McGill Trail up to Campground on the right hand side of road, on the way to Pino

We had perfect hiking weather last weekend, so doing it again!

This starts at about 8,000 feet, so nice & cool 🥶😎

NOTE: we will start at the McGill Trailhead. It is marked with a sign about 8-9 miles on the right hand side of the road BEFORE you get to Mt. Pino’s Nordic Base.

WE WILL HIKE UP TO THE McGill Campground. (Meetup wouldn’t accept the address of the trail head.)
There is a sign on the right side along the road on the way to Pinos that states, “McGill Trail, McGill Campground 3 3/4 miles”. That is where we will start. Look for the sign on the right hand side of the road in the cover photograph.

If you get to the McGill Campground drive in entrance, with a gate, then you have driven too far. Turn around and drive back a little & look more closely for a little turn out area, with the sign.

Please be ready to have traveled there and be ready to start by 10:00 am.

Plan on a similar hike and pace as this one:

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-ride-e334fd9--19?p=-1&sh=tzxl8k

We will hike up to McGill Campground and then back down. It is 7.8 miles or so and 1,578 feet elevation gain, at a
reasonable (not fast or slow pace).
We just did this timing on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

When we started, the temperature at the bottom was 69 degrees and at the end was 76 degrees. At the higher elevation, there was a cool breeze and it was a bit cooler. The AQ was significantly better there than in Bakersfield. And there were still some pretty flowers all along the way. 💐

South on Interstate Highway 5 now is a good place to go to get some exercise and hiking!

No entrance fee, and parking is free 💰👍 but limited alongside the road at the trailhead. But not too full that it has ever been an issue.

If coming from Bakersfield, we can meet & carpool from Enos/Highway 43 at the Western end of the Riverwalk bike trail. I drive by there frequently and there are always parking spots available.👍

Please let me know if you want to do that together!

***All of our Kern Valley Hiking Club Group’s basic regular hiker responsibilities and release of liabilities apply here, as stated on all of our events.

Please refer to them if you have any questions.

*** PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY *** No one in the group is a guide or in any way responsible for your comfort or safety. Please be prepared with adequate gear and supplies for the trip. Please remember that going out into wilderness has risks associated with it and you should be aware and prepared to address any changes in weather, road conditions or to look out for/avoid random acts of nature, including insects, wild animals and natural hazards. It is your responsibility to evaluate the difficulty of any activity you participate in, and decide whether you are prepared by having the experience, skill, knowledge, equipment, and the physical and emotional stamina to safely participate.

*** WAIVER OF LIABILITY *** The Organizers and members in this group are not professional leaders, guides, or mountaineers. The function of the member or organizer is only to organize the trip. Each person who shows up for a trip/meetup (and their guest or guests) is responsible for his or her own safety. By attending a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you and any guests that you bring are aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with the activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the Organizers, Members of the Kern Valley Hiking Club Meetup Group from and against any and all liability arising from your participation in the group activities.
By RSVPing you and those you bring with you as your guests ARE agreeing to the above statements.