Hike Pacifico Mountain on the PCT

13.5 miles - Moderate Effort
5-7 Hours (Total)
2,350 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 7,124 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

If you want to get off the beaten path in Angeles National Forest, head over to the Pacifico Mountain hike. Pacifico Mountain, the highest peak in the northwestern part of the forest, offers unique views spanning from Mt Baldy to Los Padres National Forest to Nevada. There are several approaches to the summit of Pacifico Mountain, and we'll take what I think is the most scenic one up the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). It's a great hike without big crowds.

In this Guide:

Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions to Hike Pacifico Mountain on the PCT
Parking and Fees for the Hike
Camping on Pacifico Mountain
Insider Tips and Recommendations

Quick Links: Parks Pass - Angeles National Forest - NOAA Weather Report - Top Gear Picks (Sep 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

Where is Pacifico Mountain?

We'll start this hike at the Mill Creek Summit Picnic Area, off of the Angeles Forest Highway (N3), a popular commuting route between the desert and LA. Use this trailhead address:
Mill Creek Summit Picnic Area, Angeles Forest Hwy, Palmdale, CA 93550

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 4 — There's a big parking area at Mill Creek that I've never seen full.

You need a National Parks pass or Adventure Pass to park here.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 5 — There's a toilet but no water fills at the trailhead.

Gear For the Hike

This is a proper backcountry hike, so use your hiking gear and have the essentials.
There's no water and little shade, and the hike can get hot. I bring at least 3L. The climate feels more like the desert than a forest.
There aren't steep climbs on this trail, and it's easy to hike without trekking poles if you want to leave them at home.

My Latest Gear Picks

Garmin inReach Mini 2 ( Amazon | REI )
HOKA Speedgoat 5 ( Men | Women )
Zpacks Sub-Nero Ultra ( Zpacks | Review )
Alpine Carbon Cork Poles ( REI | Amazon )

As a hiking guide, I test lots of hiking gear. On my picks page, I'll show you all of the gear that I actually use. I don't accept paid promotions or talk about the stuff that doesn't make the cut. It's just the gear that works best, so you don't have to waste your money.

All My September 2023 Top Gear Picks

Camping Options

This hike offers some great short overnight camping options. It's especially great if you want to camp after work and get back in the morning, as the distances aren't long, and the climbing isn't bad. You can even drive your car to the summit (I'd recommend high-clearance AWD) and just camp.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 1 — The summit area has several camp areas where you can pull a car up and get great views.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 2 — There are also at least a dozen of flat PCT primitive tent sites along the trail. The best ones are when you get to the flat section along the ridge.

Pacifico Mountain Trail Maps

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 3 — Much of the area along this hike was destroyed in the 2009 Station Fire, and you can still see evidence of it today.

We will take the PCT from Mill Creek up to a saddle, and then do the last mile on a dirt road (with great views). There aren't a lot of twists and turns, and overall the gradient is gentle.

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Elevation Profile

Pacifico Mountain Hike Elevation — It's a gentle climb to about the mid-way point, where you get a flat breather along the ridgeline, and then do the final climb to the summit.

3D Map

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions

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Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 7 — There's a nice big PCT marker at the start of the trail.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 8 — The steepest part of the hike is right at the beginning, as the trail leaves the road.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 9 — Avoid the small cutoff to the Pony Park equestrian trailhead and continue straight.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 10 — Now we start the gradual climb.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 11 — You'll wind around and along the folds on the side of the canyon. The views are great.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 12 — As you wind into Tie Canyon, look up to see the trail continue above you.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 13 — In the distance you'll be able to see the Tehachapi Mountains, which separate the Mojave from California's Central Valley to the north (Bakersfield, etc.).

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 14 — Once you get around Tie Canyon, the trail doubles back with some switchbacks. In front of you is Granite Mountain at 6603 feet.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 15 — And back across the valley from where you started, you can see Mount Gleason, home to the (now closed) highest elevation Nike Missile site in the country at 6523 feet. The road to the summit is paved and you can drive up there.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 16 — And then you crest the ridge, and can see north into the Mojave.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 17 — The trail then levels out and heads east along the ridge. In the distance, Pacifico Mountain, which looks closer than it actually is. There are a few nice primitive camping spots along this stretch.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 18 — You'll leave the scrub and enter the shade of some pines that survived the forest fires. Stay straight on the PCT.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 19 — The trail is level here as it hugs the ridge.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 20 — Eventually you'll approach the saddle where we are going to hop onto the road.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 21 — At the saddle, we're going to continue through and make the right. The PCT heads off to the left.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 22 — There's a sign here that needed some TLC during my visit.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 23 — At the split, go right to the road. There's also use trail on the left that climbs steeply and directly to the summit, which we're not going to take. Head to the road.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 24 — Now you're on the road for the last mile to the summit.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 25 — And immediately the views open up. In the clouds on the left is Saddleback Mountain, and on the right Monrovia Peak.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 26 — And then Mt Wilson, Mt Disappointment, and Strawberry Peak.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 27 — The road winds around to the north past some informal campsites.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 29 — Look back to your right as you turn north. You'll see views of (left to right) Mt Baldy, Mt Waterman and the Twin Peaks.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 28 — And to the north you'll see into the Mojave. On a clear day you can even spot Mt Charleston, which is outside of Las Vegas.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 30 — When you get to the campground sign, make the hard left to hit the summit.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 31 — The summit area is this group of boulders. There are some use trails heading into it.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 32 — You can climb to the top of the bigger boulders to reach the "top top."

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 33 — Or just check out the summit marker on the lower boulder.

Pacifico, which means peaceful, accurately describes the vibe up here. Some people think the peak is named Pacifico because you can sometimes see the ocean from here. Others speculate it was named by the bandit that the Zorro stories were based on, Tiburcio Vásquez, who had a hideout nearby at Sheep Springs.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 34 — The views are okay from the summit boulders, but you'll want to visit the campsites around the permitter to enjoy better views.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 35 — The campground has a toilet.

Pacifico Mountain Hike Directions 36 — Enjoy the summit, and then head back down the way you came up.

You can also make this a loop by taking the road back down, but I find the hike on the PCT to be much nicer.

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!).

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