A Journey to Pumpkin Rock
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- Опубліковано 24 жов 2023
- In the hills above Norco, California you can find a rock painted to look like a giant pumpkin, appropriately named Pumpkin Rock. For the last 30 years this has been an iconic spot in the town.
In an effort to make a video somewhat related to Halloween, we ventured up to Norco to hike to Pumpkin Rock and explore what else there is to see along the trail. As we head up to join the crowd at the top, we discuss the history of Norco, Horsetown USA, and how this rock went from looking like an elephant's butt to looking like a pumpkin.
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The trail is in good shape. Loved the horses and happy you diverted. It is unfortunate people lack respect for nature.
Parts of it are, but there's some serious erosion in the works unless they get the drainage fixed. Depends on who owns it, I guess.
We love your videos. Haven’t been watching for very long, but glad we found you. You take us places we never knew were there. You do your homework, and give us lots of good information on where you’re visiting. Looking forward to lots more places you’re going to bring us. My husband is from Southern California and loves watching too.
I used to live just under Pumpkin Rock and took my dogs for walks up there all the time. Thank you for this trip down memory... Trails. 😊
And "Horse Town USA" was a Trademark battle that Norco won, beating out towns like San Antonio and Tulsa for the title.
Nortucky.
You took the path less taken and it made all the difference.
It's really sad how people who have no artistic skills feel the need to deface the work of others.
A Rock we call monkey rock because of the paint look like a ape.. beautiful.. Then someone removed the paint.. We hate ourselves that we never took a photo
The human desire to leave a mark to be remembered by.
Graffiti dates way back to early civilizations painting on rocks. Blame them. They started it and by today's standards had no artistic skills.
my expression is more important than your expression ...
therefore i reject your expression ...
and substitute my own ...
(it's what it is to be human)
But having artistic talent makes the act of defacing acceptable? Good to know.
Always enjoy your videos - the perfect combination of informative, interesting content and a uniquely calming style. Keep up the great work!
Thank you very much!
Recognition of the heroic marine was a nice touch.
The horse statues look like the ones that used to seen jumping Hwy 79 weat of Lake Skinner with a stagecoach of the same style was accross from the main entrance. They were there for years and then later gone. This was between Temecula and Arguana.
Keep that San Diego hat on everywhere you go!
Elephant Butt...huh huh huh you said butt.
Hey Steve
My brother used to live in The Trails off Pomerado Road, in Rancho Bernardo. It was supposedly designed to allow folk to have their horses within their property so they, the owners, could ride through the trail ways. The last time I visited I believe out of the hundreds of properties, only two or three had horses stabled on their land.
We have similar street crossing controls in the U.K. for horse riders. The button being at the riders height with a set of pedestrian lights that also have a rider and horse symbol as well as the usual green “walking” and red “waiting” figures!
Another fun video and another place to visit when we come back to California.
Great video, Steve. I used to go up to Norco from San Diego to attend Army Reserve drills at Lake Norco back in the early '90s, but Pumpkin Rock wasn't there yet. At least it's good to know the horses are still running around out there. It be great if the Navy let you on to the base there to do a video on the old Lake Norco club building, if it's still standing. Thanks.
ye it worth to visit if we are nearby as souvenir of memories .
My home town.... I do miss the earlier years of Norco, let alone California all together but seeing you in the town I grew up in, met my wife of 3+ decades now and created what I did in life until leaving for a couple years to only return buying my childhood home, not far from where you showed this video off 2nd @ Pacific Ave. Small town. Everyone knew each other back in the day. No possibility of holding a steering wheel at 10 & 2 because I was constantly waving at the oncoming cars along any route. Norco High graduate in 87. Never really "left" with visiting my parents many times a month.
If you get a chance, check out GRAVITY HILL. That's always a fun one to trick what we think is what it is! To go up hill in neutral is always a fun trip!
Boy could I keep going watching this in my good ol' home town of Norco.... Now out of Cali in another more friendly to it's residence state not far from home.....
Another great and more personal for me video sir!
