# Silver Moccasin Trail > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Silver_Moccasin_Trail > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Silver_Moccasin_Trail.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Moccasin_Trail > Source revision: 1297901256 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Angeles National Forest, California, U.S. Silver Moccasin Trail View along the Silver Moccasin Trail Length 53 mi (85 km) Location Los Angeles County, California, USA Trailheads Chantry Flat above Arcadia, California Vincent Gap near Wrightwood, California. Use Hiking, Backpacking Highest point Mount Baden-Powell, 9,407 ft (2,867 m) Difficulty Moderate to strenuous Scout trail Scout trail The **Silver Moccasin Trail** is a 53-mile (85 km) trail located in the [San Gabriel Mountains](/source/San_Gabriel_Mountains), northeast of [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles). It begins at [Chantry Flat](/source/Chantry_Flat) Recreation Area above the city of [Arcadia, California](/source/Arcadia%2C_California), traversing upward and down through several canyons and along the high ridges of the [Angeles National Forest](/source/Angeles_National_Forest). This trail connects [Mt. Baden-Powell](/source/Mount_Baden-Powell_(California)), [Mount Burnham](/source/Mount_Burnham), [Throop Peak](/source/Throop_Peak) and Mount Hawkins. It comes to its highest point of 9,399 feet (2,865 m) at Mount Baden-Powell after which point it descends to its terminus at Vincent Gap on the [Angeles Crest Highway](/source/Angeles_Crest_Highway) near [Wrightwood](/source/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](/source/Boy_Scouts_of_America) have placed a monument to their founder, Lord [Robert Baden-Powell](/source/Robert_Baden-Powell).[1] The Silver Moccasin Trail started as a series of Indian trails originally created by the local [Native Americans](/source/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States) (probably [Tongva](/source/Tongva_people)), but its use was continued by Anglo settlers who either hunted or hiked along its route. In 1942, the [Los Angeles Area Council](/source/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.[2] Boy Scouts, especially those who are enrolled in "hiking troops," walk this trail usually as part of a five-day backpack trip. 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 8 miles (13 km) to 10 miles (16 km) in length while reaching the Baden-Powell summit qualify it as a 20-mile (32 km) (flatland) hike due to gains in elevation which are about 5,000 feet (1,500 m). The Baden-Powell portions of the hike are also beneficial for acclimation to altitudes for beginning hikers who may experience mild [altitude sickness](/source/Altitude_sickness) between 8,000 feet (2,400 m) and 9,000 feet (2,700 m). ## Segments 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](/source/Gabrielino_Trail) ... 9 miles (14 km) - West Fork CG to Angeles Crest Hwy via Shortcut Canyon ... 3 miles (4.8 km) - Angeles Crest Hwy to Chilao Flat through Charlton Flat ... 7 miles (11 km) - Chilao Flat to Three Points passes [Horse Flats](/source/Horse_Flats) CG ... 5 miles (8.0 km) - Three Points to Cloudburst Summit via [Pacific Crest Trail](/source/Pacific_Crest_Trail) ... 4 miles (6.4 km) - Cloudburst Summit to Islip Saddle via Pacific Crest Trail ... 11 miles (18 km) - Islip Saddle to Mt Baden-Powell via Pacific Crest Trail ... 10 miles (16 km) - Mt Baden-Powell to Vincent Gap via Pacific Crest Trail ... 4 miles (6.4 km) ## See also - [Gabrielino Trail](/source/Gabrielino_Trail) - [Silver Knapsack Trail](/source/Silver_Knapsack_Trail) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** McKinney, John. ["Mt. Baden-Powell Trail"](http://www.thetrailmaster.com/hikes/southern-california-hikes/san-gabriel-mountains-mt-baden-powell/). *The Trailmaster*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["High Adventure Awards Program"](http://glaac-hat.org/Awards.html#BACKPACKING). GLAAC High Adventure Team. May 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2018. ## External links - ["Silver Moccasin Trail"](https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/angeles/recreation). [USDA](/source/USDA). Browse for information on Recreation Trails and hiking in the Angeles National Forest v t e Hiking trails in California Interstate American Discovery Trail Great Western Loop Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Pacific Crest Trail Tahoe Rim Trail Tahoe–Pyramid Trail Bay Area Alameda Creek Regional Trail Barbary Coast Trail Bay Area Ridge Trail Contra Costa Canal Coyote Creek Trail Guadalupe River Trail Iron Horse Regional Trail John W. Christian Greenbelt Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail Los Gatos Creek Trail Ohlone Greenway Philosopher's Way Richmond Greenway San Francisco Bay Trail Santa Cruz Trail Sawyer Camp Trail Spur Trail Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail Stevens Creek Trail Three Creeks Trail Sierra Nevada Four Mile Trail Hetch Hetchy to Lake Vernon Trail High Sierra Trail Independence Trail John Muir Trail Lower Sagehen Creek Hiking Trail Mist Trail Mount Whitney Trail Sierra High Route Silver Knapsack Trail Tahoe Rim Trail Tahoe–Yosemite Trail Theodore Solomons Trail Trail of 100 Giants Southern California Backbone Trail Cactus to Clouds Trail Gabrielino Trail Lost Palms Oasis Trail Mount Wilson Toll Road Sam Merrill Trail Bradshaw Trail Santa Clara River Trail Silver Moccasin Trail Trans-Catalina Trail Ventura River Parkway Trail Windy Gap Trail Other Bigfoot Trail Brad Freeman Trail California Coastal Trail Hammond Trail Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail Joe Rodota Trail Kortum Trail MacKerricher Coastal Trail Nobles Emigrant Trail Pine Ridge Trail Pinnacle and Shorttail Gulch Coastal Access Trails Prince Greenway [34°18′23″N 118°00′37″W / 34.30639°N 118.01028°W / 34.30639; -118.01028](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Silver_Moccasin_Trail¶ms=34_18_23_N_118_00_37_W_) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Silver Moccasin Trail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Moccasin_Trail) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Moccasin_Trail?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.