Sunday, March 5th 2023 "The Silence Grows" . an Ode to Humber Park Trailhead Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail 3e07 in Pine Cove California . By Jade Ann Byrne . Take only photos; leave only foot steps. Leave no trace, is how I enjoy nature. I don't always follow all the rules but you wouldn't know I was there. What an incredible privilege to ascend a sleeping snowy giant on the somber silence of a Sunday. The bright crunch of the grains of snow underfoot crying out loudly from the sudden unwelcome friction of my boots of untrodden once warmed, now frozen snow. The silence broke only by The chestnut-backed chickadee (Poecile rufescens) casually crying out alerting the rest of the environment to my presence. The silence grows. Snowshoeless descending towards the frigid rapids of the burble glossy eddies hidden below the abundant heavy snow. Stop movement. Inhale. Release. read more

Humber Park - Take only photos; leave only foot steps. Leave no trace. Stop movement. Inhale. Release. - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

Came here on a snowy day and love love loved it! It was quiet and serene except for the sound of hail and snow falling. We did a bit of a hike and there were some good elevation points for a sled ride. You can also find uniquely large pine cones here which can be sappy and poky so handle with care. read more

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What makes a 5 star hike? Fresh air, wildlife, streams, plenty of waterfalls, solitude and an easy trail to start. For as long as I can remember, all my life living in Southern California I have wanted to visit Idyllwild. It did not disappoint in the least bit. Stopped at the Ranger Station, activated my permit, asked the ranger for an easy hike and voila! Drove up to Fernwood, entered Humber Park, then started the Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail. To my surprise, within a couple hundred feet we hiked downwards to a waterfall. Right there and then my hiking partner and I had a picnic. Piece of pie, because he just sprinted back up to the car to stow away our trash! Tummies fortified, we embarked on our journey and everyone was friendly on the trail. Kids, adults, dogs. Ran into a man who looked like he was very familiar with this trail. I asked him where does it lead? He said to some houses. That didn't sound too promising. I said "any trails that lead to water?" He replied, "just take a left at the stream when it crosses, and go up about 30 minutes, you'll have to climb some rocks and some parts are steep, but the view of the waterfall is worth it!" He gave simple, clear instructions. It took us much longer, about a hour longer, because I had to stop and take all these pictures. This forest hike which was beyond my imagination. It left me breathless in a good way. Carsick down the hill in a bad way! Which gives me a better excuse to stay up here longer next time. read more

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Humber Park is a convenient starting point for several hikes in the San Jacinto Wilderness. You will need a free wilderness permit to hike, and an Adventure Pass to park ($5 a day, or $30 annually). If you are hiking the Devil's Slide trail during a weekend day in the summer you will also need a free Devil's Slide permit. These are limited in number, so get to the ranger's station early to secure your permit. Humber Park has restrooms at the trail head, but I don't believe there is a water source. The hike to Tahquitz Peak from the Devil's Slide trail is a moderate hike of about 8.5 miles (my GPS read 9.3 miles, but we took the side loop through Tahquitz Meadow). The total elevation gain is only 2,500 feet, but most of that is done in the first 2.5 miles, so it is a bit steeper in the beginning than it sounds. The summit is at 8,828 feet, which means that you will likely feel the effects of the high elevation in your final accent. The views from the trail are spectacular, especially from the summit. You will see all the way from the desert to Mount Baldy. Even on a partly cloudy day, we were truly impressed by the scenery. The only reason I would not give the hike 5 stars is that, even at the end of October, there was a decent amount of traffic on the trail. I like the solitude provided by some of the other trails in this area. A similar hike, with a lot less people, is Black Mountain. I recommend checking that one out as well! read more

