Burkhart Trail #10W02

Dogs Leashed

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

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

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.

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