Pine Mountain Club Living – Scenic. Secluded. Protected.
Hidden in a secluded valley of towering pines in the San Emigdio Mountains sits thousands of acres of private woodland within the Los Padres National Forest, known as Pine Mountain Club. Most Southern Californians have no idea that in just an hour and half drive from Los Angeles they can get away to serene natural beauty, fresh mountain air, and a stunning canopy of stars at night.
Pine Mountain Club is a beautiful, affordable, friendly mountain village reminiscent of California in simpler times. It’s a place where people take the time to stop and say hello, where friendships have time to take root, and where life moves at a more relaxed pace.
This 3,200 acre, four season resort community is surrounded by 1.7 million acres of Los Padres National Forest. Only 1,000 acres are subdivided into home sites with the remaining 2,200 acres permanently set aside to preserve the natural balance of the environment and way of life for future generations. The surrounding Los Padres National Forest offers Pine Mountain Club residents additional protection from future development.
With a four season climate, you’ll notice fall colors replacing Pine Mountain Club’s mild summers. Mountain snow creates a winter wonderland. Spring showers bring a multitude of native wild flowers. Step out of your cozy mountain home in the morning and watch the sun rise while listening to the sounds of nature. Wildlife is abundant here in the spring, summer and fall months. California quail, mule deer, black bear, hawks, owls, jays, blue birds, cotton tail and jack rabbit are just part of the Pine Mountain landscape.
Spend the day hiking or horseback riding from the Pine Mountain Club Equestrian Center — with miles and miles of national forest surrounding Pine Mountain Club, the likelihood of encountering another person or even a fence is quite remote. If you own a 4x4 vehicle and like to go off-road, trail heads are just minutes away and offer some of the best mountain scenery available in Southern California.
If your passion is cross country skiing, you can head up to the top of Mt. Pinos just minutes away. At just under 9,000 feet, it offers some of the best cross country skiing in the United States. For golfers, the Pine Mountain Club Golf Course is a spectacular setting to play a few rounds of golf or take advantage of any number of club activities. Be as active as you like or just sit back and enjoy life in the beauty of the mountains.
Pine Mountain Club residents also enjoy year-around access to the 19,000 acre Hungry Valley State SVRA Park with its 130 miles of scenic trails for off-road vehicles. For mountain biking enthusiasts, the 8,000 acre Ballinger Canyon area is especially popular. You'll find 68 miles of routes that vary from sandy washes to ridgeline trails. The relatively dense route network provides many opportunities to make loops of varying dificulty. If you enjoy water sports, own a boat, or like to fish — Pyramid Lake is a just minutes south on Interstate I-5. In neighboring Lockwood Valley, trails will take you to Piru Creek for fishing, kayaking, and camping.
Experience spectacular sunsets over Apache Saddle on the west side of Pine Mountain Club as you settle into the evening. The night sky in Pine Mountain Club is known to be one of the darkest in Southern California and the Central Valley — perfect for stargazing. You’ll see the brightest moons and the galaxy like never before. When the sun goes down, let the sound of the wind through the pines serenade you to sleep.
Pine Mountain Club has all the essentials for great living. Awesome beauty. Splendid recreation. Friendly people. Clean environment. All the pluses that work together to make Pine Mountain Club a quiet success. With one major extra – it’s protected setting in the unspoiled splendor of the Los Padres National Forest.
Map of Pine Mountain Club
Click to Enlarge
Pine Mountain Club Area Campgrounds, Hiking, ATV and 4x4 Trails
The Pine Mountain Club area is home to many Los Padres National Forest Campgrounds, hiking and ATV trails including Caballo, Marin, Toad Springs, Campo Alto, Mesa Springs, Sheep, Chula Vista, McGill, and Mt. Pinos. Trail heads connect to Pine Mountain Club and on Mil Potrero Highway for access on foot, ATV, 4x4, and horseback. Two Los Padres National Forest Equestrian Campgrounds with corrals are located in neighboring Lockwood Valley for day or overnight use.
There are also several great hiking trails that link right up to Pine Mountain Club residential streets. The shortest and most challenging of the trails is the Woodland Water Falls Trail. Roughly ¾ of a mile long, it winds over rocky slides and outcroppings. Further up stream you’ll find two beautiful waterfalls which are most active in the spring and early summer months.
The San Emigdio Canyon Trail located on the southern slope of San Emigdio Mountain is one of the oldest inland highways in California and portions of it are located on Pine Mountain Club property. You can still see wagon-wheel ruts on the canyon floor left there by the early settlers.
A favorite year-around hike for residents is on The Enchanted Forest Trail. It takes you on a winding path through a beautiful pine forest where many trees along the way have taken on unusual shapes. The meandering alpine stream adds to the charm of this wonderful hike. Other great Pine Mountain Club trails include, The Sawmill Mountain Trail, The Whitener Tree Trail, and the Eagle Pass Ridge Trail.
