PCT Dawson Saddle
PCT Dawson Saddle Trail is a 30.3-mile trail in Angeles National Forest, California. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. It enters Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness and Sheep Mountain Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Angeles National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 34.3529° N, 117.7968° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 34.3877° N, 118.0292° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 2 segments.
The trail
| Length | 30.3 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 8-10 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| National designation | National Scenic or Historic Trail |
| Trail numbers | 332000.13 |
| Forest | Angeles National Forest (unit 0501) |
| States | California |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed year-round |
| Mountain biking | Allowed year-round |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Wilderness
- Pleasant View Ridge WildernessFS · about 35% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
- Sheep Mountain WildernessFS · about 2% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
Three Points Trailhead No season published | under 0.1 mi |
PCT Trailhead--6,000 Open Year-round | under 0.1 mi |
Islip Saddle Trailhead No season published | under 0.1 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedAnf/Rx Burn
15 mi from the trail midpoint
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the PCT Dawson Saddle Trail?
The Forest Service records 30.3 miles under this name in Angeles National Forest, the sum of 2 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the PCT Dawson Saddle Trail?
Hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the PCT Dawson Saddle Trail start?
The line begins at 34.3529° N, 117.7968° W and ends at 34.3877° N, 118.0292° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Three Points Trailhead, under 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the PCT Dawson Saddle Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness and Sheep Mountain Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness
Where can I camp near the PCT Dawson Saddle Trail?
Mt. Pacifico Campground (0.4 mi), Jackson Flats (0.6 mi) and Deer Group Camp (0.9 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 8 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the PCT Dawson Saddle Trail?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the PCT Dawson Saddle Trail?
The typical grade is 8-10 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the PCT Dawson Saddle Trail a national trail?
Yes. The record marks it as a National Scenic or Historic Trail.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the PCT Dawson Saddle Trail?
Angeles National Forest, Forest Service unit 0501. The trail is in California.
Is there a fire near the PCT Dawson Saddle Trail?
The interagency feed shows 1 active incident within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Anf/Rx Burn at 15 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 2 segments named PCT Dawson Saddle in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0501. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.