Pine Canyon (Arroyo Seco region)

Pine Canyon, as labeled on the USGS topographic map, is a tributary to the Arroyo Seco running down from the west side of Brown Mountain. While the bottom of the technical section lies less than a mile from the Angeles Crest Highway (as the crow flies) and much of the canyon can be seen from the road, reaching Pine Canyon for descent can make for a long hike. Because of the long distance on mostly exposed trails, this canyon is best descended when the weather is cool.

There are many ways to approach Pine Canyon and most require a shuttle. Place your shuttle car at the desired exit and then drive to the desired trail head. The statistics for this canyon assume a Twin Canyon start and a power station finish. The Brown Mountain fire road serves as the most direct approach from the south climbing 1060ft over 4.6 miles and does not require the use of the Ken Burton Trail. Follow Chaney Trail to park at the Millard campground. Note that there is a gate controlling access to this parking lot and it is closed at night. The Ken Burton Trail (nearly invisible at the Arroyo Seco) can be ascended 1100ft in 1.3 miles followed by 0.8 miles of less-steep uphill to reach the Pine Canyon drop in. The bottom part of this trail near the Arroyo Seco is entirely gone; canyoneers will need to ascend directly up a ridge and then bushwhack until the remains of the trail can be located. The trail improves as it ascends, however, ending on a very well-maintained trail by the time it reaches Brown Mountain fire road. There are a number of ways to access this trail: The Ken Burton Trail can be accessed directly by descending the Twin Canyon Trail (this is what the distance statistics assume). This is an 800ft elevation loss without any canyoneering, however, and may be disappointing. An alternate way to arrive at the Ken Burton trail is by descending a nearby Arroyo tributary such as CCC Canyon or Nerf Herder Canyon. This makes for a long, hard day however and should be planned accordingly. A yet-to-be beta'd canyon just south of the Twin Canyon trail head can be descended to arrive just downstream of the start of the Ken Burton Trail.