The Sierra Club’s Uriel Payan & Paul Gipe will lead a hike among the wind turbines on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) at 9:00 am on Saturday 16 May 2026 near Tehachapi, California.
The Sierra Club leads the hike to spotlight a section of the PCT as well as the thousands of wind turbines in the Tehachapi Pass. The event marks the 40th year of the annual spring hike.
The hike is dedicated to Tony Swan who led the hike for many years in every kind of weather imaginable from blistering heat to blowing snow. Tony will be with us in spirit.
Tehachapi’s Windmill-Wildflower Hike is one of the longest-running such events anywhere in the world. Nearly a thousand people have taken the seven-mile walk across Cameron Ridge since the event was first launched.
Note: This is a Sierra Club sanctioned hike and leaves the PCT trailhead kiosk northeast of the junction of Cameron Canyon Road and Tehachapi-Willow Springs Road promptly at 9:00 am. All hikers must abide by Sierra Club outings’ policy and must sign a waiver of responsibility.
The PCT Cameron Ridge segment kiosk is on the south side of Cameron Canyon Road, 100 to 200 feet northeast of its junction with Tehachapi-Willow Springs Road.
Spring weather at 5,000 feet in the Tehachapi Mountains is unpredictable. The temperature can vary from near-freezing to sweltering. It is often extremely windy. Hikers must dress appropriately. Bring a hat, jacket, sunscreen, and at least one quart of water per person. Long pants and hiking boots are advised. Hikers should also pack a lunch and be prepared for any kind of weather.
Note: Hike leaders reserve the right to refuse hikers who are unprepared for the conditions. No crocs, or sandals. Everyone must have a hat, sun protection, adequate water, a lunch, and be sufficiently fit to complete the hike. Hikers must carry out everything they carry in including orange peels, apple cores, tissue paper, and pads. There are no facilities.
The seven-mile hike is rated “moderate” by seasoned hikers, but it has steep uphill and downhill segments. Please note that this is a real through hike and not “a gentle stroll through the park.”
Warning: Those with heart conditions and reduced lung capacity are advised not to participate. (The hike traverses a ridge at 5,000 feet elevation, providing only 80% of the air density at sea level.) Parents with children must assure that the children can walk the entire distance.
Though there are frequent rest stops, including lunch, there are no way stations where people can be picked up by car. This is a through hike with a car shuttle at the end.
The total duration of the hike is about five hours, including lunch among the wind turbines. There will be a car shuttle to return hikers to the starting point.
The Pacific Crest Trail stretches from Mexico to Canada following the crest of the Sierra Nevada for much of its length. The route over Cameron Ridge offers sweeping vistas of the Mojave Desert, the Garlock Fault, and thousands of wind turbines. The trail is open to the public. Anyone can hike the trail on their own, anytime.
The hike passes modern wind turbines and some that have been in operation for 40 years. Altogether, the wind turbines in the Tehachapi Pass are estimated to generate more than 8 billion kilowatt-hours (8 TWh) per year, about 3% of the state’s electricity consumption.
Depending upon conditions, the PCT’s Cameron Ridge segment can also provide dramatic displays of spring wildflowers, including grape-soda lupine (Lupinus excubitus), Desert Mariposa lily (Calochortus kennedyi), sun cups (Camissonia sp.), and gilia (Gilia sp.).
Paul Gipe, an internationally recognized authority on renewable energy, organized the first hike in 1986.
For more information call Paul Gipe (661) 472-1657 or Uriel Payan (661) 699-0366.
- For more information on past hikes, visit Windmill-Wildflower Hike.
- To learn more about wildflowers, contact the Kern Chapter of the California Native Plant Society.
- Video of the 2015 Windmill-Wildflower Hike by the American Wind Energy Association.
PCT Trail Head Cameron Road Segment Northbound
- 35.052590, -118.357932
- Pacific Crest Trail, Mojave, CA 93501
- https://goo.gl/maps/17N43BzRN572
