A Quiet Day on the PCT to Mount Baden-Powell 2025

Mount Baden-Powell via Crystal Lake & Windy Gap – Solo Hike

June 23, 2025

First time hiking to Mount Baden-Powell via Crystal Lake and the Windy Gap trail. With Highway 2 still under construction and the Vincent Gulch TH closed, this was a perfect opportunity to try a new-to-me route. Got to enjoy the sunrise over L.A. with an early start at dawn. The first ~3.7 miles are a steady incline from the Crystal Lake campground area up to the ridge at the Windy Gap / Islip junction. (The Little Jimmy walk-in campground is only a 1/4 mile from there.) Once at the Windy Gap, the trail follows the PCT the rest of the way and continues its steady incline up to Mt Hawkins. You then follow along the ridge line through Mount Burnham and Throop before eventually reaching Mt Baden-Powell.  The trail is in great shape and really easy to follow.

This was the most perfect, quiet hiking day with expansive vistas all along. With the PCT Spring rush over by then, I only saw one other person the whole day. If I had to pick, I much prefer this route to the Vincent Gulch switchbacks and will definitely be back to explore the area further.  10/10

• Range: 5825ft to 9400ft
• Distance: ~16.4 miles
• Gross Elevation Gain: ~4740ft
• Total Time: 8h30 (incl. stops for pictures & lunch)

Hike Logs from Vincent Gulch: 2023 | 2022 (w/ detailed map & track)