Mt Pinos

Mt Pinos is probably the closest decent dark sky observing site for most southern Californians. So, on new moon weekends, the place can get pretty full.

To get here, you take I-5 north, just past Gorman. As you reach the bottom of a long downgrade, look for the Frazier Park exit. Get off the freeway there, and turn left, under the freeway. Just on the other side, on the right, you'll see a gas station with a Subway franchise inside, a Jack in the Box, and a hotel. On the left is a Flying J Truck stop.

Gasoline there is often a little cheaper than in town. Today, it was $2.99 9/10ths for regular unleaded, which is eight cents less per gallon than what I filled up with in town yesterday.

From there, you continue on the road you were on, and just stay on that road until it deadends near the top of Mt. Pinos. I think it's supposed to be about 12 miles from the freeway, total.

I intended to take a hike to the Mt. Pinos summit, and possibly on to Mt. Abel. That didn't work, however. I had looked at a map previously and saw that the main trail continued in the same direction as the road that entered the parking lot, so I assumed the trail would begin at the far end of the lot. Indeed, there *is* a trail that leaves that way. But, apparently, it is a trail for cross country skiers and not the trail to the summit of Mt. Pinos. Also, it looks to be a trail to a walk-in campground.

On the plus, side, I did get to see a nice field of iris.

Then I wandered aimlessly, and wound up wandering in a large circle. I'm sure I covered at least one mile, and possibly two, most of it cross-country. I finally found my way back to the road, then back to the parking lot.

By then, I had run across another walker and asked her about the trail to Mt. Pinos. She told me the trail left from the left side of the nordic hut, not the right side. Also, when I got back, I saw the huge sign pointing the way to this trail.

It's kind of funny, though. Although I've been to Mt. Pinos for astronomy at least a half-dozen times, I always get there in the afternoon or evening and stay until midnight or later. I'd never left the parking lot in daylight, and never noticed the large sign pointing the way to the trail to the summit!

Edit: In case you're actually interested in hiking the Mt. Pinos and Mt. Abel trails, I have a write-up of that hike on my hiking blog, My Own 100 Hikes.