9 miles
2300 feet gain
6/10
Mountain Center ,CA (92561) 109.05 miles from you Weather Map
The trailhead is very simple to find. Drive east about 4.5 miles past the Lake Hemet Store on the 74 Palms to Pines Highway. The road is clearly marked as Morris Ranch Road. Turn left. There is a fire station on the northeast side of the highway and a ranger station just down the road.
The road is paved all the way to the trailhead, which is clearly marked, and has ample parking a few feet away from the gate.
There are no trespassing signs, but they do not apply to hikers, just stay on the trail and you will have no problems.
For the first 3/4 mile the trail alternates between trail and road, there are a few gates and you will have no trouble staying on the trail. Turn right onto the PCT at the junction. When it seems you will pass Pine Mountain, you will see a large cairn and a side trail through tall manzanita. Follow it, it is marked by more cairns and the first bit is well worn.
The Cedar Springs Trail is a beautiful trail that is gently graded up to the PCT. The views along this section of the PCT are amazing.
The trail switchbacks up to the PCT. It is a bit rocky, so wear good boots.
A cairn(rock pile) marks the side trail to Pine Mountain, but I was unable to summit. I made it within .12 of a mile from the top, but I became entangled in the thorny manzanita which grows about 10 feet tall on the side of the mountain.
The trail was very hard to find in spots, and I had on new boots that created a large blister on my heel. I kept getting lost, and having to retrace my way along steep slopes. I tried to skirt around the edge of the chaparral, but to no avail. The blister cut my trip short by one peak and a visit to Cedar Springs. The summit is a great destination by itself, and the hike to Pyramid and Lion can be combined with this into an all day peakbagging adventure. Be advised that the combination is strenous.