High Desert National Recreation Trail
Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel Mountains, California
- Distance
- 43.7 km
- Elev. gain
- 1,571 m
- Start
- Vincent's Gulch Trailhead
- Finish
- Burkhart Trail
This trail is in 2 separate sections and the breaks between them are real — there is no trail across those gaps. The distance above is the published figure for the whole trail.
About this distance
Far shows the U.S. Forest Service's total for the High Desert National Recreation Trail: 27.1 miles (43.7 km), summed across its four named components — Burkhart #1310W02, Devils Punchbowl #3310W09, Manzanita #339W07 and South Fork #339W02. Three of those four join end to end into one 34.8 km line; the fourth is a separate 8.9 km piece. Both are drawn here as separate lines, covering essentially the whole published distance. The gap between them is real. Water, campsite and summit markers were cleared when the map line was replaced on 2026-08-13, and return when the marker backfill next runs.
Common questions
- How long is the High Desert National Recreation Trail?
- The High Desert National Recreation Trail is 43.7 km (27.2 miles). The trail comes in 2 separate sections with real gaps between them; this is the published figure for the whole trail.
- How much elevation gain does the High Desert National Recreation Trail have?
- The High Desert National Recreation Trail has about 1,571 m (5,154 ft) of total climbing, measured along Far's route for the trail.
- Where does the High Desert National Recreation Trail start and finish?
- The High Desert National Recreation Trail runs between Vincent's Gulch Trailhead and Burkhart Trail.
- Why do other sources list a different distance for the High Desert National Recreation Trail?
- Far shows the U.S. Forest Service's total for the High Desert National Recreation Trail: 27.1 miles (43.7 km), summed across its four named components — Burkhart #1310W02, Devils Punchbowl #3310W09, Manzanita #339W07 and South Fork #339W02. Three of those four join end to end into one 34.8 km line; the fourth is a separate 8.9 km piece. Both are drawn here as separate lines, covering essentially the whole published distance. The gap between them is real. Water, campsite and summit markers were cleared when the map line was replaced on 2026-08-13, and return when the marker backfill next runs.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap35.9 km · 1,638 m gain
Route geometry from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Reviewed by a Far curator on August 11, 2026. Trail conditions, permits, and hazards change — verify before you go.