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 "1,000 Hikes in So Cal". 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!
This is the easier of the two hiking options to reach Mount Hillyer. In fact, the other I may someday include on my list. The other one comes from Chilao Recreation Area via the Silver Moccasin Trail. That is a longer hike with more elevation gain, but still not too difficult. This time around, I visited via Rosenita Saddle, which is a short trek designed to round out my hiking day. I had visited two other nearby hikes earlier in the day.
Crossing over the plateau.
From Rosenita Saddle, the hike is basically flat, with only a slight elevation gain to rise to the top of the plateau. From there, it is just a matter of finding the highest point. I wound up walking the length of the plateau and seeking the peak via the boulder high points that sat on the plateau. Eventually, I went a little more to the east to find the high point that is marked on the map for the summit. I made the slight ascent to officially stand on the top of the stack of boulders. From there, I declared victory before returning the way I came.
A view from a high point on the plateau.
Although recent fires have burned the forest rather significantly, this small portion of the forest managed to remain untouched, and it still remains a very scenic section of the Angeles National Forest.
Definitely a random peak, but a peak is a peak, and a hike is a hike. Although the hike starts out looking rather steep, it is a short hike and also a short lived climb. Once reaching the top of the initial slope, the use trail continues toward the summit in a gradual ascent.
Approaching the summit.
The area feels a bit like the land in between where people tend to go, which leaves this hike pretty much to yourself. Once summitting, there are grand views of the San Gabriel range in all directions. It is possible to go down the opposite slope and continue up toward Pacifico Mountain, which dwarfs this peak to the north. However, since I had other plans for Pacifico Mountain, I returned the way I came, content with visiting this lightly visiting summit and adding it to my completed list of hikes.
Some hiking locations are well known, and others are not. Actually, this hike begins on the world famous Pacific Crest Trail, but yet leads to a rather rarely visited summit. The summit is on the border of the San Gabriel Wilderness Boundary. The area is part of the lower western slopes of Waterman Mountain.
Breaking off from the Waterman Trail.
The trail quickly breaks off from the PCT and heads south before bending to the east after entering the San Gabriel Wilderness. This is on the Waterman Trail. At around 2 miles in, a use trail leaves the Waterman Trail and continues along the ridgeline toward Peak 7097.
Approaching the summit.
At least one rocky false summit is reached before concluding on top of an obvious high point in the area, with solitude galore. This is a nice moderately short outing, which can be combined with other hikes in the area, or even more ridge scrambling to the other nearby peaks.
Not really much of a hiking location, being that it is in the middle of the city (and also in the middle of a memorial park), Pinkerton Hill marks a significant high point in Riverside. However, since it is undeveloped, it makes a great spot to elevate to a nice natural city viewing platform.
Cemetery Ridge.
Parking is in Olivewood Cemetery, or on nearby Dakota Avenue. The hike quickly elevates to twin peaks on a short ridge. One being Cemetery Ridge, and the higher one being Pinkerton Hill. Visiting both takes little effort, but that little effort is rewarded with great views.
Overlooking the 91 Freeway.
Admittedly, it is a little bit morbid hanging around a memorial park, but it is a nice leg stretcher when in the area.
The West Jurupa Hills borders the 60 Freeway in between Fontana and the city of Jurupa Valley. Despite being clearly visible to thousands of passersby's daily, it is lightly visited.
Approaching the summit.
There are also no trailhead signs marking the grand hiking opportunity that awaits. That makes it part of the adventure, by setting out on the trail and finding where it leads.
Summit views.
I was able to form a loop through the hills, where the hike crests on a few high points. One is Peak 1768. The others are unnamed points on the ridge, one with a tower structure on the top.
A unique version of "rock art".
From there, the trail drops down toward city level and loops back parallel to the homes, forming an efficient loop. Although this is nearby homes and the freeway, it feels separated from both, and a bit like a slice of solitude in a busy part of the Inland Empire.
