First let me say that I love John W. Robinson's book, Trails of the Angeles, which lists 100 hikes in the San Gabriel Mtns.
I'm no expert, so others please chime in but here are some ideas:
Acorn canyon is nice and starts right in Wrightwood. I believe it's about 2 miles to the top. It's a pretty steep pull, but if you're accustomed to hiking, it's no big deal. A lot of nice trees. It joings the Pacific Crest Trail at the top. See:
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.3495&lon=-117.64493&size=l&u=4&datum=nad27&layer=DRG Watch out for parking restrictions. The top part of the road is "off limits."
If you want a challenge, the trail to Pine Mtn, Dawson Pk, and Mt. Baldy is for you. You don't have to do all three peaks; if you do, you're in amazing shape! You would drive up Hwy 2, turn left on Blue Ridge, and drive to the N side of Wright Mtn. Wright Mtn. overlooks Wrightwood. See
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.32236&lon=-117.64114&size=l&u=4&datum=nad27&layer=DRG and
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.31337&lon=-117.64317&s=100&size=l&u=4&datum=nad27&layer=DRG25Another cool one is Fish Fork Falls. I went down there a few years back and was able to crawl on my belly to a point where I could watch the water actually falling and feel a cool breeze coming up the face of the falls. CAVEAT: I haven't been here for a few years and don't know what kind of shape the road and trail are in. Just as in the above hike, you would go up the 2 to Blue ridge but instead of going all the way to the N ridge of Wright Mtn, you would turn right and go down into Prairie Fork. You would need to then drive to Lupine Campground. There's a dirt "road" (I think it's blocked off nowadays and you have to walk) that takes off to the South. Follow that road to the ridge top, turn left and follow the switch backs down to the canyon bottom. Proceed down the canyon bottom to Fish Fork Falls. I wouldn't do this alone; canyon bottoms tend to have poor footing and any trails tend to get pretty sketchy after floods (like the ones in '05 and '06). See
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.31337&lon=-117.64317&s=100&size=l&u=4&datum=nad27&layer=DRG25 I wouldn't try to go down those falls unless you really know what you're doing and have the proper climbing equipment. There's a way you can loop back over Mt. Dawson from Fish Fork, but I haven't done that one since the 70's and have no idea what the condition of the trail is. As I recall it's a real bu++ kicker.
Mt. Baden-Powell is also great. See
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.36857&lon=-117.75802&size=l&u=4&datum=nad27&layer=DRG25 Four steep miles up, and four more back, but a good hike. There's kind of a cool monument on top to Lord Baden-Powell the founder of the Boy Scouts. This is the terminus of the Silver Moccasin Trail which starts over by Red Box near Mt. Wilson. Boy Scouts make a week long "pilgrimage" along that trail to the monument although I don't think they're doing it as frequently now that part of Hwy 2 is closed.
Going down Prairie Fork further to Cabin Flat to the Prairie Fork trail that descends to the San Gabriel River is good as is the Mine Gulch trail from Vincent Gap. If you could arrange a car shuttle, that would be a cool hike. Heck let
me know if you do that one, and I'll be one of the cars! I've only done the Mine Gulch side and would love to do the whole hike. Note: The Mine Gulch trail does NOT go down Mine Gulch; it goes down Vincent Gulch. I've been down Mine Gulch, and that is one wild, trail-less ride, although the old mining carts and equipment are pretty cool. See
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.36529&lon=-117.72363&s=100&size=l&u=4&datum=nad27&layer=DRG25 Note that the map does NOT show the trail that goes from Vincent Gap down Vincent Gulch. Trust me; it's there. In fact, it's a pretty solid trail; not just a route or a "trace trail." Word of warning: The last time I tried to go to the Big Horn Mine towards the top of Mine Gulch, I was asked to leave by men with guns who started firing them into the air after I left. Not fun.
There's also the Blue Ridge trail, but I haven't ever done that one. If you don't mind driving towards Valyermo, there's the Devil's Chair and S. Fork trails. There's also the Burkhart trail near Devils's Punchbowl.
There are probably a dozen others, but those are the ones that pop into my mind.
