This mountain is bordered by Big Tujunga Canyon on the west and the Arroyo Seco Canyon on the east and the foothill cities on the south. Route finding and easy bushwhacking are the primary obstacles found on the hike listed. Other routes could present cliffs, waterfalls, and extreme bushwhacking. Be very prepared if you head off any maintained trails.
CONTEMPLATION TRAIL
A steep trail that runs up a ridge below Mount Lukens from Big
Tujunga. The trail is unmarked, but starts on Big Tujunga Canyon
Road, crosses Sunset Trail and then starts climbing a drainage
towards the ridge. The trail is steep but well used and in good
shape. When it reaches the ridge line, the popular route is a
short spur north to a cross. The less used trail continues to
climb the steep ridge up to the Mount Lukens Ridge Route. This
is easy to follow but it is a strenuous climb.
Trailhead: There are two unmarked trailheads along Big
Tujunga Canyon Road before the road enters the canyon proper.
Alternative, take Alpine Way off of Mount Gleason Ave to the end.
There is an entrance to Sunset trail here. Take Sunset Trail north
and look for a good trail up a drainage.
DUNSMORE RIDGE ROUTE
A steep little used trail working up a ridge from Dunsmore Canyon
in the City of Glendale Deukmejian Wilderness Park to a spur road
off of Mount Lukens Road. This trail passes some rugged terrain.
The lower end of the trail is not obvious, it begins as a faint
trail crossing the creek. Once on the trail it is generally obvious.
Trailhead: The northern end of Dunsmore Ave leads into
Deukmejian Wilderness Park.
LUKENS RIDGE ROUTE - Elevation Change: 3000 ft.
This is an unmaintained fire break ridge route. It gets some foot
and horse traffic leaving some type of trail. However, finding
your way through or around low brush will be necessary. Knowing
which ridge to follow (route finding) will be necessary or you
will come down on the wrong ridge and loose any trail.
Trailhead: The lower end connects with the Sunset Trail
within a quarter mile of its eastern end. The ridge route joins
Sunset trail on the eastern side of the ridge. The upper end of
the ridge route joins with Haines Canyon Trail and Stone Canyon
Trail.