About Us
If you think Southern California is all shopping malls, freeways and theme parks ... then why don't you take a hike with us!
The Hundred Peaks Section is an activity section of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club, the most active Chapter in the nation.
We lead hikes year-round – at least one every week, often two or three.
Most of our hikes visit peaks on the HPS List of 280 peaks. Each of those peaks is over 5,000 feet. Several exceed 10,000 feet. All are within a few hours’ drive of Los Angeles.
Here's what's on for the next week!
Wait a minute, you’re probably saying. If there are 280 peaks on The List, why are you called the Hundred Peaks Section?
Our story goes back to the early 1940s and writer-conservationist Weldon Heald. He and a couple of hiking buddies began compiling a list of peaks near Los Angeles that were over 5,000 feet high. By 1946, Heald, Luella Todd and Jack Bascom had identified 192 peaks. That year they published their peak list together with rules for “the Hundred Peaks Game”.
The Game had just two rules: “It counts one, if you reach a peak by foot, horseback, skis, car or levitation, but be sure you reach the highest summit.” And “First ascent of a mountain is the only time it counts; 17 climbs up Baldy counts just one.”
Heald was the first person to win the Hundred Peaks Game, bagging his 100th Peak on Grouse Mountain on June 30, 1946.
Slowly, dozens, then hundreds began playing the Game. On Sept. 15, 1954, they made it an official part of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club, forming the Hundred Peaks Section and electing Walt Wheelock the first chair.2026 marks the 80th year of the group, and 2024 our 70th anniversary as a Sierra Club section.
More than 1,200 people have earned the 100 Peaks Emblem. Some 350 have hiked The List, and dozens have hiked The List more than once – two, three, four, even a staggering 25 times – that’s 7,000 climbs.
If you love to hike, join us.
We have an HPS Peak List which contains about 275 named summits in the Southern California area from Kern Country south to San Diego. All peaks are at least 5,000 feet in elevation above sea level. All of our peaks can be done as day hikes except for a few that require a backpack.
Besides hiking and leading hikes, lots of people volunteer to help the Section. Consider joining their ranks. Here is a list of the current and past HPS Management Committee, Officers and Appointees.
We would like to welcome you to our HPS family ... please join us as we hike and explore our wonderful mountain ranges
- To subscribe to our free mailing list
- To subscribe to our newsletter
- To see our current outings
- To join the Sierra Club
- To order our T-Shirts, Bandanas and other merchandise
You’ll find plenty to do every week on our Outings page.
Curious to know what else HPS members are doing? Subscribe to our newsletter, The Lookout, published online every other month for $9 per year.
Once you’ve hiked 25 peaks on the HPS List, you can become a member of HPS. You must be a Sierra Club member to join ($15 per year).
Volunteers run HPS, leading every hike and doing behind-the-scenes work for the group. We’d welcome your help! Here are the current and recent members of the HPS Management Committee and Appointed Officers.
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