Elevation: 5900′ Calories Burned: approx. 2000 Restrooms: At Laguna Mtn. Lodge 4 miles south.
Driving Directions: From the I-5, I-15, and state route 67, travel east on I-8 and exit on the Sunrise Highway off-ramp. Turn left, and follow the sunrise highway up through the forest, past the village at Mt. Laguna, and park at the Penny Pines Trailhead. Parking is free.
Garnet Peak Map
I love doing first-time hikes and Garnet is one I’ve wanted to do for a while now. Located out in the Beautiful Laguna Mountains Cleveland National Forest area, half the fun of this hike is getting there driving through the Curvy Sunrise Mountainous Hwy., through Pine Valley which is comprised of Jeffrey Pines, gorgeous mountain scenery and at every tune views to die for, literally, so drive safe.
You will pass the Laguna Lodge on the left, stop here to use the restroom and last-minute snacks and or liquids. Continue on about 4 miles and the trailhead starts to Penny Pines is on the right between the 27.0 and 27.5-mile marker. There is plenty of parking which is free with no need for an adventure pass.
The Penny Pines trail is the middle version of hiking Garnet Peak, as there are 10.4 (Pioneer mail) and 2.5-mile (Sunrise Highway 0.1 miles south of Mile Marker 28, near Deer Lake Park Road.), roundtrip trails.
I like this hike because the 4.7 miles offers a challenge, is not overwhelming and gives you enough trail to appreciate everything that the 10.4-mile trail offers and makes the drive out to the Laguna Mountains and Pine Valley worth your time and energy.
Penny Pines trailhead Start
The trailhead is well marked with a large Penny Pines trailhead sign, you will see the Penny Pines Information board and the trailhead start. Pass by the sign onto the trail leading you to Garnet Peak along the Pacific Crest Trail. PCT blue shield markers denote the Pacific Crest Trail. Head northeast on the trail and you are on your way to the beautiful surrounding views of the desert before you and the rocky green landscaped mountain scenery all about you.
The trail along the PCT will meander north heading for the Garnet Peak junction of the PCT. Once you get to this point you will see a Garnet Peak Trail sign at mile mark approx. 1.85 miles, turn right and head east to Garnet Peak. You will start to see the Peak as you again angle north, don’t be intimidated by the Peak, it’s more intimidating looking than it is. You will come to a Garnet Peak sign, go right and head up the steep rocky trail to the Peak. you are now less than .50 mile from the boulder covered peak.
The last trek of this hike, you do some bouldering to the top. Take your time, before you know it you will have summited the beautiful peak of Garnet. Although the Peak is small, there are plenty of places to sit, rehydrate, eat and take in the vast beauty that unfolds before you; the desert floor below, the green covered mountains all around and the trail you left behind all enrich this beautiful visual experience. I love the Peaks!
The journey back is the same route and the 2.35 miles back are easy ones. I feel an added bonus to this hike is that the trail back, although of course the same trail, offers yet another variance to seeing the same you saw on the ascent yet a lot of what you did not see, again making this a totally fulfilling, challenging accomplishment of hiking Garnet Peak.
and the Flag at the Peak!
This is a must-do for any serious or not so serious hiker in San Diego County. You have a choice of 3 routes to get to Garnet Peak, each for every level of hiker. Also, the views at the Peak, as well as along the trail are breathtaking and I’d seriously rank as top5 views of any hike in San Diego County.
Have fun, be safe and as always; Hike with a partner, respect your limits, respect your partners limits, bring morewater than you need and be mindful where you step (snakes and rocks are plentiful on this hike) , one step at a time………..
After the Hike go to Alpine Beer Company for a well-deserved meal, drink and or both.
STEPS: 13, 073 DISTANCE:6.54 miles ELEVATION GAIN: 990 ′ HIKE TIME: 2:53 minutes including 30 minute stop at Eagle Rock PARKING/RESTROOMS; No facilities, park on road across from fire station. WATER: 1.5 liters used, brought 3L SNACKS: Sandwich, Pro Bar TEMP; at Hike Time 10:30am was 68 degrees
I love Hiking the Back Country and Desert areas of our county and now consider these areas my new favorite place to hike. The recent winter rains have had have turned the landscape a vibrant green and filled the creeks and falls with flowing water.
Like many of the hikes in the eastern part of our county, the drive out there provides a visual richness and stimulation of its own. The route out to Eagle Rock trailhead is easy to get to where ever you are coming from.. The trailhead starts just south of the Warner Springs Fire station on HWY 79 and is marked red sign pointing you in the right direction.
Eagle Rock Trailhead Hiker Therapy
Eagle Rock Hike Hiker Therapy
Eagle Rock Hiker Therapy
PCT Hiker Therapy
From the trailhead start, follow the well-marked PCT signs south and east up Canada Verde Creek, which on this day was full of fast flowing water. The trail to the “Rock” is approximately 3.5 miles and in the beginning cuts through a forested woodland of huge old coast live oaks engulfing you along the trail.
Eagle Rock Trail Hiker Therapy
PCT Eagle Rock Hiker Therapy
PCT Hiker Therapy
Eagle Rock Trail Hiker Therapy
Notice that some of the oaks are marked as bee trees. The trail is flat, well made and very easy to navigate. There are a few dips and climbs, but for the most part I would grade this hike as easy to moderate, moderate based on distance. As you climb, the trail continues to follow the creek, which slowly disappears from view as you hike out of the woodlands.
The trail climbs rising above the creek and opens up to what you would expect the Pacific Crest Trail to look like, lots of open spaces surrounded by rolling hills and the distant mountains of the local area. As you near the half-way point of this trail, the landscape becomes more desert like with low lying vegetation, cactus, chaparral and brush.
This section of the Pacific Crest Trail cuts through the Los Coyotes Indian reservation and is well marked with the legendary Pacific Crest Trail marker.
On this morning, there were others out on the trail, however, you do not feel like you are competing for trail space. The interesting part of this section of the PCT, are the “through” hikers who have started their journey of hiking the PCT in Campo and are headed north to tackle whatever goal they have set on this 2300+ trail that goes up to the Canadian Border.
PCT Hiker Therapy
Eagle Rock Hiker Therapy
Eagle Rock Hike Hiker Therapy
Eagle Rock Hike Hiker Therapy
The 2.5 mile section of this trail now becomes dotted with boulders and as you approach Eagle Rock the trail climbs a bit but never to the point of strenuous or an overwhelming challenge. Before you know it you are faced with a “Fork” in the road, go right or left you will still be guided around to the the face of ‘Eagle” and suddenly realize, Man!, this rock does look like an Eagle.
The GPS miles to this point read 3.38 miles and on this day we were just over 1 hour on the trail. There is a calming beauty to this trail, and my hiking partner surmized that since this is an Indian reservation there may be a sacred meaning to this section of the PCT and Eagle Rock.
As you enjoy that peace, have a snack or lunch and enjoy the vastness of the area as well of course Eagle Rock.
The return journey is the same as the trail that got you to Eagle Rock. This time back we stopped and enjoyed the flowing water of Canada Verde Creek and the surrounding Oak Woodland. As you approach Hwy. 79, the sounds of the flowing creek give way to the traffic noise of the road, thus letting you know you have made it back to your starting point.
Great Hike that gives you a chance to experience hiking a section of the Pacific Crest Trail, feeling the Peace and Calm of an Indian reservation and Eagle Rock, that really does look like an Eagle carved out of Rock!
As always, bring lots of water, more in heat, hike with a partner, respect your limits and those of your partner…….
