Pine Mountain Club: Forest Trails, Lake and Mountain Landscape

Pine Mountain Club is located north of and at the foot of Mt. Pinos. The community combines private forest landscape with hiking trails, a lake, a park, horseback riding opportunities and a golf course. For your trip planning, the main question is therefore which experiences should shape your days: activity in the forest, relaxing hours by the water, shared activities or an excursion into the history of the community.

Forest Landscape and Hiking Trails

Pine Mountain Club is situated on more than 3,000 acres of private forestland and is surrounded and protected by the Los Padres National Forest. Several hiking trails begin on residential streets and lead into the Los Padres National Forest; they are open to residents and guests. The trails range from mostly flat sections to challenging terrain with rock formations. Along the way, some pass meandering streams, through old-growth pine forests and to waterfalls.

One specific destination is the Woodland Waterfalls Trail. From the starting point to the waterfalls, the trail is just under one mile long. Anyone looking for a vacation rental for an active stay can focus their trip planning on the desired mix of walks and more challenging terrain. Families or groups with different interests benefit from the opportunity to switch between walks, more challenging terrain and quieter stays in the community without having to limit the focus of the trip to just one activity in advance.

Fern's Lake and Lampkin Park

At Fern's Lake, visitors can walk around the lake and have picnics at the tables there. The lake is fed year-round by mountain streams and is home to various fish species, including largemouth bass. A fishing license is not required there; at the same time, visitors are asked to fish according to the catch-and-release principle. This makes it possible to plan time by the water as a peaceful part of the itinerary without having to infer a specific length of stay from it.

Lampkin Park offers a sand playground with swings, climbing structures, slide towers and a climbing wall. The park also includes picnic areas, barbecue grills, a pavilion and lawns in a forest landscape. Those traveling with children or deliberately wanting to include a relaxing day between active excursions will find several specific opportunities here for spending time together outdoors.

Horseback Riding and Golf with Different Requirements

The Pine Mountain Club Equestrian Center offers professional riding lessons in Western riding, English riding, natural horsemanship, groundwork and basic instruction. There are also specialized riding lessons for gaited horses. This offering provides another way to experience the mountain and forest landscape from a different perspective, with specific trip planning depending on the desired instruction.

The Pine Mountain Club Golf Course is a PGA-rated nine-hole mountain golf course. Its described features include varied fairways, bodies of water and panoramic views of Mt. Pinos and the San Emigdio Mountains. Important for planning: The course is semi-private and accessible exclusively to property owners in Pine Mountain Club, their guests and members of the Pine Mountain Club Golf Course. Golf should therefore not be assumed to be an activity open to everyone.

Local History and a Special Event

Pine Mountain Club was developed in 1971 by Tenneco West on 3,200 acres of land within the Los Padres National Forest at the foot of Mount Pinos and Sawmill Mountain. The sale of lots began in 1971; by 1973, the sixth and final section had opened. This development history adds a clearly identifiable founding phase to the community's natural character. The Lilac Festival takes place on the third weekend of May as a special event.

Additional Places for Orientation

If you would like to compare other places in addition to Pine Mountain Club, you can also include Kernville, Mckittrick, Shafter, Tehachapi, Mojave, Lebec, Rosamond and Wofford Heights in your further search.

For the higher-level travel overview: Kern.