The Silence of Cinco

The 3.8-mile (round-trip) Cinco Poses Trail, located near the town of Idyllwild offers a peaceful escape when you just want to have a break. The out-and-back trail starts off relatively flat as you leave the road behind and start making your way into the San Bernardino National Forest.

The trail itself is easy to follow—there is only one junction the entire time, at which point you’ll take the left fork. The only thing that makes navigation a slight challenge is the amount of pine needles and fallen leaves covering the trail (as well as pinecones the size of your head). TIP: While it makes for a beautiful winterscape, it also makes the trail hard to see at points, so downloading a map ahead of time is a very wise idea. You're also better off waiting for a stretch of drier weather before heading out on this trail.

After the first mile, the elevation gain starts to kick in, climbing 692 feet during the second half of the hike. Taking breaks to rest your legs gives you an opportunity to turn around and look behind you. Views of Diamond Valley Lake, the Domenigoni and Rawson Mountains, and the cities of Temecula and Hemet can be seen between breaks in the trees. The dense foliage does make it harder to see the impressive views, but it also gives the area a feeling of stillness, peace, and quiet—things that can be hard to come by on Southern California hiking trails.

It’s likely you won’t see any other hikers at all on this trail. Partly because the end of this hike is less than stellar (it unceremoniously ends in a rather unremarkable clearing). But this trail isn’t about the destination—it’s about spending some quiet time in nature, and in that respect, the Cinco Poses Trail is ideal. After enjoying some peace and solitude, head back out the way you came. And this time, all those beautiful views will be in front of you.

The Cinco Poses Trail is located near Idyllwild in the San Bernardino National Forest; Adventure Pass required. Park in the large turnout across the road from the trailhead and be sure to exercise caution when crossing the highway. Trailhead. Please be sure to check in advance for weather and trail conditions or closures. Dog-friendly!

Story and photos by Natalie Bates, @wanderwithnatalie