From a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail, hiking north up a hiker’s trail along the aptly named Pleasant View Ridge leads to Mt. Williamson (elevation 8,214′) just east of the trail where the ridge turns and continues west. Continuing west and following the ridge to two more bumps of higher elevations 8,244′ and 8,248′ under a mile from Mt. Williamson yields stunning views of the desert directly below to the north and across the range out to the ocean to the south.