The parking lot at Chantry Flat had only a few cars on our Tuesday in February. We started hiking at 8:20am on a Tuesday, going up the Upper Winter Creek Trail. It's a nice trail, well maintained, winding through calming and cooling forest. Gnats were bugging here and there. Coming up to the crest you get great views over greater L.A. area up to the ocean with Catalina Island etc. Luckily the trail goes up all the way to the big parking space, so no need to walk on the paved road. We were missing a Mt. Wilson Peak sign on top. Instead there is a large pavillion with lots of benches and tables and a Café (Café was closed). Because of trees, the views are very limited from the top.
Since we wanted to descend on Sturtevant Trail, we headed over to the observatory, enjoyed the historic pictures in the observatory museum and followed the well signed trail. You don't want to miss the views from the tip of Echo Rock Trail!
We liked Sturtevant Trail even better than the one we came up. It's mostly shady, so, no problem to hike even in a sunny afternoon. Passing by the Cascades in the lower section of the trail is baffling, they are so colossal. We chose the little detour for the Sturtevant Falls and we just loved the scenery and the trail. One of the highlights came up before closing the loop when we passed by the dinky little cabins that gave us a look as if smurfs would live here!