Mile 329 to 342

Looking back at Silverwood Lake.

Section C
Silverwood Lake to I-15 – Nobo
Miles: 13
Hiking with: Chris, Gary B & Rob


Lodging: Best Western Hospitality Inn, San Bernardino, CA – This was an extremely convenient hotel about 40 minutes from the trail head.  Rooms were new & clean -- I'm a big Best Western fan.


Shuttle: I bought a Dual Sport Bike (Kawasaki 250) on the back of Gary's new Ford F-150 King Cab pick up truck....sweet.


Dining: Friday night we at in Blythe, Ca on the way over -- fast food in Blythe is always risky.  Every place in Blythe seems old, run down & dirty.  Saturday night we ate at Giuseppe's in Hesperia -- bland Italian....ugh.

Start: just west of Hwy 138 at Silverwood Lake turn off.  mile 466  

End: I-15 just south of the McDonald's.

People along the trail: We saw no one on the trail -- surprising as I had seen other cars parked at the trail head on I-15 before.


Description: We dropped off my motor bike at the end of the road just south of the I-15 McDonald's at Cajon Pass.  I chained it to a telephone pole.  We then drove about 20 minutes to the trail head at Silverwood Lake.  We took the Silverwood exit off of Hwy 138 and headed west about 100 yards down the road.  On the left is the park headquarters and on the right they are making an overnight parking lot (maybe 5 cars) and camping.  Currently there is just a handicap (large) port-a-potty and gravel, we parked here.

The hike started up the mountains to the west and climbed about 1,000'.  The views back east of the lake and mountains were pretty but don't reflect the height and size of the mountains like when you approach them from the south from I-10.  The weather was pleasant and the hike fairly scenic until the trail climbed up to a ridge and we looked over -- a straight drop off!!!  The trail took a hair pin turn and hiked up around the  end of this steep canyon and then descended on the opposite edge of the canyon.  Pictures don't do this canyon justice.  The canyon walls looked like lake sediment.  It looked like the canyon was a hard rain away from just collapsing (I doubt it would but it seemed like it).  The last half mile then descended a small canyon with a stream and cottonwood trees -- very picturesque and remote.  One would never guess they are 1/2 a mile away from an 8 lane highway.  Chris, Rob & Gary waited at the McDonald's as I rode by motor bike back to the truck, loaded it up and returned.

Gary's new ride with the Motor Bike carrier in the trailer hitch.
This is the gravel parking across from the Silverwood Park HQ.

The "gang" at the Silverwood Lake trail head.  The road
is the Silverwood exit off of Hwy 138.  

PCT sign close to the trail head.

The "gang" in a boulder field about 1/2 through.

The trail goes right under this electricity tower.

A view of whats to come.  The snow covered mountains are
the San Bernardino Mountains in section D.

Spring Flowers along the trail.

Rob along the trail down the final canyon before I-15.

Trail's end!!!

What would be nice at every trail's end....cold soda & a cheeseburger.

The gang at the I-15 PCT trail head sign. 

Me and the motor bike.  I chained it to the telephone pole.

Gary's new ride with the motor bike on back  at the McDonalds.