Pinyon Trail - #PinyonTrail

Socal - Riverside County - Pinyon Pines NickNames: #PinyonTrail

Pinyon Pines is on Highway 74 a short drive up from Palm Desert,Ca. From the I-215 take the 74 East thru Hemet, from Riverside take the I-10 East to monterey(74) and go south thru Palm Desert. At any rate, to locate it on a map or Thomas guide, its on the 74 a little less than half way between the Idyllwild exit and highway 111 in Palm Desert.
From either direction, you will see a brown sign that says Pinyon Camp and a green sign that says Pinon Dr. , turn here and park by the entrance to the camp grounds on the side of the street.

3 Review(s)Login

• Trail UpdatePinyon Trail NOT Pinesmoke Loop!-After 10 years of not being updated- I feel I should bring you up-to-date, on this trail. First of all- this trail is primarily a horse and foot trail, so there will be alot of hike-a-bike sections. Secondly, time has not been very good to this trail. There are areas that are very rough and overgrown, so proceed with care:

  IMPORTANT!
  #1 - Bring ALOT of water! If you are doing the 8-mile full loop, you need at least 70 ounces of water in your Camelback. I prefer one gallon, myself. Trust me-
  you will be in the middle of nowhere....so every drop counts!

  #2 - Carry extra TUBES! Even if you are running UST tubeless, don't be stupid and think Stan's sealant alone will will get you home safely. A five-mile + walk to your car, will absolutely RUIN your ride!

  #3 - Don't do this ride alone. Also, your cellphone is useless out there. If you ever get lost- simply go back the way you came.

  #4 - BEST MONTHS to ride, are from November thru February. It may be cold, so dress accordingly.

  (THIS UPDATE IS FOR THE 8.10 MILE FULL LOOP):
  Adjacent to the Pinyon Flats Campground, just across Hwy 74....is the Sawmill Trailhead, right up a small road, before the recycling center. Park at the Sawmill Trailhead(5E04) parking area and you will see a gated and locked entrance, across the road. Go around it and start your ride. Remember to bear right, past the first trail marker and stay close to the highway. This section is rocky and has deep sand in spots. Also, watch the cactus as you navigate this area. When you reach a steel utility pipe- jump over it and take the LEFT fork, on the trail. Follow it through until you reach a TUNNEL to your right. This cool tunnel goes directly under Highway 74, and is a good place to have a snack and a drink.

  When passing the tunnel- hike your bike up a short grade to your LEFT, and the singletrack continues. When you reach the fire road, go LEFT on it until you see the next trail marker, at Palm Canyon Drive(a wide dirt road). Cross the dirt road and continue the singletrack past the trailhead marker. This area has alot of switchbacks and some elevation gain, which is minimal. Follow this across a few sandy, dried creek beds, until you reach a wide wash. Cross the wash and hike up another steep section, and continue until you see the Boy Scout cut off marker, then go RIGHT for another mile on another dirt road, until you see Palm Canyon Dr. again. Turn RIGHT on Palm Canyon and go LEFT once you see the second trailhead marker you previously passed. Follow this fire road back to the campground on Pinon Dr, cross-over Hwy 74 and return back to your vehicle.

  Estimated ride time: 4-5hrs. HAVE FUN!!!

  
  
  Zachariah a 44 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Cannondale F2000 SL from Bermuda Dunes, CA

  Posted:09/24/2008

• Trail UpdatePinesmoke Loop-This is a fun trail to ride. The first 1.5 miles (aprox.) is newer and has some places with larger rocks laced with deep sand. It is a good warm up for the last six miles. After crossing under the hiway, one turns left up a short hill and the single tracking starts. This section is fun, not to technical, and can be executed by all riders. A great highlight at the end of the dirt road is a large jump that you can get some air off of.
  Ride rating: Novice
  Ride distance: 8miles Elevation change: min
  Singletrack=80% Dirt Road=15% Truck Trail=5%
  Brian a 34 year old Die-hard Enthusiast from palm desert

  Posted:12/18/1999

• Trail UpdatePinesmoke Loop-From here, there are 2 options, the long way is about 8 miles and has a new section that is fresh cut and a little technical, or the 5mile loop that is short and sweet....
  For the long way, cross back over the highway and head up the street and you will come to another campground entrance to your right. It will be gated usually, but proceed around it and straight ahead on the a wide dirt road, and you will see the 1st trailhead sign, here you start singletrack, for a couple of miles u have some fun trail and some kinda messy sections from being new, but it will be cool in time.
  After passing thru a tunnel under the Hiway, take a sharp left up the bank and continue a nice section that meanders then dumps u out to the left on a rough fireroad follow it til it comes to a left turn onto a wide dirt road, cross right over it. Here is the 2nd trailhead, stroll through some nice trail for about 3miles to another trailhead marker intersection and go right. Another mile and you are on the end of a dirt road, head straight up this to a 4-way intersection, go right and then make the 1st left, follow this dirtroad back to your car.
  The Short loop, from where you parked, just as you enter the campground across the street, hte trailhead is immediately to the right, follow this trail 1mile to the 2nd trailhead mentioned above and execute the same directions from there........have a blast!!!
  Feel free to e-mail me with questions or if you would like a guide, I ride this trail every day cuz its my backyard practically, so let me know ...... Ride on Brothers!!!
  Singletrack=75% Dirt Road=20% Paved Path=5%
  Paul Rogers a 30 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a my Monster Truck excuse for a SuperV from Pinyon Pines , Ca

  Posted:11/14/1998