Sunday, March 5th 2023…read more "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.

Came here on a snowy day and love love loved it!…read more 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.

Looking like nothing more than a scenic view point, there's actually some interesting hiking trails…read moreif you're adventurous. Is this a must stop? I think so. There's a nice little walk to the actual viewing area. If you continue down the hill you will walk across a "Jeep Trail" which is really cool especially when drivers go down the dirt road.. I'm not sure how you get access to this trail, but it appears to be owned /maintained by a local Jeep Drivers club ( Hemet Jeep Club) Hiking Trails are not clearly marked..

Scenic drive from Banning, recommend to do first 10 miles, enjoy the amazing view and check out…read morewhich lookout points to stop, then U-turn back to stop and take pictures. This is best part of scenic panaromic highway, unless you enjoy winding drive to Idyllwild continuing to Palm Springs where the last 20 miles of Palm to Pines highway offers impressive views.

Oh hell yeah, this is a monster day hike! Did the shorter version of this trail yesterday and my…read moreGarmin measured 10 miles with 2375' elevation gain. The end of the trail is close to 9000 foot elevation with incredible views of the surrounding mountains and there's an old fire tower at the top. I'd say the first 2 1/2 miles are the most physically challenging. It's a pretty steep grade and it just grinds on you. Once you get past that it's much easier. We got started a little bit later in the day then we initially planned so we did not do the version of this trail that included the Caramba Trail. We've done it before and the Garmin clocked 13 miles. For the first 2 miles there were a lot of bugs. I was wishing I had a little hat. Two of them got up my nose dang it. After that, no more bugs until you got to the top and then there are some bees by the fire tower but not too crazy. You do have to get a permit, you can get it from the Ranger station in town. But if you get it in the most busy summer months before Labor Day, you actually have to fax in a permit request ahead of time and they only allow 30 permits per day. You also have to either have an adventure pass for parking or you can have the America the beautiful pass and put it on your dashboard. There are bathrooms available at the trailhead. No water source along the trail. I drank almost my whole reservoir which is 2.5 L. Perfect way to spend my 7 year Anniversary with my love

First of all, nowhere along this hike were there any Takis. Not even a suspiciously rolled tortilla…read morechip. I packed light thinking, "Surely a peak with this name will provide." It did not. Just switchbacks. Endless switchbacks. Furthermore the snack shack at the top was closed. If you're looking for Takis, I would strongly recommend sourcing them elsewhere because this peak will not be assisting.

After taking the tram up, we spent some time walking around Mount San Jacinto State Park, and it…read moreended up being one of the most relaxing parts of the trip. It's a big contrast from the desert below , cool air, tall pine trees, and quiet forest trails. The trails around Long Valley are pretty easy, so you don't need to be a serious hiker. It's perfect for a casual walk, taking photos, or just enjoying the mountain scenery. We saw squirrels and chipmunks, and I've heard people sometimes spot deer around here too. One thing to know: it's much colder up here than in Palm Springs, so bring a light jacket and wear comfortable shoes because you'll probably end up walking more than planned. It's a nice little nature break after the tram ride, and definitely worth spending some time here before heading back down.

Great trails and hikes! Beautiful! Would definitely recommend making a stop here if in the area for…read moresome outdoor time.

I visited this trail on a Sunday morning and it was quite busy! I suppose this is one of the more…read morepopular hikes in the area and would probably be much more enjoyable during a weekday. It was about 4 miles to the top with just over 1800 feet of elevation gain on an easy-going trail. The views from the top are quite nice looking over the Idlewile area and the mountains above it. Great spot for a picnic or just to hang out for a bit and appreciate nature.

Great work out thru the snow!! Start with your free permit from the Forest Ranger 1/2 before you…read morepark at Deer Springs Trail. Parking is free. Don't leave any valuables in your car. Do your leg stretches before and after your hike. Bring your hiking ribbons, waterproof hiking boots with added spikes or cleats (for snow), hiking poles/sticks, sun hat, sunscreen, backpack with water, electrolytes, snacks, extra jacket, tissue, mini medic kit, antibacterial spray, music speaker, and a positive attitude!! This is a great hike for healthy athletic souls! Ask your doctor before going I highly recommend it. It's about 9 miles total there and back and 7 hours total in snow! Plan ahead you cannot rush or accidents happen! I hope I helped you guys out before going! -A

Challenging but beautiful! Take the trail along the water, the mountain side one is dangerous.read more