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Hike: Devils Slide Trail to Tahquitz Peak Round Trip: 8.8 miles Time: 5 hours 30 minutes Elevation: 8846 ft Did this hike this past Sunday. We woke up early to grab the needed permits at the Idyllwild Ranger Station, which opened at 8 am. Apparently they only hand out 30 permits per day on the weekends for Devils Slide Trail. A ranger told us they have 10 to give out the day before right when the station closes, or you can request one by mail, or show up day of to the ranger station like we did to get one. Didn't realize it was so regulated! I think it might be a little different when it's not summer though. Trail head: Starts at Humber Park. Drive all the way to the top of the lot. We saw a lot of people parking lower along the path, but I think they were doing another trail. We also saw a lot of people with climbing gear down there. An Adventure Pass is needed! You can pick one up at the ranger station, or the little store near Humber Park. Trail: is well marked. The first trail we took was Devils Slide Trail, from trail head to saddle junction was 2.5 miles. The saddle junction crosses with the PCT. You then go right on the PCT 1.4 miles to another small trail crossing with the South Ridge Trail. From there it's a 1/2 mile hike to the peak which also has a lookout tower. We got caught in the rain 3 miles into the hike. There wasn't much coverage but we trudged on! Definitely a nice hike. Make sure to wear bug spray! There are mosquitoes on this trail. Be prepared for the bipolar weather lol. read more

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I went yesterday and it was so beautiful ! There was still some snow (mostly ice) the higher up you went but it didn't interfere with most of the walk. Most people passing by would wear there face masks when passing by. The trail we went on had shade covering almost all the way up. We didn't go all the way to the top because ice was covering a narrow trail and we were not well prepared for that. Either way we still go a nice view and a Great Walk. read more

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Buy your parking pass. Don't take the chance and also the money goes towards a good cause...nature. Or at least I hope. This park is beautiful and a really great reprieve from the busy city life which is why many people come to Idyllwild. This place is a really good start for many of the hikes in the area. You can choose your own adventure when you get here. When we went, most people were doing Devil's Slide. We weren't ready for that so we opted for something a little easier. We did have our pup with us like many people here. Around the park there are lots of shaded areas for them if its a really hot day. If you're a nature person and ready for a good day of hiking, make sure to start here. read more

Great trail, can be challenging at some parts of the incline. There are beautiful little creeks along the way which my dog enjoyed on a warm day. Definitely plan to go early as it can get a bit crowded, especially with the limited parking available. read more

Humber Park - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

As with most hikes, there are steps. Getting to the top of Tahquitz Peak had a few more. Step 1 - Hiking Permit: Before going on a hike anywhere around Idyllwild, get a hiking permit at the San Jacinto Ranger District Visitor Center at 54270 Pine Crest (at Highway 243) in Idyllwild. The station is open Friday through Tuesday 8A to 4P (except 12:00P to 12:30P). The hiking permit is free, but a $5 National Forest Adventure Pass (a parking pass) is needed at Humber Park (or display an Interagency Annual Pass). The center also has maps. If closed, the permit can be filled and left at their front door, but you'll need to buy the Adventure Pass at nearby stores. Step 2 - Humber Park Parking Lot: Drive 2.4 miles form the station up to the parking lot. Plenty of road signs make it easy to find. The bathrooms in the parking area might be dirty and unstocked so plan accordingly. The parking area is usually busy, but not full. Humber Park isn't a true park, but just a parking area. The rock formation looming over Humber Park is Lily Rock, not Tahquitz Peak. Step 3 - Saddle Junction: Of the 2.5 mile Devil's Slide hike with a 1640 foot elevation gain, the beginning is the steepest part. The elevation change also meant a significant temperature change between Humber and the Saddle. For example, there can be no snow at Humber, but snow at the Saddle. Because of the trees, the trail only has a few views of Suicide Rock. There is also not much to see at the Saddle. It's mainly way to get to the Pacific Crest Trail that leads to other locations in Mt. San Jacinto State Park and the National Forest. Step 4 - Tahquitz Peak Lookout: One of those locations is the 8,828 foot Tahquitz Peak. It's not much further (only 1.8 miles with a 725 elevation gain), but with significantly better views. The Lookout is a wooden perch (see pic). There is shorter way to get to the Lookout along the South Ridge Trail. See www.yelp.com/biz/south-ridge-trail-idyllwild-pine-cove. The trail is steeper and finding the parking area is tricky. read more

It's a really fun park to take your dog to let them run around some people have them on reach some people don't that's up to you I guess I prefer to keep my dog on a leash LOL you just never know. For instance when we went last my girl Kaya had a Doberman Pinscher a little bit bigger than her she is a pitbull 75 lbs business dog ran up full speed and started sniffing her and she stood there and did nothing let him do what he was doing but made me a little nervous needless to say he introduced himself in a very obnoxious way LOL. So the other great feature for this part is the frisbee golf and the disc throwing it's really kind of cool place to stop by if you're in the area in a residential neighborhood in Murrieta California Good times read more

