The light came up and I was back to my regular speed. Taking a nice scenic break at the first summit pole, the second half was more intense. This was the first hike where I used poles, and they came in handy. Being the first to summit of the other 5, it was very rewarding to take on a challenging peak. It took me 2 and a half hours to get up to Rattlesnake. Heading back down, came across 7 more people pushing up towards Rattlesnake. The first steep climb up coming back down kept me on my toes not going too fast." — ChristianFlowerstheczywildhikr • Feb 14, 2026

"I started at 5 AM, the first early start in a long time. Then I started hiking up Shoemaker Canyon Trail to get to the use trail to Rattlesnake Peak. Then eventually, I reached the cliff that was the Rattlesnake Peak use trail and then hiked up it. Then I get into the sun and went up a steep trail. Then after about 2K feet of climbing I reached First Peak, the peak before the start of the steep climb. It has amazing views into the valley. Then I climbed up a steep hill and the Rattlesnake Backbone. Then after a while I started seeing views of South Mt Hawkins. Then RAttlesnake appeared ahead. It was a very steep climb up to the top, but I made it. The summit was very worth it though,, it had amazing views, a witness post, 2 signs, a benchmark. Then I descended the steep trail down the side of Rattlesnake and then after a while reached a ridge and then a slide section, perfect for boot-sking. Then after crawling through the bushes, I rwached a steep decline towards a creek bed. Then after spotting a landslide I reached a small spring and a flowing stream. Then I went through both Shoemaker Tunnels and then ended the hike" — lc444 • Jan 10, 2024

"I started this hike with the VHC at 5 AM. Then we started on the road to the Tunnels to Nowhere. Then after a short while we proceeded straight, bypassing the traditional trail up. A little after that, we reached the first tunnel and went through it. One of my friends said Harry Potter was filmed there. The first tunnel was chok-full of graffiti. Then we continued to a second tunnel. The tunnel was short. Then after that the trail turned small, then overgrown. I saw a small water tank (I guess it's from Harry Potter), then after that the trail was no longer overgrown. After that it started steeply climbing towards a clear area. We climbed through the clear area until the yuccas attacked. Then we climbed to the ridge. On the ridge, there was some overgrown parts with occasional clearings. Then we continue on the ridge. There was a cool rock formation (Turtlehead Rock) and some free-for-all scrambles. There was also snow. We built a small snowman together as a group. Then we hiked onward to the peak! Yay!!! The views were awesome and the summit had 2 signs, a register, and a benchmark. Then after that we started descending. It was pretty boring. I would only tell you the highlights. ..." — lcnguyen • Mar 2, 2022

"I Took advantage of a cool weathered Saturday to go after Rattlesnake Peak. I started out early and kept an eye open for the not so obvious trail that leaves the dirt road and begins climbing. I found it after 1.5 miles of easy walking on the dirt road. The steep climb begins quickly and continues to elevate to the nearby high points. The use trail passes through thick brush but is identifiable all the way up the ridge. Several high points get connected by the use trail forming a long ridge climb leading to Rattlesnake Peak. About 5 or 6 high points get reached on the ridge climb, some are much steeper than others. With persistence, I reached the summit in a little bit less than 4 hours. I returned along the same route with painful toe nails due to the steep descent. Surprising, the descent took nearly 3 hours while walking gingerly to avoid hurting my toes." — MikeTeeples • Apr 28, 2018

"I did Rattlesnake as the typical loop from Shoemaker Canyon Rd, ascended the south ridge and descending the east ridge. The south ridge route is straightforward and actually very pleasant. I made my way quickly up to the summit. The east ridge is a much rougher route - overgrown, steep, loose, and ambiguous. I've heard this peak described as "Little Iron," and this side of the mountain earns that title. On the way down, I guess I ripped open my side pocket, because when I got to the tunnel on Shoemaker Canyon Rd. and went to take a picture, I discovered my phone was gone! I guess I ripped the pocket and dropped the phone while bushwhacking through chapparal and/or sliding down steep lose dirt. I was completely prepared to re-climbing the mountain to find my phone, but luckily recovered it in the middle of the trail only a tenth of a mile back. The tunnels on Shoemaker Canyon Rd. are totally sweet and worth a visit. After this, I went to hike Smith Mountain to make a full day in the San Gabriel River Basin." — klotito • Feb 11, 2018

"Great hike today with my friends from Hike Beyond the Hills. We opted to do the loop trail (although there was no trail) today. It was a warm tough day. Going up was as expected having done this before, but the route down was rough. Lots of brush busting, route finding and avoiding Yucca. Which wasn't easy." — Philip-Yoho • Oct 14, 2017

"My solo climb up one of my toughest hikes to date. Rattlesnake Peak did not disappoint. It was billed as the 2nd hardest hike in the San Gabriels and, if it's not, it's pretty damn close. Lot's of off trail and route finding on this out and back hike. It was a hot day. I took 7 litters of water with me and ran out with about a 1/2 mile to go. Temps were about 90 degrees at the summit and 105 degrees when I got back to my car around 1pm." — Philip-Yoho • Aug 19, 2016

"Up and down via HPS route 1. I picked about the perfect day to do this one: good weather, cool breezes, a bit of haze to keep the sun somewhat at bay. (This would be an awful hike for a hot day...super steep and no shade anywhere.) The register at the summit is completely full. If someone's planning a trip up, consider bringing a new one to leave there." — HikerMark • Mar 20, 2016

"My #100 HPS peak (and Mike McCarty's), Sierra Club sponsored hike with 6 or 7 I-rated leaders. 10.3 miles r/t loop hike w/4,150' gain to/from Shoemaker Road gate. Combined HPS Guide routes 1 and 2. Big attendance for this challenging hike! " — BradStemm • Feb 23, 2014

"It's easy to see why this is the 2nd hardest summit in the San Gabs. The firebreak to the summit it relentless. There are multiple demoralizing drops, including one saddle that drops a good 150 feet despite the highpoints on the ridgeline being about 50 feet apart (ie it's crazy steep). That's not to mention a hive of African honey bees (read- Killer bees) in a rock outcropping at the bump around 4700'. While their venom is technically less potent than European honey bees, they defend the hive more aggressively so use caution if heading up. If they swarm get out of there ASAP, without waving your arms or killing any (it releases an alarm signal). I passed within 10 feet of the hive and they left me alone but it's still a word to the wise." — Christopher • Nov 23, 2011