Cactus Spring
(4.5 miles to the spring, moderately difficult) From Highway 74, across from the Pinyon Flats Campground, take the road south to the designated parking area (also for Sawmill Trail), just before the Pinyon area Riverside County Transfer Station. Take the access trail on the east end of the parking area and look for the trailhead sign. To enter the Santa Rosa Wilderness register at the sign-in box a short way beyond the trailhead sign, this is your Wilderness permit. A high desert trail, it begins in Pinyon Flat at 4,000 feet descending 2.5 miles to Horsethief Creek then continuing 2 miles to the spring that is difficult to find, the trail is fairly easy to follow to this point. The trail continues another 15 miles to Martinez Canyon and Highway 86 in the low desert and may be very difficult to follow. Much of the trail is within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.
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