Eagle Rock is a popular rock formation that provides an awesome photo opportunity for thru-hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Eagle Rock is located a short 3.25 miles hike from Warner Springs, California on an easy to moderate section of the PCT.

The trail to Eagle Rock

The trail starts near the fire station and school on the south end of Warner Springs. It wanders through trees next to a stream before climbing up and into a more arid landscape with cacti and short desert shrubs. Before arriving at Eagle Rock the trail ends up in open meadows that have abundant wildflowers when hiked at appropriate times of the year.

Our experience

I had the opportunity to hike to Eagle Rock on our family's Spring Break to San Diego. We took a detour between our one night stay with family in Riverside and before going to our hotel in San Diego. Driving between Temecula and Warner Springs, we looked for signs of the PCT wondering where Second Chance Hiker was as he was possibly still in the area. We would have loved to run into him if we had the opportunity.

As we hiked the trail, we offered cold Powerades to thru-hikers and several were grateful for the beverage. All we encountered were kind and still full of energy. A couple told us of the beautiful wildflowers that awaited us, and one told us how far we still needed to go to get to Eagle Rock. It was neat to meet these thru-hikers along our way. This hike was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

As we neared our destination, I was disappointed to see that a paved road came within a couple hundred yards of Eagle Rock with an easy flat dirt road leading to the rock formation from a parking area. Either way, I was still glad for the opportunity to hike those short three plus miles of the PCT and pass those thru-hikers.