Hiked _Devil's Slide_ from the top of Fern Valley Road. ***PURCHASE A HIKING PASS AT IDYLLWILD RANGER'S STATION BEFORE STARTING.*** /warning This was a gorgeous hike--5 miles round trip to the saddle/ridge (carry on for San Jacinto peak or other spectacular views). The rangers at the National Forest Service accurately described the hike as 'moderate'. We climbed ~2,000 ft. over the course of 2.5 miles. Not too bad, but a good workout. We also got caught in an outrageous downpour of rain/hail + lightning during the last mile of our descent. Added a lot of excitement to our experience! read more

Humber Park - Everyone's favorite picture from our Idyllwilde hike. Brown pine ftw - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

Loved the views and the slopes for sledding! First time to the park, second time in Idyllwild and we had a blast! The kids got snow burns because we flew so fast. Honestly we didn't really explore very far, just pulled over and started sledding. The weather was perfect, the snow was fresh, just magical! The view of Taquitz was fantastic from here! I was with the littles so we didn't try any trail hikes, but one day... Be sure to go the the Ranger's Station in Idyllwild before you go to buy a car pass for $5. read more

My boyfriend, dog and I were visiting and so I researched this place before hand (making sure it was dog friendly) and decided to give it a try. First stop was the ranger station (54270 Pine Crest, Idyllwild) to get the adventure pass and fill out the permit. However...ITS CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS! We were able to fill out the permit at a little station they have outside, but then had to go to Chevron to pick up an Adventure Pass. (Chevron is within walking distance- btw) Then finding Humber Park based on yelp suggestions was actually pretty hard. Luckily my GPS happened to have "Humber Park" under its categories and we were able to find it via that. My advice to anyone else is, just keep going up North on Pine Crest Ave (make a left out of the ranger station parking lot) and eventually you will find signs that lead to Humber Park. You might feel lost, but keep following that road and follow the signs once you see them. Anyway, we decided to try Devil's Slide Trail first, which had gorgeous views. Unfortunately we were not able to go far because my boyfriend did not bring appropriate shoes and kept slipping on the snow/slush. Some parts of the trail this part of the year you need to walk on icy snow to continue so make sure you have shoes with good traction if you want to do this trail. We turned around and instead tried the Ernie Maxwell trail, which was also hard to find. (Follow the road down from the bathrooms and you'll eventually find the trail marker). This trail seemed extremely long, and we probably went further than we meant to, going back was pretty difficult. The trail is moderate, winds around a lot, quite a few rocks so watch your step. We did not get to the end as we had to make it to check in at our hotel but I felt like we went out a ways. The views and exercise were worth it though! I wish we lived closer so we could come back and explore all it has to offer. read more

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Place is beautiful and the rocks are super cool to look at. Great hiking and views. It's a uphill hike going out on the trail but it is worth it if you are in some what in shape read more

3.5 stars Devil's Slide Trail (5 miles RT): I'm feeling a bit conflicted about how to review this trail. For those from the SGV, the best way I can describe it is that it reminds me of Echo Mountain. Relentless switchbacks, upward incline. Some of the views are quite incredible along the hike, but when you reach the end of the trail at the Saddle Junction, I basically said to bf: "That's it?". I climbed all this way and all I get is a junction point? Not much to see around here at the end. This is a good trail if you would like to continue to one of the connecting trails. If not, I would suggest the hike to Suicide Rock via Deer Springs trail because for a little bit more mileage (6.6 miles RT), you get an AMAZING panoramic view at the top. - 1st part of the trail is a bit more exposed, latter part has a lot more shade - bring plenty of water, sunblock, hat, sunglasses, etc.. - hiking poles/boots are helpful - don't forget your adventure pass & hiker permit (obtainable at the ranger station, 1 per group); i read that they only limit 30 permits during the weekend from memorial day wkend to labor day wkend because of the crowds so be sure to get one early! read more

