Pets allowed
Not Allowed
Elevation Gain
4,060.00 ft (1,237.49 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
11.58 mi (18.64 km)
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Pine Mountain is located near Wrightwood, California, within the remote Sheep Mountain Wilderness. It can be reached from couple different routes, but the most direct route is from the trailhead at the end of Acorn Road. For anyone feeling more adventurous, the Pine Mountain summit can be combined with Dawson Mountain and Mount Baldy. 

The trail starts off with a steep climb, 2,000 feet up to Blue Ridge dirt road. Enjoy your time along this trail, it's steep but has a nice view over the valley. Once the climb is over take the dirt road or a faint single track to the east for a short distance. Keep looking to the south (right) for a spur trail toward Pine Mountain. From here, the route gets even steeper and more rough. Exercise caution because the trail is narrow and loose. 

Follow the narrow ridge until the summit of Pine Mountain and enjoy the view before heading south toward Dawson Peak, just 1 mile away. The ridge dips down for a bit before becoming steep again toward Dawson Summit where the view is quite spectacular. Mount Baldy looks quite close from here but will require some route finding in pretty rough terrain, and is definitely not for the faint-hearted. 

Once you are done and ready to head back, just follow the same route back to the trailhead. 

There is limited parking outside Camp Mariastella and there is no public parking allowed within Camp Mariastella. If there is no parking available there the other option is to park in the public parking lot about 1 mile away.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

None

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Solitude. Remote.

Cons

Rugged. No trail signs. Exposed ridges.

Trailhead Elevation

6,311.00 ft (1,923.59 m)

Highest point

9,575.00 ft (2,918.46 m)

Features

Backcountry camping
Wildlife
Big vistas
Wildflowers
Old-growth forest

Typically multi-day

No

Permit required

No

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

San Gabriel + San Bernardino Mountains, California
San Gabriel + San Bernardino Mountains, California
Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel Mountains

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