At Home on the PCT

Overnight at Cienaga Creek Cabins on the PCT

Cienaga Creek Ranch rests at 8,250 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains. Nice. But even better: The ranch is smack dab on the Pacific Crest Trail, 8 miles southeast of Big Bear!

This secluded 50-acre retreat has seven rental cabins to choose from—the smaller with faux-frontier facades and names like Mountain Sunset and Wild Rose—each with a barbecue grill, fireplace, kitchen, and bedrooms with slit skylights and a jacuzzi tub. Romantic and idyllic for sure—plus two great day hikes are possible right from your front porch.

The northward hike on the PCT climbs 1,000 feet over 5 miles to Onyx Peak—there was once an active onyx mine on its slope. The southward hike, a 6.6-mile (round-trip) out-and-back to Coon Creek Cabin Group Campground, is a bit more scenic. Near the gateway sign for Cienaga Creek Ranch, walk south along a rough dirt road for half a mile to a dry wash. Here a narrow footpath diverges—take it. (Don’t worry; you’ll see a PCT marker.) The trail traverses a sparse forest of juniper and mixed pines (including limber, piñon, and Jeffrey), but shade is minimal, so shield yourself accordingly. It’s a remote stretch of trail, so you might be alone for miles. You’ll rise about 600 feet over rocky terrain to a ridge, then dip down to the dry Coon Creek, where a dirt road intersects the trail. A steep, treeless drop-off nearby offers deep views southeast into the sunbaked Coachella Valley. Primitive, notched-log Coon Creek Cabin, just up the dirt road, has fallen into disrepair, but the area is still pleasant for picnicking. Return whence ye came.

Take the I-10 to Redlands and exit onto N. University Street. Head north, then turn right onto E. Lugonia Ave. Continue east for 36 miles on CA-38/Mill Creek Rd. Turn right onto Rainbow Ln. to enter the ranch. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View
  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  3. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View
  4. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    Want to be king of the mountain? Head to King Mountain, the 108-acre open space preserve just above Larkspur in Marin. Despite its lofty name, hiking King Mountain proves that simp

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Yes, Seattle!

    Ready to try something new this winter? Seattle’s ready for you! Beautiful by nature with its Puget Sound setting, surrounding mountains, and nearby national parks, winter in Seattle can be a magical and festive time. Ever been in a hot tub boat?...

    View
  3. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  4. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View