Pilot Rock Road

Getting There

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’re 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.

This paved road will take you to an overlook of Cedar Springs Dam. Just before the overlook’s 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’re ready, reset your odometer and start up 2N33.

Pilot Rock Road is located inside the San Bernardino National Forest.  If 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.

Road Trip

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’t 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.

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.

At 2.7 miles, a rough spot in the road may be encountered.  Here, you’ll find a water tank used for flood control on the left side of the road.  Often, water from this tank flows out onto the road, which creates deep ruts.  This typically occurs after long periods of rain or snow.  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.

Another obstacle to be aware of is ice.  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.  If the ice is extensive enough, it will be difficult for most vehicles to cross it.

View Point

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’s usually clear enough to pick out your own neighborhood.  You may wish to pack a pair of binoculars to use at this viewpoint so that you can find the various faraway landmarks.

About Silverwood Lake

Silverwood’s 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’s case, water from the aqueduct enters the lake next to the dam. Water then exits the lake at the lake’s 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 – it’s a backwards reservoir.