Trail Mix because it's the best way that we can describe Pinyon Mountain Road. It’s a mixed bag of nuts and chews. It’s like life itself; it has it’s ups, it has it’s downs, sometimes it drives you nuts, other times it makes you bananas! It’s also a mixture of sugar, salt and honey. It's a great experience and an off road paradise!
The terrain can be very difficult and challenging at times, but loads of fun around every corner! We’ve taken our Jeep on several occasions on this loop, with a 2 ½” lift, and 31” Goodyear Wranglers.
Initially the trail starts out slow and picturesque, with various spur trails that wander around the Pinyon Mountain area. The Pinyon trees, and the different rock formations, give this area a real unique setting, contrasting the lower desert elevation below. The times we’ve visited this area, the climate has always been substantially cooler than the desert floor. However, Pinyon Mountain Rd is not for the faint of heart! Especially if you’re intending to go all the way through, via Split Mountain. It’s easy going, all the way up to the ‘Squeeze.’ You can park your vehicle before the squeeze, and hike or mountain bike to the cache. But from this point on, if you decide to take your vehicle through the squeeze, you’ll have to have a vehicle narrow enough and worthy enough to go through.
Beyond the squeeze, you’ll encounter a steep dropoff in which the traction can change due to seasonal weather (rain ruts), or occasional overuse. Use caution as this trail can be loose at times. You'll experience some of the best 4-wheelin’ in the county. Some experience and a little luck will help too. These mountains are isolated. Once you commit your vehicle through, you’re pretty much on your own. Plan your trip accordingly, and bring provisions -extra food, water and gas, and we recommend letting someone know your itinerary. The waypoint turnoff to continue towards Split Mountain is N33° 03.061' W116° 18.217'. From this point, there are two ways to get you back to the highway. Either continue all the way through Split Mountain Rd to Ocotillo Wells, which will lead you to Highway 78. The Fish Creek turnoff is another route, but should be taken only as an alternate exit, because of the one way dropoff. This will get you to Arroyo Seco Del Diablo, exit through the slot canyons, and right on Carrizo Creek Wash to Hollywood & Vine. From this point, continue west on the wash road and it will eventually exit at Palm Springs at highway S2.
We placed another cache at Hollywood & Vine. You can drive right up to Hollywood & Vine, and it’s a short hike to the cache location, N32° 54.480' W116° 12.248', (see Hollywood & Vine for cache details). Have fun and keep the rubber side down. Hope to see ya on the trails. Happy Geo-hunting.
Now on to the cache! The cache is in a 3-gallon white bucket. Cache contents:
- Sports Watch
- Travel Sewing Kit
- USPS ProCycling Team Pin
- Arrowhead
- Fools Gold Nugget
- 4 Wheel Drive Sticker
- Sports Binoculars
- Sport dart nylon tips
- Mardi Gras Beads
- T-shirt
- Sunglasses
- Logbook, Pen, Pencil