Mount Pinos Recreation Area

The Mt Pinos Recreation Area is located on the border of Southern and Central California, inside Los Padres National Forest. After passing Frazier Park, the winding, paved, mountain road starts atop Cuddy Valley and is approximately 12 miles from Interstate 5 @ Tejon Pass. The 8831′ peak is the tallest in Kern County and is a popular spot for both summer and winter recreation: cross country skiing, snow shoeing, backpacking, hiking, mountain biking. The snow gates often close during heavy snow.

Mount Pinos Road starts atop Cuddy Valley Rd, at the “Y” – where it intersects with Mil Potrero Highway, which heads out to Pine Mountain Club, California. One mile up the Mount Pinos route, you will find McGill trailhead on the right side (it is popular w/ mountain bikers) and then the first snow gate at Burbank Rd. Another 4 miles up hill, you come to the only set of dirt roads accessible on this range. A left turn will take you winding thru pine forest to the valley below. 4×4 is not required, but a National Forest map is very handy. Unfortunately all the private properties at the bottom have locked gates & no thru access to Cuddy Valley is allowed, but it is an awesome drive to just go exploring in the woods.

Back on the main route, shortly after the dirt roads is McGill Campground on the right side & another snow gate. In another mile and a half you will reach Mt Pinos Campground on the left side; the entrance is easy to miss. From here you are less than 2 miles from the end of the main road.

Mountain Bike, Hike, Backpack, Camp, XC Ski, Snow Sled

Darkest Skies for Stargazing in Southern California

The huge paved parking lot is the dead end (2 miles from the peak of Pinos) – very popular with astronomers, mountain bikers, plus the families and snow sledders in winter (if the gates are open). A National Ski Patrol’s Nordic Base, the only building you will see up this way. At 8300′ elevation, the large parking area is perfect overnight spot for amateur astronomers, so be considerate when visiting night. New moon (no moon) weekends APR-OCT are optimal viewing months. In busy summer months you can often find motorhome campers all set up with expensive equipment tracking the heavens all night long. Please be respectful of their hobby & eyes; Turn off headlights when you approach the parking area at night.

There is also a hike-in, freebie camp ground called Chula Vista; an easy quarter mile walk from the parking lot to 12 camp sites & a pit toilet. Mountain bikes dig this area too. A large meadow here blooms with wild irises in summer, only sometimes.

Trail 21W03 Mt Pinos
Originally uploaded by danamight

ROAD CONDITIONS to Mount Pinos
call the ranger station 661-245-3731

Peak to Peak Hike

The trailhead for Pinos Summit starts at this parking lot. It is a 2 mile moderate, but steep hike on an old fire road. The neighboring peak to the west is called Mount Abel @ 8286′ elevation (aka Cerro Noroeste). The infamous peak to peak hike along the ridge line from Mt Pinos to Mt Abel is 6.5 miles one way – and very popular in summer months. This hike requires 4-6 hours & a car shuttle should be arranged in advance. The Chumash Wilderness sits between Mount Pinos and the tiny community of Pine Mountain, which can be seen below on many places along the hike.

There are 3 developed camp sites in the Mount Pinos area:

• McGill Campground
• Mount Pinos Campground
• Chula Vista Campground (walk-in)

Only one camp accepts online reservations and all are closed during winter months. (Oct-April)

RESERVE CAMPGROUND: McGill Campground

DARK NIGHT SKIES: Amateur Astronomers Info

MAPS: Los Padres National Forest Map

WEB CAM: Mt Pinos North Face

NEAREST TOWNS:

• Frazier Park, CA
  
• Pine Mountain Club

Mt Abel trailhead looking East to Pinos range

CA Kern / western Kern county

Kern County is known for its oil, its agriculture, and outdoor recreation. The Kern River is the highlight of the region with lush, green and grey granite canyons, a big reservoir & the Sequoia trees just up the road. On the western side of Kern County are small towns like Frazier Park, the golfing cabin community of Pine Mountain Club, plus the oil meccas of Maricopa and Taft. Expansive Lockwood Valley enters into Ventura County. Cuyama River borders Santa Barbara & SLO counties.

