Members of the Altadena and Crescenta Valley Search and Rescue teams had been searching for the man since 9 p.m. Sunday.
Deputies say the man went hiking around 3 p.m., and called authorities around 8 p.m. saying he was lost.
"At about 8:30 p.m., the hiker used his cellphone to call and tell us he was alright but lost," said Sgt. Rudy Sanchez of the sheriff's Altadena Station.
Rescuers launched an aerial search at daybreak and made contact with the hiker around 4:45 a.m. Monday, more than eight hours after he was reported lost. The hiker was later airlifted to safety.
The man, who is in his early to mid 20s, was said to be cold, but OK.
The entrance to the hike at Echo Mountain is on Lake Avenue and Loma Alta Drive.
CNS contributed to this report.
