{"id":2460,"date":"2015-05-25T22:19:16","date_gmt":"2015-05-25T22:19:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/titus-canyon-road-trip-copy\/"},"modified":"2022-09-21T19:51:42","modified_gmt":"2022-09-21T19:51:42","slug":"2n33-pilot-rock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/2n33-pilot-rock\/","title":{"rendered":"Pilot Rock Road"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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2N33 aka Pilot Rock Road, Riding High Over Silverwood Lake:<\/h3>
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Where the Mojave Desert meets the San Bernardino Mountains, there are a number of unknown back roads where you can enjoy the transition from the desert vegetation to the mountain shrubbery.<\/strong> One such road is seldom used and offers great scenery while transitioning from desert to mountain habitats in a short distance. This trip is also great for escaping from hot summer days.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Our road trip starts out in the rural landscape of Summit Valley, just south of Hesperia, and takes us on a dirt road that wanders along a high mountain ridge overlooking Silverwood Lake and then eventually takes us into the pine trees of Lake Arrowhead. It won\u2019t be too long into this trip that you\u2019ll start smelling the fresh, cool mountain air. And, along with the cool air, you\u2019ll see some outstanding views of the desert and the mountains.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Virtual Video Tour on YouTube<\/h2> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Getting There<\/h2>

Start this trip by getting to Cedar Springs Dam at Silverwood Lake. One way to get there is to take Main Street in Hesperia to its eastern end. When Main turns into Arrowhead Lake Road, reset your odometer to zero. Continue for 5.7 miles and turn right onto Hwy 173 after crossing a dam. At the 10.5 mile mark, turn left onto the paved road leading to Cedar Springs Dam. If you\u2019re coming from the I-15, exit at Hwy 138, reset your odometer to zero and follow the signs to Silverwood Lake (east). At 8.3 miles, turn left onto Hwy 173. Just after passing the dam, turn right onto a paved road at the 10.5 mile mark.<\/p>

This paved road will take you to an overlook of Cedar Springs Dam. Just before the overlook\u2019s parking lot, a dirt road leads off to the left. This is Forestry Road 2N33 and will be the start of our road trip. When you\u2019re ready, reset your odometer and start up 2N33.<\/p>

Pilot Rock Road is located inside the San Bernardino National Forest. \u00a0If you plan on parking your vehicle for an extended period of time, such as for a hike that will last a few hours, the National Forest Service requires vehicles to display an Adventure Pass.<\/p>

Road Trip<\/h2>

Forestry Road 2N33 (also known as Pilot Rock Road) is the dirt road that is showcased on this trip and the entire length is 11.5 miles. This is a great road for your truck or SUV with 2WD so long as it hasn\u2019t rained or snowed recently. If it has, the road may be muddy and have deep ruts, requiring both high clearance and 4WD. During the winter months, many sections of the road are in the shade causing the road to be iced over. During such conditions, you definitely want to travel 2N33 with 4WD.<\/p>

Starting out at 3,500 feet, 2N33 climbs gradually to an elevation of 5,000 feet. For the first 3.5 miles, it hugs the side of a ridge as it winds around Silverwood Lake. Then the road turns due east and rides on top of a mountain ridge for almost the rest of the way. While 2N33 is on this ridge, you will enjoy outstanding views in all directions.<\/p>

At 2.7 miles, a rough spot in the road may be encountered.\u00a0 Here, you’ll find a water tank used for flood control on the left side of the road.\u00a0 Often, water from this tank flows out onto the road, which creates deep ruts.\u00a0 This typically occurs after long periods of rain or snow.\u00a0 If you don’t have a high-clearance vehicle with 4WD, you might wish to consider driving this road well after such weather has occurred.<\/p>

Another obstacle to be aware of is ice.\u00a0 As 2N33 passes on the north side of the ridge or under the shade of trees, if it has been cold over the past week, ice will develop on the road.\u00a0 If the ice is extensive enough, it will be difficult for most vehicles to cross it.<\/p>

View Point<\/h2>

The best viewpoint along 2N33 is at the 3.5 mile mark. Here, you will have a sweeping view of the entire expanse of Silverwood Lake. There is a large pullout here where you can park and enjoy the view. Once, when we were here on a very clear day, we were able to see the snow-topped Sierra Nevada Mountains 120 miles to the north. For High Desert dwellers, it\u2019s usually clear enough to pick out your own neighborhood.\u00a0 You may wish to pack a pair of binoculars to use at this viewpoint so that you can find the various faraway landmarks.<\/p>

About Silverwood Lake<\/h2>

Silverwood\u2019s purpose is to store water for the California Aqueduct. The setup of the reservoir is actually in reverse as compared to normal dam\/ reservoir setups. With normal reservoirs, water from rivers enters in from behind, with the dam located at the front of the reservoir, where the water leaving the reservoir is regulated by the dam. In Silverwood\u2019s case, water from the aqueduct enters the lake next to the dam. Water then exits the lake at the lake\u2019s rear, near the marina. Here, the water enters a long tunnel and exits near Cal State University San Bernardino, which can easily be seen from the I-215 Freeway, as the water continues to points south. So in that regard, Silverwood Lake is unique \u2013 it\u2019s a backwards reservoir.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Pictures<\/h3>

Below are some pictures of what you will see along the way.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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