Welcome to my backyard Watched you all over California hope you enjoyed your stay in Norco partner
Again . thank you Steve i love your adventures in the sunshine 👍🏼Take care and stay safe 😎
You got your SD hat back!
Your videos have a very relaxing vibe, the music really de-stresses me. Thank you!!
NORCO1?? I Grew up so close to their. VERY COOL!!
A Spooktacular Hike Steve! The views all around are spectacular! I really enjoyed seeing those Horse Sculptures up close too. Very Cool. I personally have never enjoyed seeing graffiti. I'm not the guy who tells kids to get off my grass, it just seems like graffiti desecrates the actual "Memorial". My Dad was a 30 year USAF Pilot and we lived in Riverside for years when Dad was stationed on March AFB. These hill here in Norco reminded me of the ones we went to called Mt. Rubidoux where there was a huge White Cross up near the top of the hills. Sadly it kept getting burned and or vandalized that it literally disappeared. Glad you got your cardio in and the Drone shots as always were very neat! MOO From The Pumpkin Patch in COW-lumbus, Ohio 👋
I don’t get the graffiti at all, but I was actually at Pompeii yesterday and there was some nearly 2,000 year old graffiti there, so I guess things never change! I believe there is currently a cross on Mt. Rubidoux, or at least there was about 11 years ago when I last hiked up it.
Cool video! I sometimes drive through Corona. I'll have to make a stop at Pumpkin Rock someday.
Another good one, Steve! I agree about the idiots that just have to deface things by spray painting what seems like everything! Sad! Thanks for the hike!
Thank you for doing the hike to Pumpkin Rock that I’ve never had the ability to do. I go to or through Norco/Corona on a regularly basis, so I’ve been familiar with the rock. From your drone images, the suburban sprawl has taken over the area. If you’re so inclined, I would love to hear your take on the history of the auto races that took place in Corona. Grand Ave, a circular thoroughfare, provided the means for car races from 1913 - 16. People from all over the south land would attend to watch world-class car racers compete. As communities like Corona were developing, the races were a form of boosterism to advertise he community. Ewell Howser did a California’s Gold episode on the Corona Races, which is available on Chapman University’s website.
The city, Corona, is named after the corona of the eye..... "From what I have been told" lol
@@jetsons101
Incorrect.
Corona means Crown. We were the largest producer of Lemons in the world back in the early 20th century.
Now home to Monster drinks.
My Mom has a set of tickets, to one of the races that took place in corona. For being as old as they are there in great shape.
I found this online, but just because it was online it could still be incorrect: On July 13, 1896, residents voted to incorporate the community and to change the name from South Riverside to Corona. Corona is the Spanish word for crown, in honor of the City's ""circular Grand Boulevard.""
We have some friends with horses that live in Corona --- they have a pool...... lol@@robertbass9032
A Yogi Berra(ism)!quote!,I love it. My name is Bicycle Bob and I approved this message and stop horsing around.
Thanks! Steve Another great adventure!
Thanks for doing great local subjects.
Thanks again for you videos. This is just another place I'll have to visit.
THANK YOU STEVE,ALWAYS A DELIGHT..SAFE TRAVELS..
Now more than ever, we need your refreshing videos, Steve. Thank you.
Thanks for the video Steve. Happy Halloween!
youre my new favorite youtuber, this is cool, i need to visit norco, california, im near stockton,california
What a neat little side track! Very interesting, and thatvis a nice memorial as well.
Beautiful sculptures for sure, so cool for socal,
Great video...couldn't help but notice the chem trails and massive chem clouds.
Thank you Steve
Thank you Steve, I look forward to tuning in each week. Love your work. 📺
It's a good morning or evening hike. Not much shades but the hike is easy once you get to the ridge.
Another man made California tourist attraction, but the view redeems all of the glitch and glamor that surrounds the rock.
Perfect hike for pre- Halloween!!
Love the horse friendly atmosphere of Norco. Again, thanks for another great video, Steve!!
Love it. Thanks,as always Steve.
David
HOW GREAT! I used to live by, and ride in Norco! But left in 1990, so that is why that is not familiar.
