How do you feel about camping? I’m actually going to do this myself next month when I hike Mt Wilson, hiking to Spruce Grove campground (it’s on the trail anyway) in the late afternoon, then breaking camp and heading up to the summit in the morning.
Campsites are free (first-come, first-serve) and there are pit toilets, water in the creek (you’ll need to treat it or boil it), picnic tables and fire rings in most campsites.
As for lodging…
Another possibility is booking a cabin at Sturtevant Camp. It’s also on the trail, and a tad more “civilized” than camping on the ground. Here’s the info: http://sturtevantcamp.com/reservations/
For a hotel, there are a bunch in Arcadia off the 210 freeway (that’s about as close as I’ve seen). The Hilton Garden Inn includes free breakfast.
If you do end up staying in the area, I’d love to get feedback on what you end up doing and how it worked out.
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