Route: Brown Mountain Loop (CA)

This lollipop loop is a popular route that starts at the Hahamongna Watershed Park. It is around 15 miles long with about 2,200 ft of elevation gain. The best place to park is at the Oak Grove Disc Golf Course (lower parking lot) at 4550 Oak Grove Dr, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011. 

From there head north to catch the Arroyo Seco Road. There are basically 2 ways on the right of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. When you reach El Prieto Trail after about 1.5 miles, you can do the loop clockwise or counter clockwise. This description is for the counter clockwise option. Make a right on El Prieto Trail. After just 0.2 mile, you can continue on the El Prieto Trail or take the option of the Fern Truck Trail that offers some nice views. Whichever option you take, continue on the Brown Mountain Road all the way to the top. 

Continue straight on the Ken Burton Trail and its switchbacks that end up in the Arroyo Seco. At the bottom make a left on the Gabrielino NRT. Since the riverbed is pretty large there, look for the ribbons that offer the easiest path. After about 0.7 mile in the Arroyo Seco, make sure to look for the tree with the red disc on it at around 10 feet high to go up the trail. If you miss it and continue down the Arroyo Seco you will end on the bad side of the Brown Mountain Dam. 

When you reach the Paul Little Picnic Area there is an intersection with one way that goes to the bottom of the Dam after 0.2 mile. Continue on the Gabrielino NRT with its multiple river crossings until you reach the Arroyo Seco Road. This will be the intersection that is 1.5 miles from the parking lot. Just continue down to where you came from.