MT. PINOS

THE CENTER OF THE CHUMASH WORLD

Mt. Pinos, known as Iwihinmu in the Chumash language, was considered by the Chumash Indians to be the center of the world, or Liyikshup—the point where all things were in balance.

Not only was Mt. Pinos the highest summit within the region occupied by the Chumash, but it also lay near the heart of their historic homeland. The Chumash Wilderness, established in 1992 by the Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act, spans 38,150 acres.

Located in the Mt. Pinos Ranger District, the Chumash Wilderness includes Mt. Pinos, which was integral to Chumash life and remains an important cultural site for the local Chumash people. The wilderness is home to a mix of pine forests in the northern part and badlands and chaparral in the south. Hiking and camping are just a few of the recreational activities available, and winter snowfall provides opportunities for a variety of winter sports.

For more information about the Chumash Indians, visit the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians website.

MT. PINOS

SUMMIT HIKING TRAIL

The summit of Mt. Pinos can be reached by a scenic 1.4-mile hike along a dirt trail, beginning at the trailhead in the Chula Vista parking area, located at the end of Los Padres National Forest Road S349S, also known as Mt. Pinos Road.

The trail starts through a beautiful forest, with towering pines, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere. As you ascend, the landscape gradually opens up, and you'll find yourself walking through an open meadow with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The final stretch to the summit rewards hikers with breathtaking panoramas of the Los Padres National Forest, Pine Mountain Club, and beyond.

The trail continues into the Chumash Indian Wilderness on the west-facing side of Mt. Pinos and extends all the way to Mount Abel (Cerro Noroeste), about 6 miles away. Most of the trail is above 8,000 feet, offering hikers a unique combination of forest, open meadow, and high-altitude vistas that make this hike particularly memorable.

Visit the Pine Mountain Club Trails page for photos and information on trailheads that begin on Pine Mountain Club property and lead into the beautiful Los Padres National Forest.

PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB

TRAILS PAGE

MT. PINOS CAMPGROUND

Mt. Pinos campground is open in the spring, summer and a portion of the fall months with closure during the winter season -- approximately from mid-November through mid-April.

The campground is shaded by Jeffery Pine and located 16 miles west of Frazier Park. There are 19 camp sites with facilities that include vault restrooms, fire rings, tables, and the campground can accept RV's up to 26 feet.

Furry Friends

Dogs must be kept on a leash in campgrounds and in picnic areas. Dogs must wear a collar with current tags at all times, as state and county laws apply on National Forest System lands.

Water

No water is available at this time.

Mt. Pinos Campground Reservations

Campsites must be reserved by calling the Recreation.Gov office at the number below.

(877) 444-6777

Mt Pinos Campground Information

For current fees, operating times, area status, and additional information, visit the Mt. Pinos Campground information page on the Los Padres National Forest website.

From I-5, take the Frazier Park exit (Frazier Mountain Park Road). Go West for approximately 6 miles. The road name will change to Cuddy Valley Road. Continue on Cuddy Valley Road. The road name will change again to Mt. Pinos Road. Mt. Pinos Campground is approximately 7 miles further on the southeast side of road.

Mt. Pinos Campground Management

Mt. Pinos Campground is managed by the Parks Management Company for the Forest Service.

VISIT

MCGILL

CAMPGROUND

McGill campground is usually open in the spring, summer and a portion of the fall months with closure during the winter season -- approximately from mid-November through mid-April.

The McGill campground is under open sky in a mixed conifer forest and located 13 miles west of Frazier Park. There are 73 camp sites and facilities that include vault restrooms, fire rings, tables, two group campground sites; one accommodating up to 80 people and one accommodating up to 60 people. Some sites in the campground can accept RV's up to 30 feet.

Furry Friends

Dogs must be kept on a leash in campgrounds and in picnic areas. Dogs must wear a collar with current tags at all times, as state and county laws apply on National Forest System lands.

Water

No water is available at this time.

McGill Group Campground Reservations

Campsites must be reserved by calling the Recreation.Gov office at the number below.

(877) 444-6777

McGill Campground Information

For current fees, operating times, area status, and additional information, visit the McGill Campground information page on the Los Padres National Forest website.

From I-5, take Frazier Park exit (Frazier Mountain Park Road). Go West for approximately 6 miles. The road name will change to Cuddy Valley Road. Continue on Cuddy Valley Road. The road name will change again to Mt. Pinos Road. McGill Campground is approximately 5 miles further on the north side of road.

McGill Campground Management

McGill Campground is managed by the Parks Management Company for the Forest Service.

