Fall Harvest Hike on the McGill Trail in Los Padres National Forest

ABOUT THE HIKE: The meetup for this hike will be at the Mt. Pinos Nordic Base parking lot with a car caravan 7.8 miles down the Mt. Pinos Highway to the trailhead. This is a beautiful single track trail through nicely shaded pine forests and mountain meadows on the northeastern side of Mt. Pinos. The trail provides scenic views of Cuddy Valley and the San Emigdio Mountains down into the San Joaquin Valley. This seasonal hike is timed to see a profusion of fall colors and a special added benefit. Bring a bag to harvest wild elderberries that grow in abundance along the trail. Your event hosts will provide recipes for making elderberry jam and sauce. We will stop for lunch at the McGill Campground and return the same trail back to the trailhead. Total time for this 7.4 mile hike will be approximately three hours, including 1,400 feet of elevation gain/loss. The trail is dog friendly.

Expect similar to this recent hike:

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-76f1cfd-130?p=-1&sh=tzxl8k

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: From Orange County, take Interstate 5 north through Los Angeles to the Frazier Park exit on to Frazier Mountain Park Road that changes to Cuddy Valley Road at 6.9 miles.... proceed another 5.2 miles as the road name changes again to Mt. Pinos Highway..... proceed another 8 miles to road end at the Mt. Pinos Nordic Base parking lot. These are good, two lane, winding mountain roads. Restroom are located nearby in the Chula Vista Campground.

DISCLAIMER: Group organizer and assistant organizers assume no liability; hike at your own risk. By being a member of this group you hereby agree to assume all risks and liability related to or resulting from any and all group functions. You agree that neither you nor any third party will hold any of the group's leaders, officers, or representatives liable for any injury, loss, or damage to your own person or any members of your family, friends, acquaintances, children, pets, or property, arising directly or as a consequence from a group activity. You also agree that your membership of this group is based on an "at will" basis.