Place closure
No recurring date-based closure of Horsethief Trailhead is published. Permit-specific Pine Creek or Agua Tibia entry and temporary emergency orders still control access.
Trailhead
Horsethief Trailhead
Pine Creek Wilderness, Cleveland National Forest, California
About this place
Horsethief is the open Forest Service east end of the Pine Creek Wilderness through-route, linking Espinosa Trail with Secret Canyon Trail to Pine Creek Trailhead.
There is no fee at this trailhead, but an overnight in the remote-camping corridor still requires the Descanso district permit; carry all dependable water and avoid hot-season travel.
Seasonal access
Closures & seasonal access
Pine Creek and Agua Tibia remote camping has no recurring closure season, but extreme heat, wildfire, flash floods, washouts, and district orders can remove accessSeasonal access
Permit-specific Pine Creek or Agua Tibia entry: Use the signed Horsethief Trailhead access in Pine Creek Wilderness, Cleveland National Forest, California. Use the signed Bear Valley/Pine Creek or Dripping Springs/Wildhorse approach named by the permit and verify parking, road, gate, and closure status. Pine Creek and Agua Tibia remote camping has no recurring closure season, but extreme heat, wildfire, flash floods, washouts, and district orders can remove access. San Mateo Canyon remains under the Airport Fire closure.
Before driving
Confirm the district permit, exact entry, road and gate, and Cleveland alerts. A remote-camping permit never overrides a fire-area closure.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 32.746723° N
- Longitude
- 116.665926° W