Oasis Spring

DISTANCE: 2 MILES
TIME: 1.5 HOURS
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE

While we were out in the Laguna Mountains, we decided to try this short hike as an aside to our hike up Garnet Peak. The trailhead is 1.3 miles south of the Garnet Peak trailhead on the Sunrise Highway (mile 26.5). We started at an overlook that was funded by Cleveland National Forest Adventure Pass dollars.

The trail follows along the Pacific Crest Trail at first, then deviates down a grade along the east side of the mountain with a view of the desert along the way. As we approached the spring, the vegetation became more lush, but the trees remained burnt from the 2003 fires.

We finally noticed the spring when we saw a large concrete “bathtub” full of murky water, and we began to hear its sound. A tiny cave in the rock of the mountain was pouring forth cold water to the right of the bath. The stream of water led down to a red pump house, which a volunteer later told us was the original source of water for the mountain.