HomeCaliforniaTwentynine Palms › Pine City Trailhead

Pine City Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 33 Google reviews · Running trail in Twentynine Palms, California · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
5 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

Confirmed from Pine City Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

5 miScenicTrailhead parking

What runners say about Pine City Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (33 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Scenic, exposed, nice boulder garden near the end and a view of Twentynine Palms at the end.”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“This place is an easy hike, just under .”

This hike was the only hike I went on in Joshua Tree NP where I didn't see another soul. Ordinarily that would have been nice, but on this trail it felt a little unsettling.

★★★★☆ — Gunnar , Jan 2022

The Pine City trail is a 4 mile round-trip hike to a stand of scrub pines growing in a large outcropping of blocky rocks. The rock formations at the end of the trail are interesting and are what makes this hike worth the time.

★★★★☆ — Eric , Oct 2016

Easy hike on well maintained trails. A mix of sandy, dirt, and rocky paths lead you to the end of the trail. Great view of the valley. We didn't see any one else.

★★★★★ — Sl , Jan 2020

Love Joshua Tree. So much to see and places to hike. This place is an easy hike, just under .2 miles and you see and old rock house and a few feet further you can see the mine itself. The trees and cacti are abundant and look great.

★★★★★ — Christian , Dec 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 33 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 6 mentions

“Not a lot of elevation gain, but excellent views and very lightly trafficked, a nice way to get away from some of the more populated areas of the park”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“There are several trails that start off at this trailhead, so check the map and make sure your headed off on the one you want.”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+) 2 mentions

“Great out and back 4-5 mile walk.”

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Plan your run at Pine City Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • Distance5 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitenps.gov
  • Phone(760) 367-5500
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Where to find Pine City Trailhead

Twentynine Palms, California

Get directions

Running trails near Twentynine Palms

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Split Rock Loop Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 461 reviews

Twentynine Palms, CA

2 miLoopScenic

Gentle 2-mile circuit in a boulder field with picturesque rock formations & colorful desert plants.

1.6 miles away

Discovery Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 14 reviews

Twentynine Palms, CA

1.7 miLoop

Popular 0.7-mi loop connected to the Skull Rock Nature Trail, with brief rocky & steep sections.

2.0 miles away

Skull Rock Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 3,287 reviews

Twentynine Palms, CA

LoopNatural surfaceScenic

Skull-shaped desert granite rock formation with 2 depressions like eye sockets created by erosion.

2.1 miles away

Skull Rock Nature Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 6 reviews

Twentynine Palms, CA

2 miLoop

2.2 miles away

Arch Rock Nature Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 619 reviews

Twentynine Palms, CA

Scenic

Gentle hike through a boulder-strewn desert landscape to the Arch Rock granite formation.

3.9 miles away

Contact Mine Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 46 reviews

Twentynine Palms, CA

7 miMixedScenicDog-friendly

Hiking area with a well-maintained trail leading up a mountain for scenic views.

4.2 miles away

All running trails in Twentynine Palms, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.