Historic Route 66

 

Camp Cajon

PCT Day 25b: Sheep Creek Truck Trail to Cajon Pass - (Mile 357.1-341.8) [Southbound]

September 28, 2025	Sheep Creek Truck Trail to Cajon Pass (southbound)
Mile 357.1-341.8	4:23 (moving) / 5:24 (total)
	Max 6,278 feet (+650 / -3,900)

See Day 25b Section on YouTube

Pacific Crest Trail - Day 25b

The reason this recap is "25b" is because 2.5 years ago I did the first 6 miles of Section D.  Last time starting from Camp Cajon to Swarthout road.  It was a very enjoyable short section, however, Oobrianoo wasn't with me and so it was decided I'd get my second opportunity to hike this section, however, this time we would hike a longer section starting at Sheep Creek Truck Trail and hike southbound back to Camp Cajon.   This would be 14.4 miles vs the first time only 5.7 miles.

The past couple of Section C hikes Oobrianoo would drive up from San Diego so he wouldn't have to get up so early, however, the hike is so close to Cajon Pass with easy logistics for cars so he would drive directly up in the morning.   Our meeting spot once again was the infamous McDonalds that we frequently have used as our meeting location for the last several Section C hikes.   We thought we could give our friend Nick a break and make due with our two vehicles.   I would park at Camp Cajon and we would take Oobrianoo's car to Sheep Creek Truck trail and hike back to my car.   

The only thing was we were unsure of the truck road conditions of Sheep Creek Truck trail.   The road was pretty easy to find right off of Lone Pine Canyon Road.  The road started off pretty easy but the further we went the rougher it seemed to get.  Oobrianoo's AWD VW Tiquan handled the 2 miles of dirt/rocks like a champ.   We drove all the way to the PCT, however, we knew my low profile car couldn't make it all the way up there so it was decided we would drive back down to the last switchback and park there, then hike about 1/2 miles back up to the catch the PCT.

The switchback where we parked had a great view of the valley below.   And made for the perfect photo for the start of the day.   We hiked back up the road we just drove down to the PCT and turned left to start a mostly downhill hike all the way back to Camp Cajon.   The beginning of the hike was the highest point of about 6,200 feet and it was a low clouds day which offered brilliant views looking down on the clouds.  

We soon entered a burned area and can see that there was some signs of heavy equipment that was used to build a fire break.    About the first 2/3 of the hike was new territory for me on a higher ridge and offered great views throughout.   We could see to the left the area which the San Andreas Fault runs as well as I recognized where I parked my car the last time I did this section as a shorter hike.  It wasn't quite obvious how the trail we were on connected below as the last 6 miles were on a different mountain ridge easily seen below.  The trail kind of snaked the wrong direction but then looped back where I knew it had to go to connect with the section I was familiar.  Before connecting tho there was a sign in log next to the trail which was kind of surprising because we were in a way in the middle of nowhere.

Once we connected to the part I was familiar I remembered last time I did this section it was spring and there were tons of flowers, but this time in the fall everything was dry as could be.   We passed a large water stash that is easily supplied by car access.   The last six miles pass through some interesting geography and rock formations which make the trail more enjoyable.   At one point we could even see where we were going so easy to judge just how much farther we had to go.

We walked by a bench that was set up on a hill with a nice view.  There is also a tunnel to walk thru, a railroad crossing, a marker for the "Sante Fe & Salt Lake Trail", and the last section a tunnel that goes under the I-15.   I remember the trail was a little hard to follow the first time in the are of the tunnel and wouldn't you know it even trying to be careful not to lose the trail once again we had to bushwack to make our way back on course.  

We only saw one hiker all day who was in the area of the tunnel at the very end of the hike who must have wondered in from Camp Cajon nearby.   Last part of the day was retrieving our car from the beginning of the hike.  The Sheep Creek Truck Trail was a little rugged for my car but did my best to try to avoid the biggest rocks, several times stopping to push them out of the way so I could get thru without scraping the bottom of my car.    Another PCT success and great start to Section D!