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This trail goes from Buckhorn Campground to Devil's Punchbowl over Burkhart Saddle.


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Map Key

12.2

Miles

19.7

KM

77%

Runnable

6,973' 2,125 m

High

4,640' 1,414 m

Low

2,237' 682 m

Up

3,850' 1,174 m

Down

9%

Avg Grade (5°)

28%

Max Grade (16°)

Dogs Leashed

Features River/Creek · Spring · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Adventure Pass required to park at Buckhorn Trailhead.

Need to Know

This trail is part of the High Desert National Recreation Trail.

Description

From the trailhead just north of Buckhorn Campground, follow the trail along the mountainside, descending into Cooper Canyon. The trail merges with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) for a short period before crossing Little Rock Creek and branching off to the north. The trail climbs the canyon wall above a tributary creek which it crosses one last time before heading up to Burkhart Saddle. From there it is a fairly steady downhill for 3 miles (or a steady uphill if you've come from Devil's Punchbowl). From here the trail turns generally east and ascends slightly through scrub in the lower elevations of the San Gabriel Mountains, skirting the northern end of a ridgeline, before running into a fire road. After following the fire road northeast for 1/2 mile, the trail separates and skirts the northern edge of the canyon before ending at the Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area.

Flora & Fauna

Jeffrey, sugar pines, white fir on higher slopes. Oaks and pinyons provide shade on lower slopes and on desert side.

Contacts

Shared By:

RickG Gutz with improvements by Alan Coles

Trail Ratings

  3.6 from 5 votes

#23509

Overall
  3.6 from 5 votes
5 Star
40%
4 Star
20%
3 Star
20%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
20%
Trail Rankings

#2,332

in California

#23,509

Overall
4 Views Last Month
2,374 Since May 21, 2015
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

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Photos

Cooper Canyon Falls in late spring.
Jun 14, 2016 near Wrightwood, CA
Lemon lilies in bloom along Burkhart Trail.
Jul 12, 2022 near Azusa, CA
Cruthers Creek, reliable water
Nov 24, 2022 near Littlerock, CA
Looking down into the creek from the trail
May 21, 2015 near Wrightwood, CA
The climb to Buckhorn Campground
May 21, 2015 near Azusa, CA
Traveling down the Burkhart Trail between Buckhorn Campground and Cooper Canyon.
Jul 1, 2016 near Azusa, CA

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