Reyes Creek Campground Information — Equestrian Corral
The Reyes Creek campground offers creek side camping that is seasonal — winter and spring. The elevation of the campground is at 4000 feet. Facilities include 30 camp sites with 1 pipe corral. No piped water is available. This Campground is a Campfire Use Site and requires an Adventure Pass for overnight camping.
The Reyes Creek campground is located 3 Miles east on Lockwood/Ozena Road off of Highway 33, then 1.5 miles from the turnoff on forest road 7N11 to Reyes Creek campground, which also goes to Camp Scheideck. The Scheideck settlement is tucked along Reyes Creek and was originally homesteaded in 1888. There are 30 to 40 cabins and a popular lodge, bar, and restaurant, which was built in 1898.
The campground offers easy access to the Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail.
Thorn Meadows Campground Information — Equestrian Corral
The Thorn Meadows Campground is located in a shaded area among Jeffrey Pines. The elevation of the campground is 5000 feet. Facilities include 5 camp sites with 1 Pipe Corral. No piped water is available. There are 4 stoves, 4 tables and 1 restroom. This is a no fee campground.
The Thorn Creek Campground is located at the end of the Spur Road, 9 Miles South off Lockwood Valley Road and 23 Miles West of Frazier Park.
For maps and additional information on campgrounds, hiking and ATV trails in the Pine Mountain Club area of the Los Padres National Forest, click on the following links.
Los Padres Forest Map — Local & Surrounding Area
Click Here
Los Padres Forest Map — Legend
Click Here
Los Padres National Forest Hiking Trail Information – Local
Click Here
Los Padres National Forest ATV Trail Information – Local
Click Here
Mt. Pinos Ranger Station
Mt. Pinos Ranger District
34580 Lockwood Valley Road
661-245-3731
Pine Mountain Club History – How it all Began.
Unique to Central California is a traverse range of mountains, running east to west, known since 1806 as the San Emigdio Mountains. These mountains were the southern end of a gigantic horseshoe that extended around the San Joaquin Valley. This valley was once an inland sea. In time, the valley was slowly cut off from the ocean and became a huge fresh water lake. Over time the lake filled with sediments and became the valley it is today.
High above the inland sea, the earliest humans lived and traveled on these mountaintops as early as possibly 35,000 years ago. The people moved downward from the higher elevations as the lake and then the marshes drained from the mountains and valleys below. The beautiful valley of Pine Mountain Club was also once a lake and probably would still be if not for an ancient earthquake that opened the north end of the lake and allowed it to drain. (You can demonstrate this yourself by poking around in the soft silty clay banks along Mil Potrero Highway at the “S Curves,” where you can still find tiny shell fragments).
The territories of several great nations of people came together in the San Emigdio Mountains, the northeastern territory of the Chumash people. Before any contact with non-Indian people, the population of these mountains numbered from five to ten thousand. Many small camps were located up in the mountains where time was spent in the summer and fall hunting, gathering, escaping the heat and searching for better sources of water.
The area of Mount Pinos (Iwihinmu), Cuddy Valley (Valley of the Shaman/Antaps) and Frazier Mountain (Toshololo) was the sacred center of the universe for the Chumash Indians. Mt. Pinos was their sacred shrine and no Indian would approach the summit except to make an offering.
In 1806, the Spanish Governor of Alta California sent Father Jose Maria de Zalvidea on an expedition from Santa Barbara through the mountainous region to the east. On August 5, 1806, he named the canyon for the patron saint that happened to be celebrated that day — Saint Emigdius.
The Spaniards established an inland trail between Santa Fe, in the future state of New Mexico and Monterey, in what would become California. El Camino Viejo (The Old Road) went through the San Emigdios and legend has it that this area was the location of the “Lost Los Padres Mine” established by Jesuit Priests.
The Spanish Mission Period lasted some 60 years, after which Alta California became part of Mexico and eventually the United States. Large land grants and ranchos were made, including the San Emigdio Land Grant in 1842 and the grants and purchases that formed the mammoth Tejon Ranch.
The area of today’s Pine Mountain Club changed hands a few times over the years. There was a Saw Mill in the valley to harvest lumber for Fort Tejon before the Civil War. The Kern Land Company, incorporated in 1890, owned the property known as Mil Potrero Ranch and there are photos of cattle grazing in the location of today’s PMC Golf Course.
The Los Padres National Forest was established in 1908, but Mil Potrero Ranch remained in private hands. Tenneco Corporation purchased the Kern County Land Company in 1967 and in 1971 began development of Pine Mountain Club. Once the development was finished and all lots were sold, Tenneco turned over the community to the Pine Mountain Club Property Owners Association.
