Winston Peak

"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

"This one surprised me. What a nice hike paired with Winston Ridge. Definitely the better part of the San Gabriels. Easy peasy. 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

"I went up the standard way up the use trail from Cloudburst Summit. Winston Peak was the first of 3 peaks this day (Peak 6903 and Winston Ridge to follow). Lovely day to boot, and the scenery was lovely as well. The summit has no register nor benchmark, but has a few rocks to scramble. I then went down the steep north side to the saddle between it and 6903. I hiked cross country to the top of 6903 then down to the saddle between 6903 and Winston Ridge and then the use trail to Winston Ridge. I returned via use trail around 6903 and Winston Peak to a dirt road to my car at Cloudburst Summit. The round trip of Winston Peak itself is about 1 mile with 500' gain. With all 3 peaks and my route, the round trip was about 4.25 miles and about 1100' gain (including about 300' up the dirt road to the trailhead). Its great to be back in the San Gabriels again! Figures below include Winston Peak only." — brianpowell • May 27, 2018

"What a great hike! The first part of the trail is on the PCT and full of shade. Mostly downhill until you reach a dirt road, then it starts heading uphill. Once I reached the saddle, I explored the Bump 6903' then headed to Winston Peak. It is a steep climb from the saddle. I didn't have enough time to explore Winston Ridge. Wonderful views of Palmdale from the top of Winston." — rickb • Feb 16, 2018

"An unused (by vehicles) dirt road gradually climbs from Cloudburst Summit. This is where the hike to the summit begins. Eventually, a well defined use trail leaves the old road bed and elevates to the summit. This was an easy climb, but while encountering hunters with rifles near the top, I quickly deduced that it was hunting season. I had to be wary of imitating a deer the rest of my time out there. It seemed to work. From Winston Peak, I descended its steep northern slope and continued on the Peak 6903 and to Winston Ridge. In capturing all three, I hiked a total of 5 miles. However, for just Winston Peak, the round trip hike is about 1.3 miles with 500' elevation gain." — MikeTeeples • Oct 14, 2017

"Very short, easy hike up use trail from Cloudburst Summit (7,018') on Angeles Crest Hwy. Many big boulders and rocks on the summit area. Lots of Jeffrey Pines enroute as well, so the area smells like vanilla cookies on a sunny day. Elevation gain is about 500' from highway to peak." — brianpowell • Sep 24, 2016

"Easy, open hiking up to the summit. Was originally intended to go down the north ridge to continue on to Winston Ridge, but hard, icy snow sent me over to the east ridge instead." — edg • Feb 13, 2016

"We drove up to Angeles Crest in the late afternoon. Our plan was to do 3 easy peaks Winston, Buckhorn and Mt. Lewis. The hike up Winston was fantastic and very eerie. I love the solitude one finds up here in these non-popular high country hikes. The peak was cool but there were a lot of trees obstructing most the view. A fun route finding detour on the way down and back to the car we go on to the next trail head. Winston is peak #60 of my 100 in 2014 goal. " — 1-with-Nature • Aug 25, 2014