VISIT

CHULA VISTA CAMPGROUND

The Chula Vista Campground is a walk-in campground open in the spring, summer and a portion of the fall months with closure during the winter season -- approximately from mid-November through mid-April.

The campground is shaded by Jeffery Pine and located 18 miles west of Frazier Park. There are 12 camp sites with facilities that include parking in the Chula Vista parking lot, vault restrooms, and picnic tables.

Furry Friends

Dogs must be kept on a leash in campgrounds and in picnic areas. Dogs must wear a collar with current tags at all times, as state and county laws apply on National Forest System lands.

Water

No water is available at this time.

No Reservations Required

Campsites are available on a first-come first-served basis. Check-in time is 3:00 p.m. Check-out time is 12:00 p.m. Quiet Hours: 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Walking Distance to Campground

The walking distance from the Chula Vista Parking lot to the Campground is about 500 yards. The dirt trail leading to the campground is groomed and fairly level with a slight incline right before reaching the campground.

Chula Vista Campground overlooks a large meadow that contains Iris blooms and other wildflowers in the late spring.

Chula Vista Campground Information

For additional information, visit the Chula Vista Campground information page on the Los Padres National Forest website.

From I-5, take the Frazier Park exit (Frazier Mountain Park Road). Go West for approximately 6 miles. The road name will change to Cuddy Valley Road. Continue on Cuddy Valley Road. The road name will change again to Mt. Pinos Road. Follow Mt. Pinos Road to the Chula Vista parking lot. The Chula Vista Walk-in Campground is approximately 500 feet Northeast of the parking lot.

Chula Vista Campground Management

Chula Vista Campground is managed by the Parks Management Company for the Forest Service.

MT. PINOS

STARGAZING

Ask any astronomer where the best stargazing site in California is, and chances are they'll say Mt. Pinos.

The Mt. Pinos parking lot (Chula Vista) is at an elevation of 8,100 feet and is a popular viewing area for both amateur and professional astronomers and astro-photographers.

Mount Pinos is considered to be one of the best stargazing locations in California due to its dark skies, extremely low light pollution, and frequent clear skies.

The usual viewing area is in the large parking area (Chula Vista) surrounded by tall pines located about 1.4 miles east of the actual Mt. Pinos peak.

Tips for New Mt. Pinos Stargazers

• Check the sunset time for the day you plan to visit and allow enough time to arrive before nightfall. If you want a nice viewing location, arrive between 2:00pm or 3:00pm.
• Temperatures drop in the early evening even in summer, so take plenty of warm clothing and blankets if you plan on spending any length of time outside your vehicle.
• Pack snacks and beverages or purchase them in Frazier Park or Lake of the Woods on the way to the summit. Portable restrooms are located in the parking area. An Adventure Pass is required. See "Adventure Pass" section below.
• Back your car into its parking space. Reverse backup lights are extremely bright when the eyes of your fellow star gazers are adapted to the dark. Turn the courtesy light in your car to the OFF position.
• Use Red-Filtered flashlights outside. Keeping the ground light in the parking area to a minimum is the goal.
• When leaving the parking lot, many people use only their parking lights. If they drive a GM car with daytime headlights, they will pull their emergency brake up one click to shut them off until they are out of the parking lot. The decision to use or not use your headlights in the parking area is up to you – consider your safety and the safety of others first.
• Arriving early has its rewards. You'll find a better parking spot for star gazing, meet fellow amateur astronomers, and learn about astronomy equipment. You can also hike up to the peak of Mount Pinos. It's about 1.4 miles. On a clear day, you can see the entire San Joaquin Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges.

Clear Sky Chart – At–A-Glance Sky Conditions

Before you venture up to Mt. Pinos for some stargazing, check the conditions of the sky and more at Clear Dark Sky. The information and data provided make it easy to find out if the weather conditions will be optimal for astronomical observing.

• Cloud Cover
• ECMWF Cloud
• Transparency
• Seeing
• Darkness
• Smoke
• Wind
• Humidity
• Temperature
• Extended Forecasts
• Near Real-time Satellite Imagery of Clouds
• Sun & Moon Date
• Star Maps

The Mount Pinos Clear Sky Chart and Forecasting is created and maintained by Attilla Danko and Allan Rahill with data coming from multiple sources.

The Clear Dark Sky website is not designed to change size and shape to best fit your device. You may need to increase the size of your browser window, left or right, to see and read the chart and text.

Heavens Above – Interactive Sky Chart

The Heavens Above website provides an interactive Sky Chart that allows you to enter year, date, and time to see everything from the ecliptic plane to the constellations. The Heavens Above Sky Chart was developed and is maintained by Chris Peat. Heavens-Above GmbH builds software products for the space industry.

