Pacific Crest Trail
15.5 mi · ▲ 3,088 ft · 6 hr 43 min
Pacific Crest Trail is a 15.5-mile out-and-back near Thomas Mountain, CA. It climbs 3,088 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 93/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Pacific Crest Trail
15.5 mi · ▲ 3,088 ft · 6 hr 43 min
Elevation 5,475–6,871 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Cactus Springs Trail · 33.65414, -116.58965
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 75°F / low 52° · precip 0% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:23 AM · sunset 7:10 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Cedar Springs Trail, heading NE.
- 2.3 miSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading E.
- 4.2 miContinue straight onto Live Oak Springs Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 0.9 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 1.3 miContinue straight onto Live Oak Springs Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
- 4.2 miSharp left onto Cedar Springs Trail, heading N.
- 2.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~89 min). Leave by 5:20 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
- 1.9 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 1.9 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 1.9 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 2.1 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 2.3 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 2.6 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 2.8 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 2.9 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
More from Cactus Springs Trail Trailhead
- Cedar Spring & Cedar Springs Trail 6.2 mi · ▲ 1,667 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 9.8 mi · ▲ 2,936 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 9.8 mi · ▲ 2,954 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 13.3 mi · ▲ 2,898 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 13.4 mi · ▲ 2,916 ft
- Tunnel Spring via Pacific Crest Trail 13.5 mi · ▲ 2,898 ft
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Hikes near Thomas Mountain, California