{{short description|Angeles National Forest, California, U.S.}} {{Use American English|date=April 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox hiking trail |name=Silver Moccasin Trail |photo=Silver Moccasin.jpg |caption=View along the Silver Moccasin Trail |length_mi=53 |location= [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]], [[California|California, USA]] |trailheads=[[Chantry Flat]] above [[Arcadia, California]]<br>[[Vincent Gap]] near [[Wrightwood, California]]. |use=Hiking, Backpacking |difficulty=Moderate to strenuous |highest_name=[[Mount Baden-Powell (California)|Mount Baden-Powell]] |highest_ft=9407 | map = File:Scout trail usgs.jpg | map_name = Scout trail | map_caption = Scout trail | map_size = | map_alt =Topo Map of the trail }} The '''Silver Moccasin Trail''' is a {{convert|53|mi|km|adj=on}} trail located in the [[San Gabriel Mountains]], northeast of [[Los Angeles]]. It begins at [[Chantry Flat]] Recreation Area above the city of [[Arcadia, California]], traversing upward and down through several canyons and along the high ridges of the [[Angeles National Forest]]. This trail connects [[Mount Baden-Powell (California)|Mt. Baden-Powell]], [[Mount Burnham]], [[Throop Peak]] and Mount Hawkins. It comes to its highest point of {{convert|9399|ft|m}} at Mount Baden-Powell after which point it descends to its terminus at Vincent Gap on the [[Angeles Crest Highway]] near [[Wrightwood]].
==Background== The landscape of the Silver Moccasin Trail varies from lowland chaparral slopes, to oak-lined canyons, to the fir and pine forests of Mt. Baden-Powell, where several Southern California councils of the [[Boy Scouts of America]] have placed a monument to their founder, Lord [[Robert Baden-Powell]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thetrailmaster.com/hikes/southern-california-hikes/san-gabriel-mountains-mt-baden-powell/|title=Mt. Baden-Powell Trail|website=The Trailmaster | first = John | last = McKinney}}</ref>
The Silver Moccasin Trail started as a series of Indian trails originally created by the local [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] (probably [[Tongva people|Tongva]]), but its use was continued by Anglo settlers who either hunted or hiked along its route. In 1942, the [[Los Angeles Area Council]] of Boy Scouts established a designated route as the Silver Moccasin Trail, and any Scouts who complete the hike, usually involving several days travel, are qualified to receive the Silver Moccasins Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://glaac-hat.org/Awards.html#BACKPACKING |title=High Adventure Awards Program |date=May 2017 |publisher= GLAAC High Adventure Team |access-date=2018-08-26}}</ref> Boy Scouts, especially those who are enrolled in "hiking troops," walk this trail usually as part of a five-day backpack trip. [[File:Silver Moccasins Trail Award patch.png|thumb|Silver Moccasins Trail Award]]
The LA Area Council, BSA map that was printed before 1953 (has the name "Flores" in the corner) showed a 60 mile route. It started at the end of the Pacific Electric rail line At Grand View Avenue (6 miles from Chantry Flat). The trail ended at Camp Pepperdine (elevation 6150 ft elevation) near Jackson Lake. The map identifies the six USGS topographic maps for the trail (Sierra Madre, Mt. Wilson, Alder Creek, Waterman Mtn, Crystal Lake, and Mt Baden Powell Quadrangles). The map showed the Mt Baden Powell summit as a short side trip off the main trail.
Alternate starting points, or trailheads, have been established for the SMT more than likely due to overuse or overcrowding at Chantry Flat, which has somewhat reduced the adventuresome attractiveness of the younger, less-traveled version. However, sections of the trail which are only {{convert|8|mi|km}} to {{convert|10|mi|km}} in length while reaching the Baden-Powell summit qualify it as a {{convert|20|mi|km|adj=on}} (flatland) hike due to gains in elevation which are about {{convert|5000|ft|m}}. The Baden-Powell portions of the hike are also beneficial for acclimation to altitudes for beginning hikers who may experience mild [[altitude sickness]] between {{convert|8000|ft|m}} and {{convert|9000|ft|m}}.
==Segments== [[File:BadenPowellMemorial 8433.JPG|thumb|Baden Powell Memorial]] The following segments are listed from the Chantry Flats starting point to the Vincent Gap terminus and show "via routes" and the one-way mileage: * Chantry Flat to West Fork CG via [[Gabrielino Trail]] ... {{convert|9|mi|km}} * West Fork CG to Angeles Crest Hwy via Shortcut Canyon ... {{convert|3|mi|km}} * Angeles Crest Hwy to Chilao Flat through Charlton Flat ... {{convert|7|mi|km}} * Chilao Flat to Three Points passes [[Horse Flats]] CG ... {{convert|5|mi|km}} * Three Points to Cloudburst Summit via [[Pacific Crest Trail]] ... {{convert|4|mi|km}} * Cloudburst Summit to Islip Saddle via Pacific Crest Trail ... {{convert|11|mi|km}} * Islip Saddle to Mt Baden-Powell via Pacific Crest Trail ... {{convert|10|mi|km}} * Mt Baden-Powell to Vincent Gap via Pacific Crest Trail ... {{convert|4|mi|km}}
==See also== * [[Gabrielino Trail]] * [[Silver Knapsack Trail]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite web| url = http://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/angeles/recreation | title =Silver Moccasin Trail |quote = Browse for information on Recreation Trails and hiking in the Angeles National Forest | publisher = [[USDA]]}}
{{California hiking trails}} {{authority control}}
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[[Category:National Recreation Trails in California]] [[Category:Angeles National Forest]] [[Category:San Gabriel Mountains]] [[Category:San Gabriel Mountains National Monument]] [[Category:Protected areas of Los Angeles County, California]] [[Category:Scouting monuments and memorials]] [[Category:Arcadia, California]] [[Category:Wrightwood, California]]