I can imagine there is more graffiti etc..now then in my days there. All the big beautiful boulders.
Cool video, again!
Thanks, never knew the Norco facts or heard of pumpkin rock. I learn something new every Wednesday!
Steve! I’ve been on this trail before and was so happy to see that you visited too! Nice to know the history now!
Thanks Again Steve!
You’re welcome.
Interesting story Steve. I always look forward to seeing your videos.
Great video Steve
Thanks dude
I worked in a hilly Aussie country town where the mail contractor delivered by horse. Letterboxes were high off the ground.
Pretty Cool. Could have been a toasted marshmallow too!
So much history in Norco other than pumpkin rock. Fun video. :)
Great Video Steve[ and Company] I have been around OC Cal. since 1965. More Historic Vids are Awsome!
i lived in eastvale growing up and driving through norco was felt like traveling to another state. sometimes even now, you'd see horses walking by and it'd be normal
Thanks!
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.
Thanks for the fun facts of the horses. 🙂👍🇸🇪
Go every year awesome
Bring plenty of water and snacks. Especially on hot days
go Padres!!!
Welcome to the IE Steve. Great little video.
Nice visit. I like all the Horse amenities in the city.
🐈⬛🐾👍👏
The one thing that I didn’t see was people actually riding horses though.
Very interesting and different town
Thanks
Thank you, I really appreciate it.
I live in a nearby town. Ive heard of it but have never been. I'll definitely have to check it out.
New sub. Enjoying your SOCAL / SWUSA treks to obscure locales.
Thank you, I appreciate it.
A very clear day there! That wasn't the norm when I lived in the region.
Excellent content MrSteve👍👍👍
Thank you.
I have a friend who lives in Norco and in the 25 years I've known him he's never mentioned pumpkin rock! I'm going to have to have a serious talk with that boy! Thank you for pointing this out for us.
We Love Pumpkin Rock!
Reminds me of the painted rocks along Central Ave/Hwy 74 between Lake Elsinore and Perris. Years ago driving around Norco, we used to refer to it as Bandini Mountain, or Eau de Poo.
Neat trip report! "In the 80s," I lived just east of there by Twin Buttes, Arlington @ La Sierra in Riverside. Theres a good view from up on Twin Buttes, too.
thx for the h ween giggles...at least the memorial wasnt defaced,,,ty!!
Hi Steve. I love your adventures. The pumpkin rock is about 1/4 mile from my home.
Can you see it from your house? I was pretty surprised to realize it can be seen from the Bob’s Big Boy. I had never realized before.
@@SidetrackAdventures I can’t see it from my home. I’m live on the Riverside side of the pumpkin.
My initial thought during your beginning approach was it looks more like an acorn. 😊
The people,that live in the valley can look up and see it!
Pumpkin Head got stoned. :)
Pumpkin rock junior looks angry! Maybe he's mad about all the graffiti. 🎃
Pumpkin rock definitely needs to be repainted. It looked way better when I hiked to it a couple of years ago.
They definitely look like Breceda pieces. Some years back he had an open house at his studios and I met him. Humble, unptetentious, and a nice person. A visit there would be a great adventure for you.
Great home to Elephant Butt rock. Hate that the city tries to hide the true, it looks like an elephant butt. Make up(paint) will never hide the true shining star…Elephant Butt Rock!!
YEAR AGO,
In San Francisco's China town was a 76 station.
The big orange ball had Chinese characters on it
instead of 76.
!
Ii love this channel. So interesting! Steve you need some merch! I'd buy a hat or a t-shirt
Thanks. A few people have asked about shirts, so I will have to look into it.
Taking the long way if part of the charm of the journey -- besides that using google maps is cheating..... lol
Looks like you had a great day.
mike
Yeah, I agree!
I hiked there many times but never saw the horse status. Thanks there’s a graffiti falls a few miles north in Corona interesting hike too.
Cheers 🍻🎃🍻🎃🍻🎃🍻🎃
Looks like a great place to take the dogs hiking.
