Hike suggestions along highway 74

[Vladislav]

I am looking for an easy to moderate hike to do with my family on our way from Palm Springs to San Diego. We are taking highways 74 and 371. Ideally it would be 6 to 10 miles roundtrip with around 2000 ft elevation gain, it should be all on trail (I am carrying my daughter) and should not have snow on it.
Any suggestions,
Vlad.

[lilbitmo]

There's a small section of the PCT just north of Mount Laguna that's about a 4.5 mile "Out and Back" that has a "Monument Dial" on it that allows you to move the dial to point at 10 named peaks north of the dial and three to the west, the plague tells you which Peak it's pointing to when you move the dial. Just a half mile to the east of that monument is a ridgeline that give you 180 degree views (north to south) of the whole Anzo Borrego Desert and on a clear day you can see all the way to the Mexican boarder, Salt N Sea and north to San Gorgonio.

The elevation gain and loss is not that much but for fun and beauty it's one of the nicest spots south of the San Jacinto's and it's only a little ways off your "Road Choices".

If you go to http://www.hikertrash.net/ click on free topo maps, click on southern section "A1-F13", click on "Sections A7-A9", Mount Laguna to Oriflamme Canyon the section at the bottom righthand corner of that map shows "Monument Peak", it's just below the summit of that peak.

Have fun and let's us know how it went, if you decide to do that one.

Happy New Years

[halhiker]

I think Cahuilla Mountain would be a nice choice. It's in Anza off Hwy 371. I climbs through chaparral to Oak Woodland and has nice views. When I did it last year with Neverwashasbeen we saw some deer. Good trail all the way.

Here's my trip report:

http://hikeeveryday.blogspot.com/2009/0 ... ng_26.html

Here's the Sierra Club Peaks section info:

http://angeles.sierraclub.org/hps/guides/29c.htm

[KathyW]

The Art Smith Trail is a nice trail.

Here are some other ideas:

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings/trailheadsb.html

[Vladislav]

Thank you all, good suggestions.
We'll see tomorrow which hike we are going to do.
Vlad.

[asabat]

If you go to http://www.hikertrash.net/ click on free topo maps

Another great set of free topo maps for the PCT is at http://www.pctmaps.com. Halfmile also has GPS tracks for downloading.

[lilbitmo]

If you go to http://www.hikertrash.net/ click on free topo maps

Another great set of free topo maps for the PCT is at http://www.pctmaps.com. Halfmile also has GPS tracks for downloading.

Thanks asabat, that's a new one on me, try to keep up with sites that help, I'm adding that one to my "Favorites now".