Kenyon DeVore is a trail in the Angeles National Forest on Mount Wilson (5,713′). Partially shielded from the Bobcat Fire in 2020, this lush, wooded section of singletrack remains unburned. It offers a unique look into a north-facing ecosystem high in the San Gabriel Mountains. Maintained by the Lowelifes, Kenyon DeVore is our first in the non-profit’s Dream Trail series, sponsored by Fox Racing. Let’s check it out!
Kenyon DeVore is a Dream Trail
Want a ride experience that feels like you’ve been transplanted into the Sequoia or Yosemite? But it’s just a short drive up into the San Gabriel National Monument from the city of Los Angeles? Looking for some respite from the summer heat and exposure of the south-facing trails in the foothills? Kenyon DeVore offers a unique riding experience, distinct from the typical San Gabriel Mountain rides, with a deep, dense forested canyon and multiple water sources.
Over the past five years, it’s been a darling project for the Lowelifes Respectable Citizens Club, a local non-profit trail crew, who have worked on making the trail ridable, from top to bottom. Kenyon DeVore needed a lot of work, with giant granite boulders blocking the trail, entire sections washed out by flash flooding, and acres covered by Poodle Dog Bush.
In 2020, the Bobcat Fire burned for three months and consumed 115,796 acres. The fire had a significant impact on the West Fork of the San Gabriel River and Chantry Flat. Remnants of the fire are visible along the Gabrielino Trail during this ride.
The Lowelifes didn’t sanitize the trail; they simply made it all ridable for the first time in decades. Leaving some of its unique character and a proper backcountry experience on two wheels. You’ll find high-speed, off-camber, loamy lines in between fast switchbacks, surprise rock gardens, creek crossings, and more. We’ve got a Dream Trail feature with all the information you need to have a safe and fun afternoon ride.
In March of 2025, the Lowelifes completed Bobcat Fire trail restoration work on Kenyon DeVore, Rim Trail, and parts of the Gabrielino Trail, totalling 4,334 volunteer hours.
Kenyon DeVore Quick Hits
Difficulty: Intermediate
Distance: 12 Miles as a Loop
Elevation: 2400′ as shown
Estimate time: 1.5 – 2.5 hours
Best time of year: Spring through Fall
Kenyon DeVore – LINK TO GPS ROUTE
Historically Named
Originally known as the Rattlesnake Trail, the trail was renamed in 1995 to honor Kenyon DeVore, a lifelong volunteer and worker in the Angeles National Forest. DeVore spent his life working and volunteering in the area, including roles as a patrolman, hydrographer, and Chantry Flat information center volunteer. While we acknowledge that “Rattlesnake Trail” is way cooler, it might deter some riders from dropping into this wooded section of singletrack.
Need to Know
We don’t want to spoon-feed the adventure to you, but we do have a few pointers to help you plan for this ride. Especially if you’re new to riding in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Bike: Mountain Bike – Rigid, Hardtail, Full Suspension, or a drop-bar MTB. 2.3″ tire minimum, unless you enjoy über underbiking!
Water: The route features several perennial streams and multiple springs, so be sure to bring a water filter.
Exposure: Like many trails in the San Gabriel Mountains, Kenyon DeVore features lots of off-camber trail with some sections of exposure. There are narrow sections of trail where you can clip your handlebars if you’re not careful with your line choice.
Poodle Dog Bush: Eriodictyon parryi, commonly referred to as “Poodle Dog Bush,” is a mountain shrub with showy purple flowers that resembles some sort of bushy lavender or Pride of Madeira plant. Yet, Poodle Dog Bush causes severe skin irritation. Imagine poison oak, multiplied by a power of ten! This species grows mostly in areas that have been disturbed by fire in decomposed granite soil in the higher elevations of the San Gabriel Mountains. Its hair fibers cause skin irritation, so it’s recommended you wear long sleeves and lightweight pants to ride Kenyon DeVore as the plant lines the singletrack.
Poison Oak: Yes, poison oak is present in the canyon, so be mindful of urushiol – the oil that causes irritation – on your skin and clothing. Again, it’s recommended to wear lightweight pants and long sleeves while riding.
Weather: The San Gabriel Mountains can be unforgiving in inclement weather. If rain is in the forecast, be advised the lower section of the Gabrielino will flash. In the winter, it can also snow at higher elevations.
Routing
There are a few approaches to riding the trail. You could do so from town, going up Mount Lowe Road or Mount Wilson Toll Road (temporarily closed due to the Eaton Fire), the Gabrielino Trail, or even up HWY 2 from Altadena. Most people drive, park at Red Box, and then continue up Mount Wilson Road to the trailhead. When you drop into the trail, you’ll descend 3.5 miles before turning left onto the Gabrielino Trail toward Valley Forge Campground. That left is sometimes easy to miss. You’ll reach it about a quarter mile after exiting the dense forest that covers the bulk of Kenyon Devore Trail.
Gabrielino is narrow, undulating, and smooth, but gets rocky and fast just before passing Valley Forge Camp. The singletrack continues on, but is much more of a hike than a ride, so we recommend continuing down the rocky section into the camp itself. From there, you’ll climb up the fire road back to Red Box, where you parked. All in, expect this ride to take 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on pace and how much you like to sightsee.
See the gallery for more stunning vignettes from this Dream Trail ride. If you have any notes about your experience riding Kenyon DeVore or suggestions for bigger, all-day routes featuring the trail, drop them in the comments!
Kenyon DeVore Route Map
Please, as with all trail activities, observe the Leave No Trace Principles, yield to uphill traffic, be nice, say hi, and in general, when you’re visiting new locales, be nice to the locals. :-)
We’d like to thank Fox Racing for supporting our Dream Trail series with the Lowelifes. Proceeds from this series were donated to the non-profit. We want to help keep the trails of the Angeles National Forest open and flowing for all to use. The riders pictured, Steph, Matt, and Eric, all worked on Kenyon DeVore.