Humber is a Trailhead for some awesome hikes, but it is NOT a Park ! There are some parking spaces, but only a couple of toilets ( outshouse type) and no other facilities. Everybody needs to know that in Winter, the Forest Service closes the road far below Humber, as it is quite steep and icy and dangerous. Unless you are a very experienced hiker, Winter is not the time to go up to Humber. For snowplay use the County or State Park or the Natrue Center in Idyllwild. Also note the CHP and Sheriff heavily patrol this area in Winter, due to the congestion caused by stuck cars. Without chains, you will not make it up and worse it is dangerous going back down due to sliding, skidding, out of control. In non Winter times, it is a beautiful area to explore... just ensure to first buy your Forest Pass at Ranger Station in town... read more

Who would have thought that a mere 2 hours are high quality granite faces reminiscent of Tuolumne Meadows? Tahquitz Rock (aka Lily Rock) and Suicide Rock are large granite formations first "discovered" by the climbing community in the 1930s. Today you'll find a plethora of both single- and multi-pitch routes, which are mostly covered by the Falcon Guide by Randy Vogel and Bob Gaines. Some of the more popular climbs also highlighted here: http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/152259/tahquitz-rock-lily-rock-.html http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/152269/suicide-rock.html Keep in mind that the town basically shuts down around 8 pm in case you have a post-climb hankering for a burger. Note: by "parking pass" Nick E means a National Forest Adventure Pass: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/ap/ read more

Humber Park - Whodunit (5.9), Tahquitz Rock - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

Humber Park is a cool, peaceful oasis that's perfect if you're looking for some solitude; it's a nice mixture of sun and shade. The trails here are decently maintained, and you'll find some incredible views as you hike. Tip: Best of all, this park is dog friendly! All in all, this is a great place to come for a hike with kids, with your dogs, or just by yourself :-) read more

Gorgeous! I went here in January with an organized group for some snowshoeing and it was beautiful. The Devil's Slide hike is pretty tough, but with snowshoes on it's a total butt kicker! It doesn't matter though, the summit is beautiful and totally worth the discomfort of the steep hike. While ascending there are beautiful views of Lake Matthews and Perris (at least I think those were the lakes I was seeing). I did not experience the parking issue in January put I did run into a ranger checking passes - so get yers. Idyilwild is a cute little mountain town with much more charm than Big Bear. Had to deduct one star because the actual summit is devoid of views, a pretty disappointing climax if you ask me. read more

Humber Park - snowshoeing - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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1. Don't forget to buy an Adventure Parking pass for the day ($5) 2. Make sure you get a Wilderness permit before hiking (free, obtain at Ranger Station in Idyllwild. Check hours before going). I was feeling adventurous and went on a solo adventure hiking (my first one). Probably not the best idea and I was a little anxious, but it worked out really well. I hiked the Devil's Slide trail up to the Saddle Junction, was disappointed that there was nothing to see there, and continued up to Tahquitz Peak (amazing views!) In total, each way was about 5 miles and it took about 2 hours up and down with a few breaks in between. I went on a Sunday and felt saw quite a few groups on the trail and felt comfortable hiking alone, but at the same time, it also was not super crowded. No bathrooms on the trail, so monitor your water intake accordingly. read more

My boyfriend and I stayed in Idyllwild for a Saturday night. We planned to hike the Ernie Maxwell Trail, early that Sunday morning, since the temps would be high. We learned about the hike, via Yelp, and the reviews listed here under Humber Park. We picked up our pass at the Emporium in town (antique-type shop), and appreciated the gentleman opening earlier for us, to do so. We found an easy parking spot and I added a 50 ounce water to my hydration pack, before we set off. We are new to hiking. He is still working on losing weight, so he sweats and burns more calories than I, and I have asthma so my cardio lacks, when my heart starts racing. This hike was manageable, and felt invigorating. We started on the trail where it mostly ended up descending, so we knew the trek back would be a challenge. Still, we pushed through, enjoyed the scenery, and passed friendly people and pets along the way. It was just over 5.2 miles roundtrip, and lots of shade helped keep you cool. There are many boulders along the way, where you could stop and picnic on, if you chose too. I finished my water, at the end of the trail, so 50 ounces would be my least recommended, per person. The only thing I disliked was that there were no port-a-potties at the beginning or end of the hike!! Not smart. Luckily, I'm a woman who thinks ahead! I had shoved some tissues in my hydration pack, in case of allergy flare ups. They came in handy, when I had to squat and pee, behind a rock. The baby wipes I packed also, helped me "wash" my hands and cool down my face. Great hike and we'll do it again! read more