I love this place. Whenever I go to gramma's to do housework for her, I either go here or…read moreIdyllwild. I especially love this place on windy and rainy days. The high trail gets pretty sketchy and makes for a good time. For anyone wanting to know where this place gets its name, here goes. The local native tribes had a battle that ended here. One tribe made it to the waterfall and couldn't go anywhere. The other tribe held the high ground and slaughtered them. Google it. Anyway, parking sucks. There are a couple places off the side of the road to park. Other than that, you'll have to take your vehicle down a small hill and park in a dirt lot. Said dirt lot is a place where people like to run OHV's, and their trucks. There are some elevation changes and jumps. This used to be a loop until someone removed the rope from the highest section of the waterfall. The one at the lower half is still there. When the ropes were there, it was about a 5 mile loop.the trail doesn't end at the decent from the ridge to the waterfall. You can take the trail back another 12+ miles. It opens up to some Wild West looking shit, and then a bunch of huge boulders. The high trail is the fun part. It's pretty sketchy without high winds or rain. I prefer to come here with wind, and or rain, for a better time. The width of the high trail is about a foot, to 18 inches. At some spots, it may be unclear If you're not very experienced. At other spots there is no trail, so you'll have to stretch your legs pretty far, or make a short hop. There are plenty of rocks to get a foothold or handhold on, but be careful; some of it fragments quite easily. People also go shooting here, but usually well past the loop, and they don't aim at the trails. This place is not monitored by park rangers, so if you need anything, you'll need to call San Jacinto Sheriffs. Since it's not regulated, you can camp without permits. Have fun, be safe, watch for snakes, weird locals, keep an eye out for falling rocks, and yell down below if you happen to dislodge some rocks from the high trail. This is a good local playground; enjoy it and keep it clean.

Nice campground. It's rather open between the campsites so privacy is not great. Within reach of…read moreIdyllwild and tons of trails. Devil's Slide is a nice moderate hike going up on a reasonable grade out if Idyllwild.

SoCal Six Pack of Peaks #5…read more Difficulty: Strenuous, shortest hike to San Jacinto but most difficult Mileage: ~13.5miles Pets: No dogs, but people brought theirs anyway View: Desert, San Bernardino Forest, Ocean, LA, SD What to bring: For one person, 3 liters of water, snacks, buy spray, food, Gatorade, trekking poles Parking: Near Marion Mt Campground, free road parking or dirt lot, get there early to get parking, plenty of parking Fee: none for day hikes- need permit though, overnight camping $5 permit. Get your permit at the ranger station- it's outside and always available Time: ~8-9 hours with rest time, leisurely First 3 miles are the toughest. Going up at least 2500 feet. Especially the second mile. Then it gets better and you reach Little Round Camp. Which has a toilet and a nice stream to filter more water. It's a good resting spot. Then the last stretch to the top is super tough. You're climbing up rocks (scrambling) to get to the peak. We started around 6:45am and the weather was good in the morning. Mostly shade on that side. Some parts were muddy. Lots of fresh spring water. When descending, we were going down around 2-3pm and it was quite hot with lots of sun. The trail has heavy traffic and quite popular. The top view was gorgeous! You can see everything on a clear day from the desert to the ocean. The elevation is real, drink plenty of water, and eat a lot of carbs. Don't forget to stop and take in the views, beautiful plants, see some birds and enjoy nature!

My first San G hike. For some reason, I was really intimidated by this one since it's the highest…read morepeak in SoCal. However, very doable. It took me about 7 hours hiking time discounting summit picture time. We started early at 6:30 and the weather was great with shade. However that changes as the sun becomes more prominent. About 3 miles to summit is full exposure. I hike with an umbrella and people are jealous... but seriously please bring plenty of water and covering. The summit is beautiful. There is a sign for photo op. The down was a bit slippery from the loose rock and gravel. I used poles for the down. Parking lot provided and an adventure pass is needed. Also need a permit to day hike Please come and create your own adventure.

Mount San Gorgonio via Vivian Creek Trail…read more If you are looking to tackle San Gorgonio, I would strongly recommend steering clear of the Vivian Creek Trail in its current condition. After completing this hike yesterday, I am thoroughly disappointed by the severe lack of trail maintenance and deteriorating conditions. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect: * Treacherous Terrain: The first 2 to 3 miles are a brutal slog consisting heavily of loose rock and shale. It makes the ascent tedious, but the descent on the way back is downright treacherous and exhausting to navigate safely. * Obstacles and Debris: Several trees have fallen and blocked the path. While crews have made attempts to cut through them so you can physically pass, all the leftover tree debris has just been left scattered everywhere across the trail. * Water Scarcity: Do not rely on historical water sources. The traditional stream at the 2.5-mile mark is completely dried up due to drought conditions. Your last reliable water source before the grueling switchbacks is now sitting roughly 5 to 6 miles deep into the trek. Given the poor trail maintenance, the endless loose rock, and the lack of reliable water in the lower sections, the overall experience is more frustrating than it is enjoyable. Based on these deteriorating factors, I would not recommend this route to anyone right now. There are much better-maintained trails in the San Bernardino National Forest to spend your time on.