The hike to Los Pinos Peak offers a remote and rugged experience through the heart of Cleveland National Forest. Although not technically prominent, Los Pinos Peak is “practically” prominent, and on the hike, given a clear day, you can see from Catalina to San Gorgonio. There are several ways to hike to Los Pinos Peak, and in this guide, I’ll show you the most popular (and shortest) route from the area by Falcon Group Campground.
Where is the Los Pinos Peak Trail?
There’s no official trailhead address or parking lot. Instead, you have to navigate to the latitude and longitude below to arrive at the trailhead, at the junction of Long Canyon Road and Main Divide Truck Trail. Use these coordinates:
You’ll drive up a narrow and paved road, past the Blue Jay Campground, and then to Falcon Group Campground. About 0.5 miles past Falcon Group Campground, you’ll see a big gravel clearing on the left. This is the parking area.
There’s not an official trailhead here, but there is a large gravel clearing. Park on the edge of the clearing, away from the roads, which have motor vehicle traffic.
You do not need an Adventure Pass to park here. If you want water and bathrooms, visit the Falcon Group Campground, 0.5 miles before the start of the hike.
Gear For the Hike
If you are familiar with hiking in Cleveland National Forest, you know that it can be a place of extremes. In the winter, there can be (usually light) snow and cold temps. In the summer, temperatures can soar into the 100s. 1-2L of water is usually enough. The area is remote, so bring your regular hiking kit. Trekking poles will help on the steep and loose sections after Los Pinos Saddle.
Garmin InReach Mini 2 I’m a firm believer in carrying a satellite communications device which works where cell phones don’t. I use a Garmin InReach which lets me send text messages back and forth to my family to let them know that I’m okay or if my plans change when I’m out in the backcountry. It also has an SOS subscription built-in so that you can reach first-responders in an emergency. The devices also offer weather reports, GPS, and navigation functionality (what’s the difference between a GPS and satellite communicator?). For a few hundred bucks they could save your life, so for me it’s a no brainer to have something like a Garmin InReach. If you use a smartphone to navigate and want a more affordable option that integrates with your phone easily, check out the ZOLEO. – Latest Prices:Amazon | REI
Altra Lone Peak 6 For most people, the Altra Lone Peak is a solid choice that will leave your feet feeling great at the end of any hike. The feel is cushy and light, and if it had a car equivalent, this would be a Cadillac or Mercedes Sedan. The grip is great and they’re reasonably durable for this type of trail runner, which I think is better in most conditions than a hiking boot, and here’s why. The downside of this shoe is that it won’t last as long as something like the Moab 2 (see alternate footwear choices at the bottom of my gear page). I’ve been using mine for many miles and my feet always feel great. I have a video on the details of the Altra Lone Peak 6 here. – Women’s Latest Prices:REI | Amazon Men’s Latest Prices:REI | Amazon
Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles I’ve gone back and forth on trekking poles, but I think for most people they are a good investment. They help you dig in on the uphills, provide stability on loose downhills, act as a brace when crossing streams, and can probably poke away aggressive wildlife in a pinch. The Trail Ergo Cork poles are a good balance of light weight, durability, affordability, and ease of use. If you want something ultralight and a little more pricey, I’ve had great luck with the Black Diamond Z Poles too. – Trail Ergo Poles: REI | Amazon Z-Poles:REI | Amazon
Gregory Zulu 30 & Jade 28 After testing quite a few backpacks, the Gregory Zulu 30 (and Jade 28 for women) is, for most hikers, the best all-season day-pack. First off, it’s very comfortable, and the mesh “trampoline” back keeps your back dry. Its 30L capacity is enough for all the essentials and plenty of layers for winter hiking. External pockets make it easy to grab gear. It’s hard to find something wrong with the pack; if anything, it could be a bit lighter, but overall, it’s not heavy. And its price-point makes it not only affordable but generally a great value. – Women’s Latest Prices:REI | Amazon Men’s Latest Prices:REI | Amazon
Here’s my complete gear list that I personally use, have tested, and recommend, updated May 2022.
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Elevation Profile
This is mostly an uphill endeavor, with a breather at Munhall / Los Pinos Saddle, and then a little up and down as you hike along the ridge to the summit.
3D Map
From the parking area you’ll hike up Main Divide Road (dirt) until you reach Munhall Saddle. From there you climb up along the spine, past a false summit or two, and then you reach the actual Los Pinos Peak summit.
Hike Brief
“Los Pinos” translates to “the pines” in Spanish, and the peak was named that because you could spot it by the clusters of Coulter pine trees by the summit.But the 2018 Holy Fire did a number on the area, and many of the pine tries have burned well before their 100 year lifespan. On this hike we’ll be hiking along the edge of where the Holy Fire eventually stopped.Along the way we’ll go over Munhall Saddle, named after Joseph “Kenneth” Munhall, who was a ranger in Cleveland National Forest in the early 1900s. He was born in Pennsylvania (there’s even a suburb of Pittsburgh called “Munhall”) but spent his life in Southern California. His grave, located in Fairhaven Memorial Park, Santa Ana, has a very cool Forest Service logo on it, giving you a big clue about what was important to him in life.
Lost Pinos Peak Hike Directions
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The hike starts where Main Divide Truck Trail starts, just back behind the parking area. There’s a gate here which can be open or closed. If it’s open, you’ll be sharing the first part of the hike with OHV vehicles. Generally they are courteous, just keep your eyes and ears open.There’s a sign at the start. We’re heading up North Main Divide.Main Divide road is wide and climbs gradually.From the start, the views over Cleveland NF are wide open.After you round the first bend, Los Pinos Peak comes into view.And to your left, Sugarloaf Peak, not to be confused with the well-known Sugarloaf Mountain by Big Bear.And then to your direct left is Sitton Peak.As you climb you’ll see the trail unfold in front of you.And some short sections of the road are steep.And when the grade eases up on the trail, you’ll be able to see to the east. Here’s San Jacinto Peak.And then to the left of that is San Gorgonio.And back to your right is Lake Elsinore.At about 1.7 miles in you’ll reach Munhall Saddle. Leave the road, go over the gate, and hike up the trail to the left.The trail is steep and loose in the beginning.But then gets a bit more defined.And then you reach a false peak. In the distance is the true peak.You have a short downhill as the trail rolls along the spine.As you make your way along the spine you’ll have nice views of Los Pinos Peak. The burned trees on the right are from the 2018 Holy Fire, started by an arsonist, which halted along this ridge.And to the right is Santiago Peak. From this perspective you can really see the damage from the Holy Fire. This whole area used to be lush and green.At about 2.6 miles in you’ll finally arrive at the last uphill to the true summit.When you get to the top, look for the turnoff to the left.And here you are, at the 4th highest spot in Orange County!There’s a USGS benchmark here.To the west is the Pacific Ocean and Catalina.To the east is Lake Elsinore.You’ll also notice the trail continues on. I’ll cover (the much tougher) hike in from this route in another guide.That’s it! Just turn around and head back the way you came when you’re done at the summit.
This guide last updated on May 8, 2022. Did something change on this hike? If so, please contact me and let me know. I'll update the guide.