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My hubby and I spent a weekend in Idyllwild and loved it! We went to the San Jacinto Ranger Station and the rangers recommended Devil's Slide in humber park. It was an absolutely stunning hike! Almost every turn had an amazing view. The hike is 2.5 miles to the saddle and once you reach the saddle you can keep going up one of several trails, eat a light lunch, or turn back around satisfied that you got in a good hike. I'm not much of a hiker, but I felt the trail (although of moderate difficulty) was very manageable. As many others have noted, be sure to pick up your hiking permit and parking pass. There are many rangers in the area and they will check your permit on the hike. My hubby wanted to skip the permit, but I insisted. I refrained from doing my "I told you so" dance when the rangers stopped us half way up the trail and asked for the pass. You've been warned, and remember your better half may not be so kind and will instead break into a full "I told you so" musical on the trail when you get caught without your pass. read more

It was beautiful up there! We did a hike with the kids that took about 3 hrs & it was just the right amount of difficulty for ages 10 - 16. Not too tough, but enough that you feel like you are actually hiking, if you know what I mean. We were going to hike up the suicide trail/devil's trail, but we forgot to get an adventure pass when we picked up the parking pass at the Rangers station so we went on the one at the bottom of the lot. Very few people for a Sunday morning, it started getting crowded as we were heading to lunch around 2:00. We will definitely be regulars up here! read more

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Go to the Ranger's station in Idlyllwild and buy a 5$ pass for you car before you go hiking. It's an intrusive but nice requirement that the Rangers know who's on the trail and can check to see if you're okay if your car is still in the parking lot after hours. We hiked to Saddle Junction, took a little over 3 hours round trip, and it was just gorgeous. A great, moderate hike. Saw dogs on the trails, all ages/types of people. read more

This trail was great! I am not a hiker, but when le BF and I found ourselves in Idyllwild for a wedding, I thought we should do as the locals do for our pre-wedding exercise. I leafed through the "Things to Do" book at our hotel and it had one of the trails here listed as one you don't need a Hiking Pass for. We were sold! Parking was super easy - you have to have an Adventure Parking pass but our hotel gave us one. I was a little nervous because my usual hikes are all on asphalt (I know, I know I'm terrible and not outdoorsy at all), but this was a really great experience. It was a steady and gradual downhill for about 2.5 miles and then we turned around the way we came. Overall, a great and beautiful hike and I would definitely do it again. I'm sure theres hikes with way better views out there in Idyllwild, but for a beginner I would definitely recommend our trail. It's the one not called Devil's Run. Starts with an M. Would highly recommend! read more

Great hiking the Ernie Maxwell trail- it's a good agility level but it does get long coming back, especially if hot. It is partially shaded though. We had 2 dogs and 1 made it half way, the other did fine. Make sure you scramble up some boulders and check out the view. Don't forget the adventure pass! read more

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Did this yesterday! All the way to the top, scrambled the boulders to get to the sign! Great experience with my friend Francy. Good time of year, beautiful weather. My legs did turn to jelly towards the bottom, but it was so worth it. Mark you way when you do the boulders at the top. There isn't a trail, so be watchful. read more

Went on Devil's Slide trail. From the trailhead, it took about 2 hrs to get to the Saddle Junction at the very top, which is where Devil's Slide Trail ends and crosses the Pacific Crest Trail. Perhaps 50% of the trail is shaded by tall trees. Definitely wear sunscreen and bring enough water. You need to get a parking permit for the lot -- several cars had tickets on their windshield upon returning. Took about 1.5 hrs to get back down. The prettiest views are not at Saddle Junction, but perhaps 15 minutes before getting their where you can see the valley below and a distant lake beyond Suicide Rock. Not a hike I'd recommend for small kids. Beautiful views, and a nature lover's delight. read more

