Tahquitz Park: Gorgeous Views and Good Rock-Climbing Sites

Tahquitz Park dominates the southern San Jacinto Mountains, lording it over Strawberry Valley and Idyllwild on one side, and Tahquitz Valley on the other. There’s a fire lookout tower on the summit that’s staffed during the long (June-November) fire season.

On a clear day, the view from the peak is inspiring; the hiker who treks to the top is rewarded with great vistas of the San Jacintos, the desert and the distant Santa Rosas.

You may notice what appear to be insect-like creatures high on the rock walls of the mountain. Southland rock climbers often come to practice their craft on the superb rock walls of Tahquitz. You may hear the distant shouts of “On belay,” “Climbing,” or sometimes “Ohhhhh nooooo.”

The Great Rock

Lily Rock, named for a surveyor’s daughter, is the official name of the great rock, though most climbers prefer the more rugged-sounding Tahquitz. After taking one of the hundred routes (some quite hazardous) up the several faces of the rock, you can’t blame the climbers for preferring something more dramatic than Lily.

South Ridge Trail, true to its name, ascends the steep south ridge of Tahquitz Peak. The trail climbs through stands of pine and fir and offers great views of Strawberry Valley and the storybook hamlet of Idyllwild.

If you want a longer hike than the 6-mile round trip to Tahquitz Peak, there are a number of ways to extend your trek. By arranging a car shuttle, you could descend Tahquitz Peak to Humber Memorial Park at the outskirts of Idyllwild. For a very long loop hike, you could even follow the Ernie Maxwell Trail from Humber Park down to the foot of South Ridge Road, then up the road to the South Ridge trailhead.

A wilderness permit is required for South Ridge Trail and for all other trails that enter the San Jacinto Wilderness. To obtain your permit, or to get the latest trail updates, drop by the San Bernardino National Forest’s San Jacinto Ranger Station, located in Idyllwild just off California 243. Information: (714) 659-2117.

Directions to trailhead: From Interstate 10 in Banning, exit on California 243 (Banning-Idyllwild Highway) and turn right, proceeding about 25 miles to Idyllwild.

After you’ve obtained your wilderness permit from the Forest Service Station in Idyllwild, double back a wee bit to the south edge of town and make a left turn on Saunders Meadow Road. Turn left on Pine Avenue, right on Tahquitz Drive, then right on South Ridge Road.

If the gate across this road is closed--it’s usually open during good weather--you’ll have to park at the base of South Ridge Road. Otherwise, passenger cars with good ground clearance may continue 1 1/2 miles up part-dirt, part-paved, potholed South Ridge Road to its terminus at the signed South Ridge trailhead.

The Hike: From the trailhead at the top of South Ridge Road, the well-constructed path zigzags through a forest of Jeffrey Pine and white fir.

You’ll get fine south views of Garner Valley and Lake Hemet, Thomas Mountain and Table Mountain. Far off to the west, on a clear day, you will be able to pick out the Santa Ana and San Gabriel mountains.

South Ridge Trail climbs to a boulder-strewn saddle, which marks the trail’s halfway point. Here you’ll find a rock window-on-the-world, a great place to rest or to frame a picture of your hiking mate.

From the saddle, the trail climbs in earnest past thickets of spiny chinquapin, and past scattered lodgepole pine. You will sight the fire lookout tower atop Tahquitz Peak many a switchback above you, but the last mile of trail goes by faster than you might expect if you maintain a slow, steady pace.

Enjoy the summit views, then either return the same way or follow your heart and Forest Service map through the San Jacinto Wilderness down to Humber Memorial Park and Idyllwild.

South Ridge Trail

South Ridge Road to Tahquitz Peak: 6 miles round trip; 2,000-foot elevation gain.