Vetter Mountain

Vetter Mountain is a summit in the San Gabriel Mountains within Angeles National Forest, rising to approximately 5,900 feet. Its slopes are covered in pine forests and crossed by multiple hiking trails that offer varying difficulty levels.

The Forest Service built a wooden fire lookout tower at the summit in 1935, operating continuously for decades. This structure was destroyed during a major wildfire in 2009 and has not been replaced since.

From 1955 to 1981, Ramona Merwin and her family staffed the lookout tower, maintaining fire safety protocols and recording observations of the surrounding landscape.

The summit can be reached via multiple hiking trails, with some starting from Charlton Flats or accessible from Angeles Crest Highway. Fall and spring offer the best conditions for hiking, when weather is cooler and visibility is clearest.

The mountain marks a natural transition zone between low scrub chaparral vegetation and conifer forests at higher elevations. This vegetation shift becomes clearly visible as hikers ascend and the landscape gradually transforms along the trails.

Location: California

GPS coordinates: 34.29706,-118.02858

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:23