Humber Park - Lily Rock - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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World-class hiking in Southern California awaits you at Humber Park. You have two trails from which to choose: Ernie Maxwell Trail or Devil's Slide Trail. Both trails allow dogs. Ernie Maxwell Trail is the easiest of the two. Devil's Slide Trail will give you more spectacular views as it climbs to higher elevations, allowing you to get vantage points of the spectacular granite faces of the San Jacinto Mountains and the majesty of this mountain range. read more

Humber Park - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

Been here a few times and even when there's very little snow humber park is still fun!! I take my 3 kids amd they always ha e so much fun playing. Usually a lot of friendly familys... read more

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6000 feet up or there abouts with so many trails to explore by! Talking about being able to scrape the beautiful skin of heaven up here! Grey squirrels, deer, huge trees, birds abound and one day hope to see a big horned mountain sheep! Very cool to dig in with the family and go far away from the sprawl of rebar and concrete. Nice people always on the trail as well! read more

Finally I've found a place near San Diego to hike under trees! 5 stars for the tall trees, great trails, and calming vistas. read more

Humber Park - Idyllwild Hikes and Camps - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

Ernie Maxwell is a great trail, not too steep, with great views, and great shade for much of the trail. The only problem is that if you start from inside the park, the trail goes down from the outset, and then you have to climb uphill on the way back. Even though it's not very steep, if you are not used to being a mile up and it's not a cold day, it's hard. There is apparently another trailhead at the Taquitz end - it might be better to start there and go up first and then down. Don't forget to buy an Adventure Pass for parking. read more

Has many of the most beautiful hikes in Southern California! Devils slide trail! read more

Humber Park - From the start of the trail - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

The Devil's Slide Trail is one of my most favorite hikes in Southern California. I have been going to the San Jacinto Mountains since I was a kid, so I am very familiar with the entire range. Although the Devil's Slide trail can get crowded on the weekends, what the trail has to offer more than makes up for the trail congestion. The towering pines, the blue sky, the far-reaching vistas, and the heart-pumping workout on a well-maintained trail -- what more could you ask for? From Humber Park, the trail climbs briskly for the next 2.5 miles, making several switchbacks up the mountainside before leveling off at Saddle Junction, elevation about 8,000ft. From the junction, you can hike up to San Jacinto Peak (10,804'), over to Tahquitz Peak (8,828') or out to Reeds Meadow and Tahquitz Valley. I prefer hiking from Saddle Junction to Tahquitz Peak, atop of which sits an unmanned fire lookout tower. The distance from the Saddle to Tahquitz is 1.4 miles with an elevation gain of a little over 800 ft. The views from Tahquitz Peak are sublime; on a clear day you can see the Pacific Ocean to the west, Mt. Baldy and Mt. Wilson to the northwest, and the towering rounded dome of Toro Peak to the south. Several thousand feet below, you can see the shimmering water of Lake Hemet off to your left. To me, the San Jacinto Mountains are the pre-eminent mountain range in So. Cal. They are more primitive and less used than the more popular and well-known San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, and they don't have any ski resorts or very large Big Bear-like towns to further urbanize the mountain mass. Idyllwild, the largest city in the San Jacintos, is a tiny town without any streetlights. read more

The hike up Devil's Slide to the PCT to Tahquitz Peak is one of the best things I've done in a while. Did it alone, which freaked me out a little before going, but there was nothing to be freaked out by at all. Over the course of the approx 9 miles, I saw probably 8 or 9 people, which was enough to make me feel like if I twisted an ankle, I'd be found, but few enough to give that peaceful feeling of being in my own world. There was a ranger in the parking lot checking for permits, so make sure to stop at the Rangers Station in town (opens at 8am) to get your free permit and $5 parking pass. Round trip--parking lot to peak and back--took me just under 3 1/2 hours. The trail was reasonably shady in the morning, and I would def suggest mosquito repellent. read more

Humber Park - Storm clouds rolling in... - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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Two of my favorite hikes are here and both leave from the same parking lot. Devil's Slide is a great uphill hike featuring absolutely incredible views of Tahquitz Peak. Ernie Maxwell trail is great when you want an easy hike through the forrest that features a lot of shade. Ernie Maxwell is a great trail for kids and hikers of all levels. You must stop at the ranger station and obtain a permit for Devil's Slide (it is free). A permit is not needed for Ernie Maxwell. You must have an Adventure Pass/parking permit to park in the lot. But if you don't have one, you can park down the hill and walk into the park. There are bathrooms and a couple of picnic tables at the base. read more

