Strawberry Peak via Colby Canyon

This is a challenge with a weighted pack or without. Bring plenty of water if you’re not out and back before noon, at 80 degrees it’s still hot with little to no shade after the first mile. I went through 3Liters plus two water bottles. After the first 2 miles there’s a concrete structure that’s excellent for shade and food before rock climbing with no shade, except a couple small trees or hiding behind a rock.
Very lightly trafficked, 3 other single hikers the day I went. Out of the 4 of us only 2 went up to strawberry peak, the other 2 made it up the first rock scramble and turned back. The second rock scramble is NOT well marked, which is acceptable going up, but coming back down check the map for your location. I got off in a rock slide area, noticing after I went to step down and one slid out from under my foot. I’m not a fan of heights and was calmly scared since I was alone, but I was able to get over to the trail after checking this app for its location vs mine.
I’m not sure I’d come back to this alone, but having experienced it once the climb should be more manageable. This was my first time in almost a year with a pack on, which caught me off guard with the weight and climbing. Hiking Project by REI classifies the rock scramble as a level 3. Enjoy! Make sure someone knows your location on this one because it’s not an easy 6 Miles.

Has the potential to be very stressful with the poking Yucca plants, lack of shade, significant rock hopping, and scrambling up the West cliff face, Also amazing how you can get turned around, although not lost, and put in a precarious situation so quickly at various point on the trail.

Solutions to the stress are, minimum 3.0 l of water. Wear denim, or mountain pants for Yucca Armor . Keep three points of contact as you travel up rough terrain. Have at least one trekking pole. Use GPS as a hiking guide. Dogs should absolutely wear boots. Keep an eye out for rattlers, although I saw none myself.

I started at 630 am in July, wish I would of started earlier, as the sun can beat down pretty hard on most of the trail.

A very unique trail, fun , w appropriate preparation.

If you are looking for a truly challenging and action packed hike that will test your rock scrambling abilities, this is the hike for you. I specifically did the Colby Canyon to Strawberry Peak (Mountaineer's route) to Strawberry Meadows loop.This took my friend and I about 11 miles and 8 hours to complete, exhausting but such a rewarding journey. This is a hike you need to prepare for if you decide to do the mountaineer' route which has you rock scrambling up and up (class 3 rock scramble) at 2 different portions of the trail. The rock segments have arrows and other markings that help guide you up. It is challenging and very doable as the most of the rocks are solid for footing and grabbing onto. To backtrack, there is a small dusty trailhead for the Colby canyon trailhead. Park here and go in 2 miles, you will be starting off in a creek bed then will be ascending upwards towards this small water tower called Josephine/Strawberry saddle. From this point in order to take the mountaineer's route you take the pathway to the right BUT once you get right on it there is a use trail that you should ascend that climbs quickly. If you feel you are lost here, you are probably on the right path. Keep going for .2 or .3 miles and you will come across the the first rock segment. Super fun and definitely felt a little dangerous at times. After this, you keep going forward to the steep face of Strawberry peak where you will encounter the last rock wall climb and this was is rather steep going up. Follow the arrows and red ribbons for the most doable and safer climb up. Absolutely take your time with your footing and grabbing here. There were moments on this rock scramble that felt pretty nerve racking but you just need to keep going up and you will be fine. Once you get to the peak, take a break and check out the little metal box which has notepads. So once you get up here, you can either go back down or what I did to extend my hike was to follow the pathway to east which goes towards Mount Lawlor and you want to take sharp left to start heading towards Strawberry meadows. This hike is amazing because there are so many layers to it. You find yourself going through a forest area, hiking along several switchbacks, and dodging tons of spanish bayonets.

One of the most difficult short hikes I've done. Definitely great conditioning for longer hikes. Very fun scramble to the actual peak after completing the main part of the trail, but definitely not recommended to those not fond of heights. Bring a lot of water, our group took 5 hours of continuous hiking under essentially no coverage from the sun to reach the peak and back. Recommend early start if going during warmer months.

If you are going to go back down the boulder hopping route, from the top careful and go slow as it is easily to make a wrong turn and end up on the edge of a cliff and a very steep drop. It is easy to get confused when approaching and descending from the top of the peak.

This is a great hike and some fun bouldering stuff to do along the way. Watch out for a sharp left at the actual Colby Canyon...I had a really fun misadventure all the way up that canyon where it becomes really steep and slippery/fragmented.
Gorgeous views all throughout and stunning from the top. Highly recommend!

Colby canyon is an excellent and quite enjoyable hike up to the spur. Then, things take a 180. Be sure to follow the ridge line UP to the east as opposed to following the strawberry spur trail that meanders to the N/NE.
If you enjoy navigating and boulder hopping, you’ll find this section quiet enjoyable. The trail is over grown at times until the class 3 face of strawberry’s West face. Gives a good sense that you’re out there, away from the crowds, getting a good taste of the wild San Gabriel Mountains.
The last class 3 climb to the summit was very fun but I regret one thing: bringing my 2 year old Australian cattle dog. He snagged a nail on one of the rocks on the way up. I would NOT recommend any dogs at this point unless you intend to carry him.
Made our way down with an obligatory facial dunk (and paw soak) in the multiple creek crossings towards the end of the trail. Another great day in the San Gabe’s.

Very beautiful views the whole way and a fun scramble right at the end, worth the effort!

Tough as hell. Lots of rock climbing, but so worth it once at the top.

I think we accidentally ended up on the "mountaineers route" that Carola mentions below--but it seemed like the only route up. The last .25-.5 miles is a steep but fun scramble. Nothing too dangerous, but not for those afraid of heights. Bring bugspray, the bugs were a nuisance.

My GPS put this at closer to 7miles and 3000ft.

Beautiful, but strenuous trail with some scrambling on the mountaineers route. Changing landscape around every corner. You will be surrounded by the high desert and when turning to the shadow site, you will find yourself in a beautiful meadow followed with huge pine trees. Worth every effort!