Benjamin (Don Benito) Wilson made this trail in 1864 to bring down timber for his ranch. Pack burros used the trail to carry the telescope and materials for the first Mt. Wilson Observatory, established by Harvard College in 1889. Orchard Camp, the Half-Way House, provided shelter during fifty years of public recreation. Many thousands have hiked the 7½ mile trail, known for its scenic beauty, and for some years an annual national foot race was held here.