Mt. Wilson Trail (Sierra Madre)
Call before you go: official sources disagree. L.A. County's trails alert lists the Mount Wilson Trail as reopened by the City of Sierra Madre. The Forest Service's Chantry Flat page, however, lists the Sierra Madre section closed below the Upper Winter Creek Trail. The Eaton Fire order does not list the trail as closed; it does close the Mt. Wilson Toll Road on the Altadena side through December 31, 2027. If it's open, parking is free street parking at Mount Wilson Trail Park (189 E Mira Monte Ave, Sierra Madre), and no Adventure Pass is needed.
The facts
- Trail served
- Mt. Wilson Trail from Sierra Madre toward First Water, Orchard Camp and the Mt. Wilson summit — current status disputed between L.A. County and the Forest Service
- Cost / pass
- Free — street parking plus limited spaces inside Mount Wilson Trail Park; no Adventure Pass
- Lot size
- Small park lot at Mount Wilson Trail Park plus free residential street parking on Mira Monte Ave and nearby
- When it fills
- Weekend mornings — the residential street parking gets busy; go early
- Overflow option
- Farther down the residential streets around Mira Monte Ave — obey posted signs
- Tow / citation risk
- Residential Sierra Madre streets are signed and enforced; park legally and don't block driveways
- Restrooms
- Restrooms at Mount Wilson Trail Park
- Road to the lot
- Paved: to Mount Wilson Trail Park at 189 E Mira Monte Ave, Sierra Madre; park open dawn to dusk
- Busy season
- Fall–spring; the lower trail is exposed and hot in summer afternoons
Getting there
Mount Wilson Trail Park, 189 E Mira Monte Ave, Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Get directions →What the official sources say
L.A. County: its Eaton Fire trails alert lists the Mount Wilson Trail under "City of Sierra Madre trail closures" as now reopened, with no section limits.
Forest Service: the Chantry Flat page lists "Sierra Madre section of Mt Wilson Trail closed below Upper Winter Creek Trail."
The Eaton Fire order (05-01-26-04) does not list the Mt. Wilson Trail among its closed trails; the trail forms the closure's eastern edge. The order does close the Mt. Wilson Toll Road below the Mt. Wilson Trail and below Henninger Flats through December 31, 2027.
We can't reconcile these from the published pages, and we're not going to guess. Call Sierra Madre Community Services at (626) 355-5278, or the Sierra Madre Police Department at (626) 355-1414, which the city lists for trail closure information. Post-fire conditions and fire-season rules can also close the trail on short notice.
Parking at Mount Wilson Trail Park
Parking is free: a small lot inside Mount Wilson Trail Park (189 E Mira Monte Ave) has restrooms, with free residential street parking on Mira Monte Avenue and nearby blocks. No Adventure Pass is required.
Close-in street spots fill on weekend mornings. Follow residential signs, do not block driveways, and note that the park is open dawn to dusk. If the trail is closed when you check, Chantry Flat is the nearest open trailhead the Forest Service lists.
Staying near the trailhead?
Compare nearby lodging after checking the access plan; mountain and park entrances can be much farther from a room than the map first suggests.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Mt. Wilson Trail in Sierra Madre open?
Official sources disagree. L.A. County's trails alert lists the Mount Wilson Trail as reopened by the City of Sierra Madre, while the Forest Service's Chantry Flat page lists the Sierra Madre section closed below the Upper Winter Creek Trail. Call Sierra Madre Community Services at (626) 355-5278 before you go.
Where do you park for the Mt. Wilson Trail in Sierra Madre?
At Mount Wilson Trail Park, 189 E Mira Monte Ave — a small free park lot plus free residential street parking nearby. No Adventure Pass is required. Weekend mornings fill up, so arrive early and obey the residential parking signs.
Can you hike to the Mt. Wilson summit from Sierra Madre right now?
Not with confidence. The Eaton Fire order does not list the Mt. Wilson Trail as closed, but the Forest Service's Chantry Flat page lists its Sierra Madre section closed below the Upper Winter Creek Trail. The Altadena-side Toll Road is closed through December 31, 2027. Confirm with Sierra Madre before attempting the summit.
Facts on this page last verified October 17, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.