4th Mt. Pino’s Fall Weekend Campout 🏕️& Hikes 🥾in Los Padres National Forest
Details
ABOUT THE CAMPOUT: Enjoy Fall colors and pine scented forests in this September campout and hiking adventure. We will be camping at the Chula Vista Campground adjacent to the Mt. Pinos Nordic Base in the Los Padres National Forest at 8,300 feet. All of the OC & LA stargazers come here for a beautiful clear sky 🌌 🌟☄️💫🌠
Mt. Pino’s Nordic base is readily available and comes up in Google Maps. But load it before you are on the road. There is no cell signal in the huge parking lot.
This beautiful campground is located in a lofty pine forest, with picnic tables, fire pits, and enclosed vault toilets. The camp ground is first come/first served & FREE, and is situated 326 yards (just over 3 football 🏈 fields) from plentiful parking. So, bring your wagon! We also need to bring own water 💦 and take out our own trash. Please read, understand, and follow the campground’s rules!
From the large parking lot (that can accommodate large RVs) at the Mt. Pino’s Nordic Base, go to the right of the building and through the gate and follow the path.
We suggest you look for the large lovely flat campsites (#10, 11, 12, etc.) located on the left as you enter the campground. I will get there early to try to secure this group of campsites. Each site has a choice view of a high mountain meadow and we can have enough room for space, yet proximity to each other.
Most of us had great cell signal where we camped. There is a cell tower at Mt. Pino’s, 1.7 miles up the mountain. So you may need to just orient yourself or walk a bit if you’re not getting service & need it.
Please bring wood 🪵 for the communal group campfire 🔥! We can normally have one ☝️
And bring some tasty food to eat & share!
For the dinners on Friday & Saturday evenings, we will have a potluck.
If you arrive on Friday, please assist your event hosts by helping to secure the premium campsites mentioned above.
This campout is intended to facilitate two hikes in the Los Padres National Forest. The campout does not require the hikes, and the hikes do not require the campout.
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Saturday at 10 AM, we hike four miles from Cuddy Valley Road on a beautiful single track trail to McGill Campground with approximately 1,400 of elevation gain/loss. And then back down for 8 miles RT. We could also do the other direction depending on the group’s preference. And, it can always be shortened if you like because it is just in & out on the same single track trail.
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Sunday at 10 AM, we hike eight miles RT to Mt. Pinos and Sawmill Mountain with approximately 1,600 feet of elevation gain/loss. Peole can also just go to Mt. Pinos and back down for only 4 miles RT.
Here is a video of the Sunday hike:
Check out previous years’ events for photos and lots more information!
**Join me at Fall Campout and Hikes in the Los Padres National Forest https://meetu.ps/e/MGT44/C3jP/i**
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 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.