Ridge Route Communities Museum and Historical Society Website
For more historical information on Pine Mountain Club, visit the Ridge Route Communities Museum and Historical Society in neighboring Frazier Park or by visiting the Museum Website.
Click Here
Mountain Living with Club Amenities – Reward yourself.
Members of the Pine Mountain Club Property Owners Association and their guests enjoy a wide range of club amenities. Some activities require user fees. Membership cards are required. Guest cards are required for non-members. All recreational facilities are owned by PMCPOA.
Golf: |
Executive 9-hole PGA rated course. Very challenging with water hazards. Active Golf Club. Cart rentals are available. Fully appointed pro shop. |
Clubhouse: |
Lounge, restaurant, pro-shop, recreation room and administrative offices. Meeting rooms are available for weddings and celebrations, ceremonies, seminars, etc. |
Swimming: |
Pool with Lifeguard is open during the summer. Next to Clubhouse. |
Tennis: |
Two, lighted Tennis courts next to Clubhouse. Active Tennis Club. |
Equestrian: |
Pine Mountain Club Equestrian Center offers boarding at modest monthly rates. Arena, tack rooms and hot walker. Active Saddle Club. Trail rides available in the summer. |
Community Park: |
Baseball diamond, basketball court, volleyball court, picnic tables, barbecues, children’s play area. Park facilities can be rented for family gatherings, company picnics, celebrations, and events. |
Trails |
Horseback riding, hiking, and biking. Trails within Pine Mountain Club and endless trails in the surrounding Los Padres National Forest. Active chapter of the Sierra Club (Condor Group). |
Campground: |
Private, with bathrooms and showers for use by property owners and their guests. |
Fishing: |
Catch and release program, no need for a fishing license. The “Lower Lake” is fed by a year round stream and is stocked with bass, perch, bluegill, and catfish |
RV Storage: |
Limited availability. Monthly rates. |
Security: |
Security Patrol provides 24 hour, 7 day a week service. |
Pine Mountain Village – All the essentials are right here.
Pine Mountain Village offers residents and visitors a wide variety of businesses and services. We have several restaurants, a bakery, coffee house, ice cream parlor and sweet shop, self service laundry, lodging, gym, Pilates studio, hardware store, a church, grocery and general store, various gift shops, antique, jewelry shops, post office, dentist office, two hair salons, real estate and insurance offices, a gas station with fuel available 24/7, and a wonderful gazebo where community events are held all year long.
Map of Pine Mountain Village
Click to Enlarge
Just minutes east of Pine Mountain Club, Frazier Park offers retail shops, restaurants, markets, gas, hardware stores, a pharmacy, and the personal and professional services you would expect to find in a larger city. Nearby Lebec and Gorman offer fast-food restaurants, automotive services, a nursery, gas stations, hay and feed store, and lodging. For more information on the businesses and services available in the mountain area, see Local Business Directory.
Pine Mountain Club Area Schools
For families with children, Pine Mountain Club is part of the El Tejon School District which covers a wide area including: Frazier Park, Lake of the Woods, Lockwood Valley, Piñon Pines, Cuddy Valley, and Lebec. School bus service is provided to Pine Mountain Club. For more information on Pine Mountain Club area Schools and the El Tejon School District, visit the following websites.
Pine Mountain Club Property Owners Association — How it works.
The Pine Mountain Club Property Owners Association (PMCPOA) is governed by a board of directors, consisting of nine elected members (property owners) who serve as volunteers for three year terms, following a group of documents: The Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R’s), bylaws, association rules, and an Environmental Control (EC) Code. These are in addition to corporation laws, the civil code, and articles of incorporation.
The board of directors appoints committees to advise them on specific issues like Strategic Planning, Finance and Budget, Emergency Preparedness, and Environmental Control. Board meetings are held the third Saturday of every month. These meetings are open to members in good standing. A period at the end of the meeting is reserved for members to air their questions, concerns, and suggestions.
Association Fees: Property assessments are due once a year in July and are subject to change. 2008-2009 Property assessments are $1,283.00 for the entire year. For more information on the assessment rates since 1974 and about Pine Mountain Club in general, visit the Pine Mountain Club Property Owners Association Website.