I'm goal was devil's slide to tahquitz peak. I got started at 10am with my dog in the winter so i figure that's enough time to get down before dark. First stop at the ranger station which wasn't open the 3 days I tried calling to ask about my home No one at any other station was helpful. I was concerned about the wilderness permit and bringing a dog. Yep. I'm one of those overly prepared types. Don't sweat it. Everyone is chill and very nice. ( I read something got yelled at for bringing in their dog into the store. But they told me its ok! Their mayor is a dog!!) So by me not being prepared, I actually got lost twice. I am Asian and female so... I'm disadvantaged. I second guessed myself. I should have went with my instinct to go straight to find the trail head. No. I decided to make my own path, scaling a mountain full of autumn leaves. My dog was freaking and had to be dragged down the mountain. Ugh. Finally found the trail. It was straight and not to the left. Too tired and got lost again on the way to Taquitz peak. Had a nice hike but on the way down my dog was caught in a swarm of bees on the trail and was too scared to walk out of it. I had to walk and get him. I was stung 7 times. My dog has at least ten stuck on him. I had to brush them off. I've new was stuck right near his eye and had to bed plucked off. I freaked out!!! I don't know if my dog is antiphalactic (sp?) So I rushed to find a pharmacy to toss benedryl down his throat. The cashier said she heard several people complain about a swarm of bees there unfortunately that's was no warning signs​. We were camping up at Marion mtn. We went straight back. He just wanted to sleep. A few hours later my poor dog was too swollen to walk . read more

If you're hitting Humber Park on a weekend and see a parking lot full of cars don't let that dissuade you. While my rule of thumb when hiking anywhere in Southern California is when I see cars I go the other way, there are a handful of great trails that once you get a couple of miles in you can find your solitude. Devil's Slide is the trail of choice because once you hit the junction after a steady, but not overly strenuous 2.5 miles you have your choice of trail heads. The hike up to Tahquitz rock is recommended as is Reed Meadow. And if you're there during late October you're treated to some vibrant yellows as you meander through the forest on a rolling and well maintained trail. I think that 'feel' of the area, once you get up and back a ways, is as close to the High Sierra's as anywhere in Southern California. The mix of granite and pine makes up for the lack of Sequoia's. One quick note regarding another poster's comment (Kevin T) about permits for Devil's Slide. Maybe I just didn't dig the 'Brilliant. Your gov. at work' snipe. But again, he did ask for the "411." There's a reason they issue FREE permits for that trail during the summer months. (Available at the Ranger Station in town...just past the first top sign). It's because they're protecting the trail from over use. The terrain off the side of the trails is fragile and they've obviously had problems on the trail itself from too much traffic. And let's face facts. A lot of people just don't know how to handle themselves in the wilderness. So Kevin...I DO thank my government for the work they do to maintain and preserve such an awesome trail. If they didn't, they might have a whole lot of people out there who also think MBT shoes are appropriate for hiking. And that's just a recipe for disaster. Check out Humber. You'll be glad you did. (Tip - Head down from the junction as close to sunset as you can to still make the 2.5 miles down before dark. You'll be treated to an incredible light show). read more

Humber Park is just a few minutes walk from my mom's cabin in Idyllwild, and I am very lucky for that. This is an amazing park. At the bottom are several trailheads that go in all directions, plus parking and bathrooms. During the winter this is where everyone plays in the snow. My sister, brother and I have done a couple of the trails and the most impressive is the main trail. We've taken it about two hours up, but the sun was setting and we had to book it back to the bottom. Where we were you could see all of Idyllwild and the most amazing mountain vista with Lily Rock and Suicide Rock. These two peaks are famous for rockclimbing, so if you are a rockclimber, you should check Idyllwild out. We were winding our way up through pines and boulders and stepping over brooks that crossed the trail. We passed several hardcore hikers coming down from the summit of the mountain, and I've heard that there is a trail that crosses the whole mountain range that can be accessed by the Humber trail. Then the way back is lots of fun, because it is a pretty well-maintained trail, and you can basically jog down the whole thing. Awesome, gorgeous fun. read more