We hiked the Mt. Wilson loop in a counterclockwise direction, starting at the Chantry Flats trailhead and visiting Sturtevant Falls on the way to the peak along the eastern portion of the loop. There were only a few fallen trees obstructing the path, none of which caused a significant problem. Due to COVID-19, most facilities, including the Chantry Flats office and restrooms at the peak, were closed and almost all trashcans were overflowing. There was a lot of trash from careless and inconsiderate hikers, ranging from empty water bottles to used toilet paper, scattered along the margins of the trail, which was quite a shame. It was an absolutely beautiful day for a hike, but it was extremely hot in the direct sunlight. Fortunately, approximately 90% of the hike is shaded.

At the peak, our group noted a plume of smoke arising from the canyon from which we embarked. It turned out that a forest fire had developed in the region of the Chantry Flats (CF) parking lot and trailhead after we had begun our hike. The employees of Mt. Wilson Observatory were very concerned and recommended either getting a ride from the top or hiking down into Sierra Madre, also suggesting that it may be days before we were able to access our cars in the CF lot. We waited for a few hours at the peak, and ultimately it appeared that the fire department and forest service had contained/controlled the fire. We hiked the western aspect of the loop back to the CF lot. We were able to access our cars and go home in the end.