• Celestial Equator
• Ecliptic Plane
• Star Names
• Planet Names
• Constellation Names
• Constellation Lines
• Constellation Boundaries

MT. PINOS

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Mountain bikes are welcome on all non-wilderness trails within the Mt. Pinos trail system, as well as on the 68 miles of bike trails in the nearby 8,000-acre Ballinger Canyon area. This area features a relatively dense network of routes, offering many opportunities for loops of varying difficulty.

The McGill Biking Trail is a popular shared-use trail frequented by mountain bikers, hikers, and horseback riders. You can access the trail by parking at either the McGill Campground or the Chula Vista parking lot. From the Chula Vista lot, you can catch the trail heading towards the Mt. Pinos Summit. The terrain is rocky in some sections, with several tight switchbacks that can make the downhill ride a bit challenging.

The trail offers breathtaking views of the San Emigdio Mountains and Pine Mountain Club from its highest north-facing side. On clear days, you'll be treated to stunning vistas of the San Joaquin Valley to the north and the Tehachapi Mountains to the east, especially from the lower McGill Campground trail area. The trail is shaded in spots, winding through both pine forests and meadows.

Be prepared for variable weather and temperature drops. The McGill Campground sits at 7,300 feet in elevation, while the Mt. Pinos Summit rises to 8,847 feet.

For more information on biking trails in the Mt. Pinos area, visit the Trailforks.com website.

MT. PINOS

WINTER SPORTS

The consistent snow conditions at Mt. Pinos make it an excellent destination for various winter activities, including cross-country skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and snow camping.

The network of ski trails and backcountry snowboarding bowls on Mt. Pinos is documented on a map, which is available for a suggested donation from the Mt. Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol. The Nordic Base facility is located at the top of Mt. Pinos Road, at the Chula Vista parking lot.

These ski trails are part of a dispersed recreation area managed through a partnership between the United States Forest Service (Los Padres National Forest), local businesses from the Frazier Park area, and the Mt. Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol.

From the Chula Vista parking lot, the trail network expands uphill towards Condor Point and downhill, reaching as far as McGill Campground. In addition, skiing and snowboarding are available in the backcountry bowls on the north face of the peak and ridges that descend to approximately the 6,000-foot elevation level. Popular destinations include Condor Point, 1st and 2nd Meadows, and Inspiration Point.

The Overlook Trail leads to the North Ridge area, which was home to an alpine ski area in the 1960s. The lifts were tow ropes, located on the three fingers of the drainage just north of the Overlook Trail.

For more ambitious backcountry skiers, there are trips to nearby Sheep Camp on Sawmill Mountain, Mount Abel (Cerro Noroeste), and, if snow conditions permit, a descent all the way down to Pine Mountain Club.

During and immediately after heavy snowstorms, it may not be possible to drive to the top of Mt. Pinos due to delays in snow plowing. In such cases, the Kern County Roads Department may close a snow gate lower on the mountain. However, it is still possible to ski from the vicinity of the snow gate and enjoy the lower slopes of Mt. Pinos.

The snow at lower elevations also enables cross-country skiing to Iris Point, which offers stunning views of Lockwood Valley. For current weather and road conditions, refer to the "Mt. Pinos Weather" section below.

Directions

From I-5, take the Frazier Park exit (Frazier Mountain Park Road). Go west for approximately 6 miles. The road will change to Cuddy Valley Road. Continue on Cuddy Valley Road as it turns into Mt. Pinos Road. Follow Mt. Pinos Road to the Chula Vista parking lot.

MT. PINOS

WINTER SAFETY & SNOW PLAY TIPS

Winter Safety Information

Safety and Snow Play information provided by the Los Padres National Forest Service.

1. Carry snow chains – chains are required for this area of the Los Padres National Forest during the winter season. Be sure to check current road and snow conditions before your trip. For up-to-date weather information, visit The Weather Channel website.
2. Check weather conditions. Click the Weather Channel logo for current and forecasted area weather.
   
   
   
