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** Use at Your Own Risk **
13K |
Goodykoontz Peak |
7558' |
Location: Los Angeles County, about 16 miles north of Glendora, 53 miles from Los Angeles
Maps
| Auto Club | Los Angeles and Vicinity |
| Forest Service | Angeles National Forest |
| USGS Topos | Waterman Mtn, Juniper Hills, Crystal Lake, Valyermo |
| Official HPS Maps | TPO file - Save to your computer then open with National Geographic TOPO! |
| Viewable JPG file - Approximately 1.5 megs | |
| GPX file or Google Earth KML file to download to GPS units and other map software (How to use GPX and KML files) | |
| Routes as shown on CalTopo using the above files (How to use CalTopo) |
Nearby Peaks: Mount Williamson, Pallett Mountain
NOTE CONCERNING ANGELES FOREST CLOSURE ORDER
Goodykoontz Peak is located just north of an area subject to the following closure order:
"In order to protect critical habitat of the mountain yellow-legged frog, the U.S. Forest Service will extend the Williamson Rock temporary closure until December 31, 2008. This is an ongoing closure which limits access to approximately 1,000 acres in the area north of the Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2) in the vicinity of Cooper Canyon and has been in place since December 2005. The new forest order becomes effective Tuesday, January 1, 2008."
Convenient legal access to Goodykoontz Peak is provided by the Burkhart Trail, which is open to the public.
The peak is legally accessible as follows:
(1) from Pallett Mountain by following connecting ridgelines south to the summit;
(2) from Mount Williamson by following connecting ridgelines west and then southwest to the summit;
(3) from the Burkhart Trail by first ascending Bobcat Knob (6709') via its west or northwest ridge, then continuing east for one mile to the summit.
Avoid the south ridge of Bobcat Knob; the Rattlesnake Trail; and all routes that begin from Rattlesnake Canyon.
ROUTE 1 - from South via Climber's Trail
(Route suspended due to Angeles Forest Closure Order. See note above.)
(USFS Adventure Pass may be required)
- Distance: 4 miles round trip
- Gain: 1300' total, 1100' out plus 200' on return
- Time: 3-4 hours round trip
- Rating: Class 1, strenuous
- Navigation: Moderate
- Leader Rating: "I", normal conditions
- Route: Trail and cross-country
DRIVING ROUTE 1
- From the intersection of I-210 and Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2), drive north on Angeles Crest Highway 9.5 miles to Angeles Forest Highway. Keep straight.
- Continue about 4.5 miles to the junction with the Mount Wilson Road at the Red Box Ranger Station. Keep straight.
- Continue 24 miles to a large parking area on the left (north). This is 0.7 mile east of a large shed on the right. Park here.
HIKING ROUTE 1
- The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) leaves from the east end of the parking area (6680'). Look instead for a climbers' trail a bit west of the PCT, that initially descends.
- Follow the climbers' trail down to a scenic wash, then up the other side and eventually around to a steep ridge.
- Ascend the steep, usually open, ridge to the summit.
ROUTE 2 - from Mount Williamson
(USFS Adventure Pass may be required)- Distance: 10 miles between trailheads
- Gain: 4200'
- Time: 6-7 hours (with short car shuttle)
- Rating: Class 1, strenuous
- Navigation: Moderate
- Leader Rating: "I", normal conditions
- Route: Trail and cross-country
Original: Byron Prinzmetal, July 2002
DRIVING ROUTE 2
- From the intersection of I-210 and Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2), drive north on Angeles Crest Highway 9.5 miles to Angeles Forest Highway. Keep straight.
- Continue about 4.5 miles to the junction with the Mount Wilson Road at the Red Box Ranger Station. Keep straight.
- Continue 24 miles to a large parking area on the left (north). This is 0.7 mile east of a large shed on the right. Park here.
HIKING ROUTE 2
- From the east end of the parking area, follow the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) as it switchbacks up the southwest ridge of Mount Williamson.
- After about a mile, at the top of the ridge, the PCT goes southeast to Islip Saddle. At this point, turn northeast and follow the use trail to the crest of the ridge.
- Turn west and go about 1/4 of a mile to the summit of Mount Williamson at 8244'.
- From there continue west along Pleasant View Ridge past bump 8248', descend to the saddle and then up to the next bump at elevation 8160'+.
- At bump 8160'+ find the ridge that starts at the top of this bump at a bearing of 260°. This ridge is not obvious at first and it is imperative that you find the correct ridge.
- Follow the ridge as it gradually curves around toward the south to the summit.
- Return to Burkhorn Campground following Route 3 - From West via Burkhart Trail.
ROUTE 3 - From West via Burkhart Trail
(USFS Adventure Pass may be required)- Distance: 10 miles round trip
- Gain: 3000' total, 2000' out plus 1000' on return
- Time: 5-6 hours round trip
- Rating: Class 1, strenuous
- Navigation: Moderate
- Leader Rating: "I", normal conditions
- Route: Trail and cross-country
Original: Byron Prinzmetal, July 2002
DRIVING ROUTE 3
- From the intersection of I-210 and Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2), drive north on Angeles Crest Highway 33.5 miles to the entrance to Buckhorn Campground on the left. Turn left.
- Proceed down the entrance road and turn left at the next two forks, then follow the signs "Burkhart Trail" to a large parking area.
If the Campground entrance is locked, drive SR 2 another 0.8 mile to the campground exit road, which intersects SR 2 at a sharp angle to the left. Park beside the exit road and hike down through the campground to the signed trailhead. This adds 1 mile and 200' of gain to the round trip.
HIKING ROUTE 3
- From the parking area (6460'), hike north down the Burkhart Trail (10W02) about 2 miles to a junction with the PCT just past Cooper Canyon Falls.
- Turn right (east) on the PCT, crossing Little Rock Creek (5600') in about 0.3 mile, and then proceed 100' farther to a trail junction with the Rattlesnake Trail (signed).
- Turn left to stay on the Burkhart Trail and head north for 1 1/2 miles until the trail meets the northwest ridge of Bobcat Knob (6709'). At this spot the trail begins an obvious descent into the bottom of the large canyon on your left (west).
- Leave the trail here and ascend steeply to the Knob, then follow the main ridgeline east to the summit.
NOTES
A secondary bump 1/4 mile north of the official register location is slightly taller (7560+) than the recognized summit.
This peak was named after Frank Goodykoontz who was the first HPS leader to lead the entire list four times. He also completed the list nine times. In 1986 he received the John Backus Service Award, in 1988 the Chapter's Outings Service award, and in 1999 he received a special HPS Leadership service award which had never been given in the past.
History of Summit Signature
Climbing Archives
Please report any corrections or changes to the Mountain Records Chair.