In the extra-wet rainy season of 2004-2005, a rockslide heavily damaged sections of the historic dirt road used to haul the Mount Wilson Telescope to the summit. For the past five years, crews have been hard at work stabilizing and reinforcing the route, and it looks like the entire road will be fully re-opened within the next few weeks, according to the Pasadena Star-News.

The locked gate on Pinecrest Drive is currently open to hikers and mountain bikers, and only a small section of the road near the bridge crossing Eaton Canyon is still being worked on.

The Old Mount Wilson Toll Road is a fairly steep, 3.75 9 mile (one-way) winding route to the Mount Wilson tower farm, observatory, and visitor’s center.

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by Casey Schreiner

Founder and Editor of Modern Hiker, Author of "Day Hiking Los Angeles." "Discovering Griffith Park," and "Cloud Spotting." Walking Meditator, Native Plant Enthusiast.