Walked up the Main divide Road From the small parking area near the long canyon road gate up to the Los Pinos peak trail. Its about 5miles and 1000ft the trail is mostly on the ridge line and has great views of Santiago the tallest peak in the Santa Ana's of all of southern California, especially on a clear day like 11/27. Clear views of San Gorgonio, Jacinto, and Antonio even down to San Diego the Palomar observatory and Toro peak were visible. Probably one of the few places you can see all the county high points from one spot. nice sunset over the pacific ocean and mild temperatures perfect winter day in southern California.
Los Pinos is a beautiful ridge hike when taken from the bottom - start at the San Juan trail parking area just off the Ortega Hwy, then head out the road to the Lazy W & veer left. 8+ miles of up, up & up.
I've never done Los Pinos from Lazy W. Mostly because its so long and the days get so hot in the Santa Anas, and that I've already hiked so much of that area I always talk myself out long day there.
Try this loop - from the bottom, go up Los Pinos ridge to the summit. Then continue over to Main Divide & head down toward Blue Jay campground. Take the Falcon trail, it is a pretty little shortcut, then continue down the San Juan trail to Cocktail Rock. Take a picture, have a drink, then finish up the last 6.5 miles to the car. Overall about 20 miles.
definitely sounds like a killer day, which rock is cocktail rock? I have been on the san juan trail a few times and sat on plenty of rocks never knew one was named.
You can also do Los Pinos Peak from Trabuco Canyon. The end of the canyon turns into the Trabuco trail, follow it up until the split and take the right trail (NOT the West Horsetheif Trail), and that'll get you to the saddle with the teal posts shown in scottawr's photos. From there its about a 1 mile trailwalk up to the peak. Total round-trip is probably 9 miles.
Forgive me, during the holidays I have been spending a lot of time with my attorney sister and her Lawyer fiance. Parts of dinner have sounded like a courtroom discussion, a lot of big words have been thrown around the last week.
