This blog will detail 1,000 video hikes in Southern California. By Southern California, I am drawing a line from San Luis Obispo to the Nevada Border. Anything south of that line will be declared "Southern California". In a way, it is a personal challenge to do so many hikes. Mainly, however, it is my way of showcasing how many hiking opportunities there really are right in our own geographic back yard. As a blog, it serves as a companion piece to my Youtube channel "Mike On The Trail". It is also a work in progress, as I don't actually have 1,000 edited videos completed. This will take effort for quite some time before it is declared done. Even then, there will still be more out there. Here's to hiking and all the positive effects it has had on my life...and possibly yours!
Saturday, February 12, 2022
#80 Pumpkin Rock & Peak 1337
Pumpkin Rock is visible from the equestrian center.
A nice large parking lot makes a great starting point for this hike at Pikes Peak Park in Norco. From there, it is a short walk along Sixth Street to George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center. Hikers are allowed to pass through and pick up the trail to the left which leads into the hills. Along the way, the trail encounters some metal horse sculptures worthy of photography.
One of the horses on display.
On the hill further up clearly sits the orange boulder known as Pumpkin Rock. It becomes a choose your own pathway from there since there are competing trails leading to the same spot (Pumpkin Rock). After a little bit of effort, I arrived at Pumpkin Rock. I was fortunate to be there in the "off season" (not in October). It gets a lot of Halloween attention and gets damaged by taggers. However, in February, this area was nice and clean an repainted.
Pumpkin Rock
Views and lighting were great on my visit in the late afternoon. I had completed three other hikes in the morning, took the afternoon off, and did this hike shortly before sunset. Beyond Pumpkin Rock, the ridge climbs to a high point known as Peak 1337. I had intended to include that on the hike.
Boulder artistry.
Along the way, there are more painted boulders by volunteer "artists" who also felt the need to express themselves and big boulder canvasses. When reaching Peak 1337, views were even more expansive over the Inland Empire and the quickly forming sunset.
An evil boulder.
Peak 1337 was my turnaround point. I returned the same way while passing Pumpkin Rock for a second time (had Pumpkin Rock to myself twice in one day). Meanwhile, I made it back to my car before the sun went down. A great day of hiking was capped off with this great hiking experience!
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