Bag Los Pinos

Hiking to Los Pinos Peak in Cleveland National Forest Southern California

A peak all to yourself? Three words: Bag Los Pinos! This 4,500-foot peak in southeastern Orange County’s Cleveland National Forest is pleasantly private, perhaps because reaching it is a grind! But worth the workout when you peak at panoramas that’ll knock your boots off. The 5-mile out-and-back hike to Los Pinos Peak ascends Main Divide, a fire road of switchbacks that’s the center spine of the Santa Ana Mountains.

As you gain 1,000 feet in elevation, the views en route include the desert peaks of Mounts San Jacinto and San Gorgonio as well as the Orange County coast. Then come incredible views of Lake Elsinore. After 1.5 miles you’ll get to a four-way junction where you can head straight over or go around the pipe barrier and continue ascending along the unmarked Los Pinos Trail. The terrain becomes rocky, surrounded by manzanitas and the surprise sight of Coulter pines. It’s another mile of up-and-down until Los Pinos Peak. Your feat is made all the more official by a sign, rock piles, and a logbook. Round-the-compass views include Mount Baldy to the north, the Palomar Mountains to the south, and sometimes even Catalina Island in the west. Smile: Other than the soaring red-tailed hawks and darting scrub jays, it’s very likely you’ll be all alone up here. Peace of Los Pinos!

To get to the dirt parking area, from CA-74 go north on Main Divide Rd., which turns into Long Canyon Rd. Pass Blue Jay Campground and park at the next intersection, where Forest Route 3S04 begins and the upper portion of Main Divide Fire Road branches off sharply left and up. National Forest Adventure Pass required, which can be purchased at major sport stores or at the nearby Lookout Roadhouse. The hike begins on Main Divide Fire Road. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View