I had originally completed my pre-hike planning using the Chantry Flats loop as suggested – but while reviewing this site in the days before the hike I saw some updates on the closure of Chantry Flats. So a few days before the hike I shifted my planning over to the Mt Wilson trail out of Sierra Madre. The instructions I found here were pretty good so I showed and parked on the street as suggested around 0630 on Monday of the three day Holiday. There were some other cars parking but at that time plenty of spots were available. This is where I caught a break – this was my first time on this trail and upon parking and lacing up the hiking gear I struck up a conversation with a very experienced local hiker and we hiked the trail together, he knew the trail very well and he provided great insight and history about the Mt Wilson trail and local area. Really a very cool, experienced hiker as it turns hikers are the best people! The history of the trail and area is pretty fascinating so if you can read it up before your head out. Give your self an hour (or more) at the top to take in all the history associated with the observatory and grounds – really cool stuff.  Its a great hike, long I logged 15.7 miles, steep with plenty of elevation gain – nice to have lots of water in the creeks along the side, couple of water crossing – I really enjoyed the trail. The recent rain has caused some damage to the trail in sections, nothing too bad just needed to slow up and pay attention where the trail was impacted by runoff.  Mt Wilson top and trail provides some great vistas of Los Angeles, Mt Baldy from Catalina, Ports of LA and LGB and out to the Bay – much of Southern California is in front of you.