Pacific Crest Trail

2,638 miles (from Mexico to Canada).
Junction with the Lost Valley Trail.
Side trip to Combs Peak.

Lost Valley Rd. from the
PCT South

The Pacific Crest Trail stretches from the Mexican border near Campo in San Diego County to Manning Provincial Park on the Canadian border – 2,638 miles through seven national parks, six state parks, and 24 national forests. Hiking the entire trail can take as much as six months, but we’ll only look at the first few miles of the trail north and south of the Lost Valley Road.

The Pacific Crest Trail was first proposed in 1934, but it was not designated as a National Scenic Trail until 1968 and the final stretch of the trail was not completed until 1993. While the trail was under construction, various parts of existing trails were used. Construction of the stretch crossing the Lost Valley Road began in 1978 when the final alignment was surveyed and tagged. The actual work began early in 1979 and was completed that fall as far north as the Riverside County line.

Several of the members of the Lost Valley Staff worked on the trail after the summer season was over. Jim Wright was one of them. “It was very dusty, very dirty, and very hard work,” he says. Crews of five to ten people worked “like a chain gang” along the trail, dynamiting rock outcroppings, cutting brush, and clearing the debris. Jack hammers, chain saws, and even a tiny “Bob-cat” tractor were used, but still “probably 80% of the work was done by hand.” “Rattlesnakes and solid rock were our biggest problems,” he adds.

The construction crews had to adhere to a strict set of standards in building the trail. It had to be a certain width, fairly level, and not too steep. When finished, each new section of the trail had to be inspected and approved by the U.S. Forest Service. The result is a trail that is easy follow, even if it winds a little out of the way sometimes to avoid steep grades and private property.

The trailhead (for our purposes) is located 5.3 miles out the Lost Valley Road. From here the trail leads north towards Anza or south towards Warner Springs.

Heading north, the trail winds along the flanks of Bucksnort Mountain at an easy grade, with just one switchback below the saddle, two miles north of the road. There are beautiful views to the north and west, looking down into Coyote Canyon, and up to the summits of the Santa Rosa Mountains.

Combs Saddle is a regular camping spot, both for PCT hikers and Lost Valley trekkers. From here, a rough scrambling trail leads half a mile up to the summit of Combs Peak – at 6,193 feet, the highest point in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (and taller than the highest point in more than 30 states). There is a logbook where you can sign in.

The view from the peak is awesome! Standing on the rocks at the very top and looking down into Lost Valley you can clearly see the Irvine Trading Post, the pool, and the stables. Sweeping around clockwise from the valley, you can see the southern stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail, Hot Springs Mountain, Warner Ranch and Lake Henshaw, and the full sweep of Palomar Mountain from Aguanga Mountain to Agua Tibia. Down below are Boden Field and Chihuahua Valley, then the lower ridge of Bucksnort Mountain pointing towards Beauty Mountain. To the north, the San Bernardino Mountains and Mount San Gorgonio are visible, along with the town of Anza, the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains, and the desert mountains off across the Coachella Valley. Down below the Santa Rosas is Coyote Canyon, running down towards Borrego Valley and the desert beyond.

Lost Valley from the Combs Peak Saddle

Lost Valley from the Combs Peak Saddle

The peak was named for Henry Combs (pronounced “coombs”), a miner who lived in the Oak Grove area around 1900 during a short-lived gold rush there. He established a camp east of Chihuahua Valley which later became a popular spot with hunters – which undoubtedly gave us the name Bucksnort Mountain.

Returning to the saddle, you can continue north towards Anza. This is dry country; it is more than nine miles to the first dependable water at Tule Spring. Twelve miles from the Lost Valley Road, the trail crosses Coyote Canyon Road, which is accessible by four-wheel drive. It is a full 26 miles to next paved road – Highway 74, east of Garner Valley. From there, it’s on to the San Jacintos – and Canada!

Heading south from where the PCT crosses the Lost Valley Road, it is 14 miles to Highway 79 at Warner Hot Springs. The trail offers sweeping views of Chihuahua Valley and the area beyond. At 2.8 miles, the old Lost Valley Trail crosses the PCT. If you want to make a loop trip, it is 3.5 miles back to camp.

The trail continues high on the hillsides until just after mile 4, when it begins to lose elevation. After winding around the west side of a rocky hill, the trail comes back around towards Agua Caliente Canyon, and for a brief moment, Lost Valley is visible one last time.

Lost Valley from the PCT South

Lost Valley from the PCT South

The trail switchbacks down towards the canyon, meeting briefly with the old Lost Valley Truck Trail (now signed as the Lost Valley Road). Turning right, you can reach Indian Flats, a Forest Service campground and possible overnight spot. Another primitive campsite is maintained by the resort at Warner Hot Springs for hikers and horseback riders. It is located along Agua Caliente Creek, about half a mile from the highway.

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