Although we are often busy with Anza Area Trail Town duties, we feel it is imperative to get out and make sure we have time on the trails. Today I, Allison, got a chance to share a couple of hours of time on the trail with my older sister Colette. We determined that she wanted to hike a trail with less elevation gain then our own local Cahuilla Mountain Trail, but we didn’t want to drive through the cities surrounding our rural community. Thus, we settled on a section of the Pacific Crest Trail National Scenic Trail (PCT) located within the community of Warner Springs.
We staged at the Warner Springs US Forest Service Fire Station public parking area, which is right next door to Warner Springs School. The PCT crosses under the highway there at the bridge. Our goal was to hike to Eagle Rock and back and then enjoy lunch afterwards at the Rancho California Resort in Aguanga. Eagle Rock is a natural rock formation that really looks like an eagle with his wings raised.
Colette was very surprised by the diversity of areas we walked through and expressed she especially was surprised by the beautiful native oak trees. At the beginning of the hike we traveled by a flowing stream and through a trail shaded by oaks and cottonwood trees. Being February, the grass was green, and all the plants seemed to be awakening and flowing with life-force. As we progressed on the hike, we traveled to an area of chaparral covered hills and then down into a grassland that allowed us to look out at Lake Henshaw and the surrounding Mt. Palomar mountains. In the distance we saw the backside of Eagle Rock which from our viewpoint here just looks like any other rock outcropping. The elevation gain from Warner Springs to Eagle Rock is probably around 1,000 feet, which makes it enjoyable and not too strenuous to hike. Once at the infamous Eagle Rock, we of course took pictures and looked at the outstanding view and then headed back to Warner Springs.
I’ve traveled this trail often in the years I’ve lived in Aguanga, but this was the first time I was lucky enough to hear the creek with water in it and see cattle traveling on the trail ahead. It made me think of what it must have been like when the Butterfield Overland Stage route traveled through Warner Springs on its way to the bring the mail and travelers to these remote communities in the early 1900’s.
The distance we traveled that day was approximately 6 ½ miles and my sister reported it did not cause her much aches or sore muscles.
Many people will do the section of the PCT from Warner Springs to Barrel Springs, by leaving a car at the dirt pullout area off CR S22 (Montezuma Valley Road) and shuttling back to the Warner Springs parking area. That section of the PCT is approximately 7 miles in distance.
Remember, don’t neglect yourself, take time to enjoy your local trail.
