Special Instructions
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NF Adventure Pass Req'd
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: Hiking |
Last
Updated on 04/27/1997 |
| RATINGS |
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The Pinnacles
Huge rocks NW of Lake Arrowhead, CA |
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Location: San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino National Forest, Southern California
Region: Lake Arrowhead Region
Wilderness: None
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Total Distance:
6 Mi
Elevation Gain: 1,000 Ft
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Season: Sept-April
Type: Out & Back |
Peak Elev: 5,737 Ft
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Peak List |
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Peak
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Elevation |
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The Pinnacles |
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5,737 Ft |
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| Driving Directions |
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Drive to the Lake Arrowhead
shooting range which is about 4 miles from the outskirts of Lake Arrowhead, CA, NW on HWY 173. |
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| Route |
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The trail (3W16) starts right next to the Arrowhead shooting range. The trail is hard to follow at many places and it is easy to start heading the wrong direction if you are not familiar with the hike.
As a rough memory it seems like you want to stay to the right most of the time when the trail diverges. The first noticeable place where the trail looks like it splits occurs fairly early in the hike. The split is located in a small wash that heads to your right. At this intersection you should take the left fork. If you go to the right here, you'll realize what looks like it was a trail was only a wash and the wrong turn of other hikers. If you do go this way instead, you can get back on the main trail by following a large wash on your left up the hill through some areas of poison oak. When you reach the top of a small hill, you have to go back down a little and fight some brush to get back on the trail. This is not a time-saving shortcut. If you stay on the correct trail, I believe it is the next confusing intersection where you will take the right fork. The left fork heads into a nice meadow. You will be
arriving at the pinnacles kind of from the mountain side rather that the desert side. Keep this in mind as you make your navigational decisions. Also, the trail passes near the tops of two distinct hills. This first one you will reach has a dead tree leaning against a rock near the top. The second one also has a dead tree leaning against a rock near the top, but in addition, has the biggest boulders yet seen on the trail near its top. The Pinnacles can be seen and easily reached from the top of this second hill. |
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| Details |
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I've taken this hike 4 times and I still have trouble following
the trail. It's a good view of the desert (Hesperia) and it's kind of fun because there are a few rocks that you have to pull yourself over. Expect very hot weather most of the year. |
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| Trail Condition |
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Overall, the trail is in decent condition, certain parts are hard to follow because of other minor trails branching off the main trail. There are some areas of the trail that are narrow and surrounded by high brush. A few very short segments of the trail require you to pull yourself up and over rocks with your hands. Nothing very difficult. Pay attention to where the trail is when you reach the peak as the trail is the main way out of there and if you start climbing around on the rocks, you might forget where it was exactly. |
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| Forest Details |
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Mostly manzanita and other brush along the trail. No poison oak observed along trail but it does exist in this area. Coulter pines grow near the peak and at lower elevations, including near the shooting range. |
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| Notes about this hike report |
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The hike report above is based on 4 hikes.
These hikes took place on:
- 04/27/1997
- 04/04/1998
- 01/07/1999
- 09/08/2002 |
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