The Flora of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section C: near I-10 to I-15

The Flora of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section C: near I-10 to I-15

See The Flora of the Pacific Crest Trail: Overview for an Introduction to these plant checklists.
Section C- near Interstate 10 to Interstate 15, distance 131.2 miles

This part of the trail starts at Cottonwood trailhead (elevation 1850 feet) and proceeds through Gold Canyon past the windmill farms. It enters the Whitewater drainage then the Mission Fork drainage which it then climbs up the south-east side of the San Bernardino Mountains. It reaches a high point of 8600 feet and stays in this conifer forest as it traverses the range. The trail slowly descends as you head eastward in the mountain range and changes to chaparral. The trail then follows Deep Creek drainage for a while before passing by Silverwood Lake. The elevation at the end of this section at Interstate 15 is 3000 feet. Table C1 gives the subsections of the trail, with the name linked to the online plant guide when the guide is available.
Table C1. Subsections of the PCT in Section C

Subsection with Link to Guide when available PCT Mile Length
(miles) Elevation of ends (feet) Peak
Elevation
(feet)
Begin End Begin End
C1- Cottonwood trailhead to Whitewater canyon 213.5 221.1 7.6 1850 2285 3225
C2- Whitewater canyon to Mission springs trail camp at road 1N05 221.1 242.1 21.0 2285 8115 8115
C3- Road 1N05 (near Mission springs trail camp) to Rainbow Road 242.1 251.7 9.6 8115 8100 8635
C4- Rainbow Road to road 2N01 251.7 257.0 5.3 8100 7885 8635
C5- Road 2N01 to Highway 18 257.0 267.4 10.4 7885 6829 7885
C6- Highway 18 to Van Dusen road 3N09 267.4 276.3 8.9 6829 7260 7630
C7- Van Dusen road 3N09 to road 3N14 276.3 287.3 10.7 7260 6510 7755
C8- Road 3N14 to Deep Creek Bridge (near Splinter’s cabin) 287.3 299.8 12.8 6510 4580 6510
C9- Deep Creek Bridge (near Splinter’s cabin) to Highway 173 299.8 315.7 15.9 4580 3190 4580
C10- Highway 173 to Highway 138 (Silverwood lake exit) 315.7 331.2 15.4 3190 3395 3580
C11- Highway 138 (Silverwood lake exit) to Interstate 15 331.2 344.7 13.6 3395 3000 4160

Subsection with Link to Guide when available	PCT Mile	Length (miles)	Elevation of ends (feet)	Peak Elevation (feet)
Begin	End	Begin	End
C1- Cottonwood trailhead to Whitewater canyon	213.5	221.1	7.6	1850	2285	3225
C2- Whitewater canyon to Mission springs trail camp at road 1N05	221.1	242.1	21.0	2285	8115	8115
C3- Road 1N05 (near Mission springs trail camp) to Rainbow Road	242.1	251.7	9.6	8115	8100	8635
C4- Rainbow Road to road 2N01	251.7	257.0	5.3	8100	7885	8635
C5- Road 2N01 to Highway 18	257.0	267.4	10.4	7885	6829	7885
C6- Highway 18 to Van Dusen road 3N09	267.4	276.3	8.9	6829	7260	7630
C7- Van Dusen road 3N09 to road 3N14	276.3	287.3	10.7	7260	6510	7755
C8- Road 3N14 to Deep Creek Bridge (near Splinter’s cabin)	287.3	299.8	12.8	6510	4580	6510
C9- Deep Creek Bridge (near Splinter’s cabin) to Highway 173	299.8	315.7	15.9	4580	3190	4580
C10- Highway 173 to Highway 138 (Silverwood lake exit)	315.7	331.2	15.4	3190	3395	3580
C11- Highway 138 (Silverwood lake exit) to Interstate 15	331.2	344.7	13.6	3395	3000	4160

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The Flora of the Pacific Crest Trail: Overview

Copyright © 2012-2014 by RT and Shaun Hawke.
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to us at this source:
http://tchester.org/sb/plants/guides/PCT_intro.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 18 November 2014.