Distance: 2.4 miles round trip on trail
Summit Elevation: 5042'
Prominence: 482'
Elevation Gain: 1038'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.8
Round trip time: 1 hours 30 minutes
Recommended water: 32 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Forest Road 6S22
Difficulty: Easy
Little Cahuilla is a few miles north of Cahuilla Mountain and also on the HPS list (#277). Because it is short, it is usually combined with Cahuilla, but I didn't have time to pick it up when I did Cahuilla. The starting point is on Forest Road 6S22 where it intersects with 6S89. A trail starts across from a turnout area. There were signs of some trail maintenance on the first part of the trail, cut limbs and broken branches. Some useful cairns were also arranged to guide the way. While the trail was mostly easy to follow, the brush grew into the path, so light contact was unavoidable. I went up and down several intermediate bumps, crossing peak 4930, before working my up the eastern slope of Little Cahuilla. Two sets of register cans were on the summit, but no benchmark. The best view was north to San Jacinto and the desert divide. It was a much better view than from Cahuilla. It wasn't thrilling, but Little Cahuilla was my 500th Peakbagger summit. I only stayed long enough for a few photos, then headed back with bigger plans for the day. I wanted to climb a couple of other mountains in the vicinity, but a Google Maps fail sent me down private dirt roads that ended at a locked gate and a wasted half day.
Start of the use trail
Little Cahuilla, long and flat
Following the use trail through brush
Summit
Back to the start
Little C has a MUCH better view than Big C. Fun climb, too. Good time of year, Keith - I went in the spring and the undergrowth (overgrowth?) was pretty intense. But the wind that day was brutal.
ReplyDeleteMike M
Mike,
DeleteI think the trail is used enough that the brush doesn't get completely out of hand. Seriously great views made the long drive worth it.