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Hike Noble Canyon Trail

By Cris Hazzard, Professional Hiking Guide
Updated January 18, 2025

Hike Stats

Total Distance: 16.2 miles
Time: 5-8 Hours
Total Climbing: 2520 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Crowds: Quiet
Dogs: Leashed
Gear: What I Use
Weather: Latest Report
Park: Cleveland National Forest

The hike up the Noble Canyon Trail is a hike of transitions. The trail starts in the desert, with scrub and cacti lining the trail, high above Noble Creek. As you climb, you move into old oaks, riparian zones, and the pines of San Diego's high mountains. This hike ends at a viewpoint of the iconic PCT, where you can see for miles from the desert divide.

Where is the Noble Canyon Trail?

We're going to start the Noble Canyon Trail in Pine Valley, about 1 hour east of downtown San Diego. We're going to start a short ways up the trail, cutting off the beginning three miles of desert in favor of some incredible views later. The parking can be found marked on Google Maps at: Noble Canyon Mid-Way Exit and Parking, Pine Creek Rd, Pine Valley, CA 91962.

Nobel Canyon Trail Parking — The start of the hike is a short way off of I8, east of San Diego, in the southern part of Cleveland National Forest.

Road To Noble Canyon Trail — The last mile or two to the parking area is a small road that's not always in great condition, but it's doable by low-clearance vehicles.

Gate On Road To Noble Canyon Trail — You'll pass through a gate that's usually open unless the weather is bad.

Parking Noble Canyon Trail — There's a large parking area that I've never seen full. It's usually only used by mountain bikers.

You don't need a parking pass, and there are no facilities here.

Gear Recommendations

Nobel Canyon Water Spigot — There's a water spigot at Penny Pines where you can refill, but it can be frozen in the winter. It's a popular water refill spot for PCT hikers.

This is a backcountry hike, and you should plan accordingly.

The weather can be extreme. In the summer, it's better to give the hike a skip; the temperatures can climb into the 100Fs. In the winter, there can be snow in higher elevations. Spring and early winter are the sweet spots to do this hike.
Bring insect repellant.
I'd recommend a satellite communicator; there isn't much cellular service.
Noble Creek isn't always flowing, but if it is, you can refill water along the hike if you filter or treat it. There's also a water spigot at Penny Pines, about halfway through the hike.

Essentials I’m Using Now

Garmin inReach Mini 2: Reliable SOS Everywhere on Earth
Sawyer + CNOC Water Filter: Easy & Reliable Safe Water
Nitecore NU25 Headlamp: Running late? Get home safe
Altra Olympus 275: Favorite trail shoes right now, no blisters and very comfy.
AllTrails Plus (30% off): Offline maps on your phone with the Plus level
Full December 2025 Gear List →

Noble Canyon Trail Maps

Nobel Canyon Trail Route — In this guide, we'll skip the first few miles of the trail (in red) and skip ahead to the more exciting parts. At the end of the Noble Canyon Trail, we'll cross the road for a short stretch on the PCT to a desert divide viewpoint.

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Elevation Profile

Nobel Canyon Trail Elevation — Overall the climb to the viewpoint is gradual and manageable. There are a few short and steep sections, but I wouldn't consider this hike a big mountain climb.

3D Map

If you look at other guides for the Noble Canyon Trail, you'll notice they all describe it from top to bottom. I prefer to hike it as described here, from bottom to top and back.

Hike Notes

Nobel Canyon Mountain Bike Trail Register — The Noble Canyon Trail is considered one of Southern California's best mountain biking trails. Most mountain bikers will ride it from top to bottom, and a box at the top trailhead has free bells for bikers to use. The San Diego Mountain Biking Association helps maintain the trail (thank you!). Keep an eye out for bikes as you hike.

Noble Canyon was designated a National Recreation Trail (NRT) in 1982. An NRT trail designation is reserved for the highest-caliber trails and was established under the National Trails Act of 1968.
It's said that the trail was developed initially by miners in the 1800s and then better established in the 1930s by the CCC. The trail fell into disrepair until 1982 when it was revitalized and received its NRT designation.
Noble Canyon is named after the Noble brothers, who came here in 1870 and started mining. There were many claims throughout the valley, and according to newspapers in the 1930s, the Noble Mine was one of the leading gold mines in the country. Today you can see the ruins of some of the mines in the area. None are on the trail, but their locations are on USGS topographic maps.

Noble Canyon Hike Directions

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 2 — Look for the wood posts and start the connector trail to the Noble Canyon Trail proper.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 3 — Stay straight, avoiding the mountain bike use trail to the right.

The burn area is from the Valley Fire of 2022. It won't last long, don't worry.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 4 — After about a quarter of a mile on the connector, you'll join the Noble Canyon Trail. Bear to the left and join the trail.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 5 — You'll start seeing the official NRT trail markers for the Noble Canyon Trail.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 6 — The trail turns and follows above Noble Creek.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 7 — After following the creek from above, you'll dip down into a lush area with oaks closer to the creek.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 8 — At the split, bear right and cross the creek for the first time.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 9 — Now the canyon narrows and you follow the right bank of the creek.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 10 — Cross back over the creek and start the climb uphill.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 1 — This is the steepest section of the hike as you climb up and out of the canyon.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 11 — Cross over Pine Creek Road to continue.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 12 — At the junction of the Indian Creek Trail, keep straight on Noble Canyon.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 14 — When you reach the big clearing, make the hard left. It's not obvious.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 15 — Here's the view from that last intersection after you've made the turn. There's a Noble Canyon Trail marker ahead.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 16 — And here you are a the end of the Noble Canyon Trail. Continue straight toward the Sunrise Highway.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 17 — Go through the gate by the Sunrise Highway.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 18 — This is the Penny Pines Trailhead. The PCT access is over to the right, across the Sunrise Highway.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 19 — There's a short connector to the PCT.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 20 — And then the PCT joins in from the right. Go straight (northbound) on the PCT.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 21 — Once the views open up, look for a small use trail heading down to the right.

Noble Canyon Trail Directions 22 — At the end of the use trail is the viewpoint. That's it! From here, just turn around and go back down the way you came up.