Joshua Tree National Park · California

Pine City

2.0 mi of trail, end to end · about 150 ft of climbing · 4,439 ft–4,605 ft · earth surface · trail class Developed · hiking, horse

4,439 ft 4,578 ft · 1.9 mi high 4,578 ft

Hike Pine City Trail the Park Service's write-up

2-3 Hours · no dogs · Winter, Spring, Fall · season <p>Use caution if hiking in the summer, temperature regularly exceed 100°F (38°C). If hiking in the summer take plenty of water and it is best to avoid hiking during the middle of the day. Summer hikers should start this trail before 10 am. </p>

Start Pine City Trailhead

A backcountry board with hiking and backpacking info next to a dirt trail heading towards mountains.
The start to the Pine City Trail Photo: NPS

The Pine City Trail is a moderate four mile out and back trail. This is a fairly flat trail that goes through a dense stand of pinyon pines and juniper trees before arriving at an old mining site. For safety do not try to enter the mining site. The trailhead is located at the end of the Desert Queen Mine Road.

Though named after the large populations of pinyon pines that grow in the area, the trail is an excellent place to view many desert plants. Classic Mojave Desert flora speckle the landscape including creosote, Mojave yucca, and a wide variety of cactus. The trail also passes by some small rock formations that can be fun to scramble over and explore for all ages.

This trail has no shade and no cell service. Always check the weather forecast before heading into the park and consider changing plans if the weather conditions are too extreme. Before hiking, tell a safety buddy where you are going and when you plan on leaving the park.

Pets Pets are not allowed on this trail but can be walked on the nearby dirt roads like Bighorn Pass Road.

Accessibility Pets are not allowed on this trail, but service animals are welcome. Service animals must remain on a 6-foot (1.8 meter) leash at all times. This trail meanders through a variety of terrain including hard pack dirt, soft sand, rocks, and other obstacles. The trail is roughly 1.5–4 ft wide, and has a gentle grade with an approximate 500 feet elevation gain.

This hike on nps.gov

All 94 trails in Joshua Tree National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.