Pine Mountain Club Property Owners Association Website
Click Here
Average Temperatures
Spring |
51/36 |
Summer |
83/47 |
Fall |
71/38 |
Winter |
47/20 |
Area Information
Population: |
Approximately 2300 |
Elevation: |
5100-7100 feet. |
Snowfall: |
From ½ inch to 2 feet approximately 12 times a year |
Roads: |
42 miles of paved privately maintained roads with 24 hour, 7 day a week security patrol and snow removal during the winter season. |
Utility Information
Utilities: |
Water, power, phone and cable to each property. Currently there is no cell phone service in Pine Mountain Club. |
Television: |
Cable and Satellite. |
Internet: |
High Speed Wireless, Cable, and Satellite. |
Sewage: |
Septic System |
Gas: |
Individual propane tanks on each property. |
Water: |
From artesian wells. Private Water Company. |
Public Services
Emergency
Medical: |
Kern County Firefighter/Paramedics, Private Ambulance Service and Helicopter. Two medical clinics in nearby Lebec and Frazier Park. Major medical centers in Bakersfield and Valencia. |
Fire: |
Kern County Fire Department is located next to Lampkin Park and includes a helipad. Fire hydrants are located throughout the community. Kern County will be constructing a new Fire Station facility in Pine Mountain Club. Los Padres National Forest Fire Service is located minutes away and lake water is available for extraction. |
Police: |
Kern County Sheriffs Department services the area and is augmented by the Pine Mountain Club Security Patrol 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. |
Schools: |
El Tejon School District. Pine Mountain Charter School, Elementary through High School in Frazier Park and Lebec. School bus service is provided by the district. |
Churches: |
There are many denominations in the area. See Local Directory under "Churches" |
Cities Nearby:
Valencia
Santa Clarita Valley: |
Distance—55 miles. For more information about, Valencia click the link below. |
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Bakersfield
San Joaquin Valley: |
Distance—55 miles. For more information about Bakersfield, click the link below. |
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Airports
Meadows Field
Bakersfield (BFL): |
Distance—62 miles. Nonstop flights to Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco and one-stop service to hundreds of domestic and international destinations. The new William M. Thomas Air Terminal at Meadows Field is now open.
Visit the Meadows Field Airport Website by clicking the link below.
Click Here |
Bob Hope Airport
Burbank (BUR): |
Distance—74 miles. Nonstop flights to destinations throughout the United States. Served by most major carriers. One stop service to hundreds of international destinations.
Visit the Bob Hope Website by clicking the link below.
Click Here |
Los Angeles International
(LAX): |
Distance—89 miles. Nonstop flights to cities all over the World. Visit the Los Angeles Airport Website by clicking the link below.
Click Here |
Map of Pine Mountain Club in Relation to Airports
Click to Enlarge
Approximate Travel Times from Pine Mountain Club
Los Angeles: |
90 minutes |
Bakersfield: |
60 minutes |
Santa Clarita: |
60 minutes |
Lancaster/Palmdale: |
60/80 minutes |
Santa Maria: |
2 hours |
Ventura: |
2 hours |
Santa Barbara: |
2 ½ hours |
Pismo Beach: |
2 hours |
San Luis Obispo: |
2 hours |
Directions to Pine Mountain Club – A scenic drive from any direction.
Regional Map
Click to Enlarge
From Interstate I-5
From either direction on I-5, take the Frazier Mountain Park Road Exit (205). Go west for 12 miles. Bear right onto Mil Potrero Highway and drive 6 miles into Pine Mountain. Pine Mountain Village is on the left. You will see the Village Center sign at the corner of Mil Potrero Highway and Freeman Drive. Turn left on Freeman Drive and turn right on Pine Valley Lane into the Center. Continue on Pine Valley Lane until you see the Jennings Realty sign on the right.
From the California Coast & 101 Freeway
From either direction on the 101 Freeway, take the CA-166 exit. Take CA-166 east for approximately 70 miles. Turn right onto Cerro Noroeste Road and proceed for approximately 25 miles into Pine Mountain. Pine Mountain Village is on the right. Continue past the Center and turn right on Freeman Drive. Turn right on Pine Valley Lane into the Center. Continue on Pine Valley Lane until you see the Jennings Realty sign on the right.
Stop by the office and say hello or call me before coming up for a visit. It would be my pleasure to take you on a personal tour of this very special place.
Pine Mountain Club Homes and Land for Sale – See every property listed in the MLS.
For information on Pine Mountain Club real estate, Pine Mountain Club homes for sale, and available Pine Mountain Club land for sale, follow the link below to search our listed properties in Pine Mountain Club and the official Multiple Listing Service (MLS) that includes Pine Mountain Club property listings provided by all local real estate offices.
Search Pine Mountain Club Homes and Land for Sale
Click Here
For More information
If you have any questions about Pine Mountain Club or would like more information on a Pine Mountain Club property you see during your real estate search here or anywhere on the Internet, it would be my pleasure to assist you.
Credits
Bonnie Ketterl Kane. A View from The Ridge Route.
Our special thanks to Bonnie Ketterl Kane and the Ridge Route Communities Museum and Historical Society for providing information on the history of this community.
