Prairie Fork

Prairie Fork is a 4.9-mile out-and-back hike in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Ranger District of Angeles National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises from about 4,450 feet to about 5,340 feet, a climb of 878 feet one way, and is rated moderate. The route is natural-surfaced and open to both horses and bikes, so it works for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. It is open year-round, and the nearest town is Wrightwood, about 3.7 miles away. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the sweet spots. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Wrightwood show May highs around 69°F and September highs around 75°F, with lows in the upper 30s to low 40s. That station sits about 660 feet higher than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the route run a little warmer. Blue Ridge Campground and the Blue Ridge Truck Trail are both about 1.3 miles away, and the Lightning Ridge Nature Trail is about 2.1 miles off. Mount San Antonio (Mt. Baldy) is about 4.9 miles away for climbers.