Saw quite a few dogs up there.
Really enjoy you adventures. Now it looks like an orange elephant's butt.
Steve, Have you driven US 95 from Yuma to Quartzite? Lovely drive with the Tofa Wildlife refuge to the east. Yuma Proving Grounds is to the wst for about 30 miles. They may have a museum you can go to. There is also an old Stone Cabin that is a landmark at least by the fact a couple of road signs give mileage to it. We drive it twice a year to and from Idaho and our desert house.
Yes I have. I haven’t done a video on the road itself, but I touched on the Stone Cabin in my Castle Dome City video. I planned on doing a video once at the Proving Ground, but they moved the Atomic Annie cannon temporarily and I’ve been waiting for it to come back.
Horse paths instead of sidewalks - now that's cool.
Thank you for pointing out all of the cool horse-related aspects of this town. I'm curious about the horse sculptures, and am not familiar with the name of the artist you mentioned. For many years I would drive from San Diego to Prescott, AZ, getting on the 60 just east of Quartzite. Near the town of Salome (I think), there was a large commercial yard with life size rusted metal sculptures of horses, cows, saguaro cactus, and even full stage coaches with teams of four horses. Maybe even a elephant! It was amazing! I would occasionally see more of the sculptures in front of 'trading post' type stores along the 89 near Yarnell. Sadly, the last time I drove through Salome (Oct 2021), everything was gone.
Ricardo Breceda is most known for the large Goleta Meadows sculptures around Borrego Springs, but his work shows up all over. His workshop is near Temecula, CA.
@@SidetrackAdventures Thanks! I had not seen his work before. I love the big dragons. The horses I'd seen were similar, but Ricardo's pieces are much finer quality. The place that sold them was called Westergreen's Pottery and Gifts, in Salome, AZ. It's out of business now. I wonder if the sculptures they sold were imported from Mexico. The full life-size stagecoach and team were pretty impressive. I can find a few photos online, but no artist's name. So many interesting stories come up relating to your videos. :)
Being it is in California, perched on a hill, think I'd have painted it to look like an eight ball. Next big eq it may roll into the pocket.😊
I wish someone would CC graffiti artists the 1992 email the rest of us got that read "OK, ENOUGH ALREADY."
Nice! Love Pumpkin Rock! Seen it on several videos, however, never in person. From what I've been told, those horses are indeed by Breceda. 👍 Someone needs to hike up there with some orange paint to cover the graffiti. 😅
Yeah. I’m sure whatever group takes care of Pumpkin Rock does their best, but it’s probably a losing battle with how close it is to town and short of a hike it is. It’s too bad.
This makes me wonder how Eagle Rock in Alum Rock Park (San Jose, CA) got its name. It looks nothing like an eagle.
Well so close to yorba linda and the Sunkist citrus packing house and the Nixon home.
Good video. I wish you would include where you parked.
Sorry, I parked on a residential street near the horse stables. There was enough parking for maybe 3-4 cars there.
@@SidetrackAdventures Aww thank you. 👍☺️
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS
GOD BLESS AMERICA 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
😎👍
Steve go have a beer at last chance saloon while you're in norco.
😀
Probaply inspired by Charlie Brown 😀
It’s cool seeing you visit pumpkin rock! I lived there from the age of 9 to 26 (I’m 28 now living in Phoenix, AZ). My parents still live on the second street that runs parallel to the hill under the rock (Crestview Dr). It’s easy to forget that the rock is a novelty being that I’m so used to it being there as a Norconian! I’ve hiked all of those hills countless times in any weather, especially the rain during the winter because the hills would always get so green, it would be like hiking in Scotland.
Very cool spot.
People can be so disrespectful. And with alllll those rocks, they could have painted on any of them. Kind of a trash attitude. They're the reason my mom told us we couldn't have nice things, lol.
Is it dirt on stop, or bird droppings? ??? Noticed on the drone shots there was white stuff on most of the rocks. Maybe natural
Thanks for this adventure. 🎃 🪨
For most I think it’s just a natural part of the rock.