3. Leave your itinerary with someone. Always let a friend or family member know your plans. It's safer not to travel alone, and make sure you have a reliable map.
4. Dress appropriately. Wear layered clothing, gloves, a warm hat, and footwear suitable for wet and rugged terrain.
5. Be prepared. Carry blankets, dry clothing, extra food and water, a flashlight, a first aid kit, matches, and a shovel in your car.
6. Check your tire chains. Ensure your tire chains fit properly and that you know how to install them.
7. Prepare your vehicle. Make sure your wiper blades are working, and fill up your gas tank. Gas stations are available in Lebec, Frazier Park, and Lake of the Woods after entering the national forest.
8. Watch for heavy traffic. Slow-moving traffic is common, especially during peak winter times. Only pass cars in designated passing lanes.
9. Park responsibly. Always park off the traveled portion of the road to avoid blocking traffic or other vehicles.
10. Be cautious of ice. Watch for icy patches on the road, particularly in late afternoon shadows. Beware of "black ice" — pavement that appears clear but is actually glazed with ice.
11. Watch your footing. Be extra cautious when hiking or walking in snow and icy conditions.
12. Snow play safety. When sledding or tubing, make sure you have plenty of space to stop, away from trees, parked cars, and other people.
13. Stay calm if lost or injured. If you become lost or injured, stay calm, dry, and sheltered if possible. Do not wander from your planned route. Use your cell phone to call 911, but keep in mind that cell phones may not work in many areas of the forest.

Snow Play Tips

The Los Padres National Forest and the Mt. Pinos Ranger District cover many private lands, including the communities of Lebec, Frazier Park, Lake of the Woods, Piñon Pines, Cuddy Valley, and Pine Mountain Club. Please respect private property.

• Avoid private property. Do not park or play on private land.
• Dispose of trash properly. Use the provided trash receptacles.
• Display your National Forest Pass. If you are parked within the national forest while recreating, be sure to display your National Forest Adventure Pass or another valid National Forest Pass. This is required for all types of recreation, both summer and winter.
• Drive carefully. There are many places to park along the main highway, where the speed limit is 55 mph. Be extra cautious of traffic, and watch out for pedestrians, including children.

MT. PINOS

NORDIC SKI PATROL

Since 1976

The Mt. Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol is a dedicated volunteer organization that partners with the United States Forest Service. Since 1976, they have been providing essential services in the Los Padres National Forest.

Their patrol was named the National Outstanding Nordic Ski Patrol by the National Ski Patrol System for 1993, 1996, 1999, 2006, 2011, 2017, and again in 2023.

The patrol has earned recognition as the National Outstanding Nordic Ski Patrol by the National Ski Patrol System in 1993, 1996, 1999, 2006, 2011, 2017, and most recently in 2023.

With 36 active members, the patrol operates on most weekends from December through mid-April. Their team is made up of a diverse group, including professionals, tradespeople, techies, students, retirees, and many others.

For the latest updates on conditions and activities, follow the Mt. Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol on Facebook.

For more information about the patrol and its activities, visit the Mt. Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol Website.

MT. PINOS

WEATHER

In the winter months, the Mt. Pinos summit can experience harsh weather in contrast to the milder winter weather experienced in most of Southern California.

Temperatures reach freezing only in the coldest months with lows dropping into the teens at night.

The summer months are usually mild with high temperatures rarely reaching above 75. The area experiences occasional thunderstorms, some delivering intense and localized downpours.

Always check weather conditions before traveling to the area. Be prepared with snow chains during the late fall and winter months. For current weather conditions, visit The Weather Channel website and the Caltrans website for road conditions.

Snow and Road Conditions - Mount Pinos Ranger District

Check snow and road conditions and the latest alerts provided by the Mt. Pinos Ranger District and the National Forest Service.

MT. PINOS

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

From Los Angeles, take Interstate I-5 north and exit Frazier Mountain Park Road -- about 35 miles past the Castaic Junction (Magic Mountain).

Turn left from the Frazier Mountain Park off ramp and drive west. You will reach a 4-way stop in the center of Frazier Park. Continue west on Frazier Mountain Park Road.

You will pass Lockwood Valley Road on your left after 3 miles and Frazier Park Mountain Road will veer right and become Cuddy Valley Road.

You will eventually come to a "Y" intersection where Mil Potrero Highway meets Cuddy Valley Road with a sign indicating directions to Pine Mountain Club and Mt. Pinos. Stay on Cuddy Valley Road. Cuddy Valley Road will become Mt. Pinos Road at this "Y" intersection.

Follow Mt. Pinos road for about 9 miles. You'll pass through two yellow snow gates. One gate is at about 2 miles in and the other snow gate is about 6 miles in.

You'll eventually reach a road sign that says, "Pavement Ends." The Mt. Pinos parking area (Chula Vista) is just beyond this sign.

MT. PINOS

STAYING SAFE IN THE FOREST

To ensure a safe and enjoyable trip to the forest, visit the Los Padres National Forest and the Mt. Pinos Ranger District websites for valuable information.

Mt. Pinos Ranger District Office

Address - 34580 Lockwood Valley Road, Frazier Park, CA 93225

Office hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Closed Sun/Mon and Federal holidays.
Email: Julie Schneider: julie.schneider@usda.gov for visitor information.
District Ranger - Karina Medina

(661) 245-3731