Lucky 5 Ranch, Pacific Crest Trail

It's spring, and a young hiker's fancy turns to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). I'm no longer young, but I still fancy the PCT, and now is the time of year to meet some through hikers. On May 3, 2018, we did a seven-mile loop, leaving the shorter 3.8-mile loop for future hikes.

We'll do the shorter loop down to the entrance to the Lucky 5 Ranch on the PCT and return by the Sunrise Trail (formerly called the Lucky 5 Trail), which parallels Sunrise Highway. The elevation change is 442 feet, according to AllTrails.

We did this hike on April 29, 2025. For details, see www.meetup.com/sandiegodayhikers/events/307486406.

There are good views from some places, but no mountains to climb.

We'll meet at 9:30 AM at the signed Sunrise Trailhead on the west side of Sunrise Highway (also known as County Highway S1) at postmile 34.2 (N 32 58.648 W 116 31.439). There are rest rooms. At 9:45 AM we'll set out to the PCT.

The hike will be partly on state park trails, where dogs are not allowed, and partly on the PCT, where bicycles are not allowed.

SUGGESTED ROUTE FROM SAN DIEGO: Go east on Interstate 8 about 45 miles to the Sunrise Highway exit. Then go north on Sunrise Highway about 21 miles. The Sunrise Trailhead will be on your left. In Google maps, it is called "Pacific Crest Trail - Sunrise Trailhead".

CONTACT: Philip Erdelsky, cell 619-866-8512 E-mail *pje@efgh.com*.

Wear good hiking shoes or boots, dress in layers, use sun protection and take water. No lunch stop is planned, but you might want to take a snack. There will be very little shade. There is one stream crossing, which usually contains very little water.

If there is enough demand, we can do the seven-mile loop at a later date.