Much of the western Kern area is rural ranch land, desert or forest. Los Padres National Forest, Chumash Wilderness, Bittercreek Wildlife Refuge, Wind Wolves Preserve, Buena Vista Reservoir, Ballinger Canyon, Hungry Valley and Fort Tejon State Park all call this region home, right on the mighty tangent of the San Andreas fault line. The San Emigdio range and the surrounding mountains of Mt Pinos and Mount Abel design a perpendicular range to the Central Cali coastline, connecting the huge Mojave desert to the ocean. Cerro Noroeste is a very scenic drive.

The 17 mile long Quatal Canyon, where the indian camp of Mahu Tasen hosts a Bear Dance every summer is also a wild place of bird watching, camping and hunting. The indian word for Mount Pinos is “Iwihinmu” – a sacred spot for Chumash Indians, as well as others; Chumash call it the ‘center of the world’. Locals respond regularly with music, hikes, star gazing, drum circles (seasonally) and local festivals (annually) .

PHOTOS: Drum Camp Pinos | Drumming Cerro Noroeste

Tecuya Ridge, Cuddy Valley 4×4 trails can keep you busy for a whole weekend of back road exploring.

boating, camping, dirt biking, fishing, hiking, horseback, hunting, mountain biking, off roading, skydiving, xc skiing

• Frazier Park
• Pine Mountain Club
• Maricopa
• Taft

El Dorado National Forest

Robbs Peak Lookout
Robb’s Hut / Robbs Cabin
Gold Country California
Eldorado National Forest, Placerville District
100 Forni Road
Placerville, CA 95667
530-644-2324

Loon Lake Chalet

Van Vleck Bunkhouse

Gold Country California
Georgetown, CA

Sequoia National Forest

Big Meadows Cabin
Big Meadows Guard Station
btwn Sequoia NP & Kings Cyn NP

Mtn Home Guard Station Cabin
near Springville, CA

Oak Flat Lookout

Sequoia National Forest, Greenhorn Ranger District
900 West Grand
Porterville, CA 93257
559-784-1500 or 661-391-6000

Poso Guard Station Cabin Rental
near Kernville, CA

Quaking Aspen Cabin Rental
Giant Sequoia National Monument
near Ponderosa, CA

Wishon Cabin Rental
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Shasta/Trinity National Forests

Forest Glen Guard Station
near Trinity River & Forest Glen, CA

Little Mt Hoffman
2400 Washington
Redding CA 96001
530-226-2500

Girard Ridge Lookout
Historic Fire Lookout Tower
near Dunsmuir, CA
530-226-2500

Hirz Mountain Lookout Tower
Hirz Mtn. Fire Watch Tower Rental
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Harris Springs Guard Station
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Little Mount Hoffman Lookout
Mt. Hoffman Rental
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Post Creek Guard Station Rental
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San Bernardino National Forest

Morton Peak Fire Lookout
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Coon Creek Cabin
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Sierra National Forest

Camp Four And Half Cabin
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Six Rivers National Forest

Bear Basin Butte
Cabin & Fire Lookout

Tahoe National Forest

Lassen National Forest

El Dorado National Forest:

Cuyama Peak Lookout is a rough road up – off Hwy 33, in Los Padres NF

Los Padres National Forest:

San Bernardino National Forest

Sequoia National Forest:

Sierra National Forest:

When we got to the window, gave the girl our money. Few minutes later I wondered what the heck was taking so freakin long. As I leaned forward in my seat to peer into the kitchen, a large black man jumped across the counter with a semi automatic weapon and demand cash. Standing in the doorway, he looked at us and said ” Don’t move, don’t go anywhere and don’t look at me”. The nervous cashier girl was stuffing money into a bag from the register, while he screamed to ‘unlock the safe’. My boyfriend was in the drivers seat trying to calm me down. Clasping my hand, we were both shaking like a leaf. I knew that there could easily be bullets our way at any second – with the windows wide open. The robber was standing literally six feet from us and waving the gun back ‘n forth. As soon as he got what he wanted, the manager unlocked the door on the opposite side of the restaurant. We floored it and pealed outta the parking lot. Luckily in time, before the homeboys driving the get-away car could get around the building.

Saw the cops zoom by two blocks later. What a way to start a camping trip. Went on our way with the wilderness trip and had a blast. Any kind of wild animals we experienced were welcomed and mild compared to that hoodloom experience. I’ll take unpredictable mother nature and wildlife any day over city gang bangers.