Vincent Gap Trailhead (Mt. Baden-Powell)
Your Adventure Pass no longer works here. The paved Vincent Gap lot on Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2) is now run by a concessionaire (Mountain High), so it requires a Big Pines Parking Pass — $5 per day or $30 per year — and the National Forest Adventure Pass and America the Beautiful pass are not honored in the lot. You can pay at the self-serve station or buy the pass from Wrightwood vendors. If you'd rather not pay, roadside parking along CA-2 is free — just cross the highway carefully. It's the trailhead for Mt. Baden-Powell (9,406 ft) via the Pacific Crest Trail.
The facts
- Trail served
- Mt. Baden-Powell via the Pacific Crest Trail — ~8–8.4 mi round trip, ~2,750–2,900 ft gain, ~40 switchbacks to a 9,406 ft summit; strenuous
- Cost / pass
- $5/vehicle/day or $30/vehicle/year Big Pines Parking Pass (concession-run lot); Adventure Pass and America the Beautiful pass NOT accepted in the lot; free roadside parking on CA-2
- Lot size
- Large paved lot at the gap, plus roadside pullouts along Angeles Crest Highway
- When it fills
- Weekend mornings in season fill early — arrive before 8am for a peak attempt
- Overflow option
- Free roadside parking along CA-2 near the gap; farther pullouts add a short highway-shoulder walk
- Tow / citation risk
- Moderate in the lot without a valid Big Pines pass; don't block the plowed shoulder or gates
- Restrooms
- Vault toilets and trash cans at the trailhead; no drinking water
- Road to the lot
- Paved Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2), about 5.5 miles west of Wrightwood; the highway is gated and snow-closed in winter — check the CA-2 status before you drive
- Busy season
- Late spring through fall for a dry summit; winter demands traction gear and an open highway
Getting there
Vincent Gap, Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2), Wrightwood, CA 92563
Get directions →The pass rule changed here — bring a Big Pines pass, not an Adventure Pass
For years hikers displayed a National Forest Adventure Pass at Vincent Gap and drove off. That no longer works in the lot. The paved Vincent Gap parking area is now operated by a concessionaire (Mountain High), which charges a separate Big Pines Parking Pass — $5 per vehicle per day or $30 per year. The Forest Service confirms the fee site on its Mt. Baden-Powell trail page, and the concession does not honor the Adventure Pass or the America the Beautiful interagency pass for the lot. Buy the Big Pines pass at the self-serve station on-site or from vendors in Wrightwood before you head up the highway. If you already own an annual America the Beautiful pass, it still gets you into the national parks — but it won't cover this specific lot.
The free workaround: roadside parking on Angeles Crest Highway
If you don't want to pay the concession fee, roadside parking along Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2) near the gap is free and legal where signs allow — this is the standard local move. The catch is a short walk along a mountain-highway shoulder and, often, crossing CA-2 on foot to reach the trailhead, so use daylight, watch for fast traffic on the curves, and don't leave valuables visible. Get there early either way: the free pullouts fill on busy weekends just like the lot does.
What you're parking for: Mt. Baden-Powell
Vincent Gap is the classic north-side start for Mt. Baden-Powell (9,406 ft), one of the San Gabriels' signature summits. The route climbs the Pacific Crest Trail through roughly 40 well-graded switchbacks — about 8 miles round trip with ~2,800 ft of gain. It's strenuous but non-technical in summer; up high near the ancient limber pines it holds snow and ice well into spring, so check conditions and carry traction gear off-season. The highway itself (CA-2) is gated and closed by snow in winter, which decides your season more than the trail does.
Frequently asked questions
Does an Adventure Pass work at the Vincent Gap trailhead?
Not in the lot. The paved Vincent Gap parking area is now concession-run (Mountain High) and requires a Big Pines Parking Pass — $5/day or $30/year. The National Forest Adventure Pass and America the Beautiful pass are no longer honored in the lot. Free roadside parking along CA-2 is the alternative.
How much does it cost to park at Vincent Gap?
$5 per vehicle per day or $30 per vehicle per year for the Big Pines Parking Pass, paid at the self-serve station or bought from Wrightwood vendors. Roadside parking along Angeles Crest Highway is free where signs allow.
Can you park for free to hike Mt. Baden-Powell?
Yes — you can park for free along Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2) near the gap where parking is allowed, then walk in (often crossing the highway on foot). Only the paved concession lot charges the $5/day Big Pines fee.
Is the road to Vincent Gap open in winter?
Not reliably. Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2) is gated and closed by snow in winter near the gap. Check the CA-2 status before driving; the highway closure, not the trail, usually decides whether you can get there.
Facts on this page last verified August 2, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.