Even Couch Potatoes Can Enjoy This Mountain

Potato Mountain, which sits above the city of Claremont, offers the hiker great clear-day vistas of the San Gabriel Valley, eastern Los Angeles County and parts of San Bernardino County. The 3,360-foot, russet-brown mountain is a refuge from the busy metropolis and its far-flung suburbs.

Splitting Potato Mountain is attractive Evey Canyon. A little creek bubbles through an oak woodland and a tangle of vines and gooseberries.

Herman Garner saved the canyon from home development and gave it to the Pomona College biology department on condition that it remain pristine. The Herman Garner Biological Preserve is used today for student field research and for hiking. No dogs, fires or picnicking are allowed. A permit from the biology department is required for entry.

The trail through Evey Canyon and up Potato Mountain consists of two fire roads (Evey Motorway and Palmer Motorway on some maps). Generally speaking, the first half of this hike is along a wide, shady road through Evey Canyon, and the second half is a hot ascent up a second fire road to the top of Potato Mountain.

Couch potatoes and the small fry will enjoy strolling through Evey Canyon. More ambitious hikers will head for the mountaintop.

Directions to trail head: From the San Bernardino Freeway (Interstate 10) in Claremont, exit on Indian Hill Boulevard. Head north to Foothill Boulevard and turn right. (Note the entrance to the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden on your left; this is a great place to learn about native plants.)

Turn left on Mills Avenue, which, after reaching the outskirts of Claremont, veers right to become Mt. Baldy Road. Follow this road 2 1/2 miles. Soon after you see San Antonio Dam on your right, you’ll see roadside turnouts on both your right and left. Park in either turnout.

The trail begins on the left (west) side of Mt. Baldy Road. For further reference, there’s a stop sign and a road paddle reading “569” at the trail head. (If you’re driving up Mt. Baldy Road and see signs welcoming you to the Angeles National Forest, you overshot the trail head by a little bit.)

The hike: Squeeze past the locked gate (the canyon is closed to vehicle traffic) and descend into Evey Canyon. After a brief descent, the fire road begins ascending moderately through the oak- and alder-shaded canyon. Beneath the tall trees is a lush understory of grasses and vines.

Two miles of walking takes you out of the canyon to an unsigned junction with another fire road. Evey Motorway descends to the west, but you turn sharply left. Continue a steep half-mile to the top of Potato Mountain.

From the summit are metropolitan views, as well as a panorama ranging from the appallingly ugly San Antonio Dam and flood control basin built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the sparkling peaks of the Angeles National Forest.

Hiking / San Gabriel Mountains Evey Canyon Trail Where: Potato Mountain, Angeles National Forest. Distance: 5 miles round trip; 900-feet elevation gain. Terrain: Foothills of San Gabriel Mountains. Highlights: Lovely Evey Canyon, good views of eastern Los Angeles County from Potato Mountain. Precautions: You could fry on a hot day. For more information: Get the required entry permit by calling the Claremont Colleges, Pomona College biology department, at (714) 621-8000, Ext. 2950