Modern Hiker

A very short, relatively unimpressive mountain deep in the central high San Gabriels. Best when hiked in combination with other peaks in the area.

Mount Akawie is a simple, easy, unassuming bump on the map, just about a mile down the road from the much more interesting Winston Peak.

Honestly, there really isn’t much to this peak — just a very short .7 mile ascent up an old, unmapped jeep road to a broad, flat summit. Aside from decent views of Waterman Mountain and a missing USGS Marker, there is nothing particularly remarkable about this mountain. I only recommend hiking this in combination with nearby peaks, either as a warm up or cool down stroll.

The summit of this peak is broad and flat, with plenty of places to stretch out and relax. If you’re looking for a simple, easy hike in the high country and don’t mind driving a long time to get there, then this is the trail for you. But honestly, if I wasn’t in the area and trying to bag 100 peaks for the Sierra Club, I would pass by this peak.

The Basics:

- Distance: 1.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 400 feet
- Time: You could do this in 30 minutes with little trouble
- Trail Condition: Faint. The jeep road to the summit is not on most maps, and has overgrown in many places — but it’s still fairly easy to follow.
- How to Get There: From the 210 in La Canada Flintridge, take the Angeles Crest Highway 33.6 miles. Just past Cloudburst Summit and the Waterman Mountain skilift, park on the north side of the road at a gated dirt path. Display your Adventure Pass.
- Map It!

The Notables:

- Decent views of Waterman Mountain
- An easy peak if you’re hiking the Hundred Peaks List.

More Pictures:

- I didn’t take many, as there weren’t really many good shots … but there are a few on Flickr if you’re interested.

Mount Akawie at EveryTrail
Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging