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I love the solitude and silence of a snow covered Long Valley, Mt. San Jacinto State Park.
Willow Creek Trail is officially open!!!
California State Parks and the United States Forest Service (USFS) are happy to announce the reopening of the Willow Creek Trail located within the San Bernardino National Forest and Mount San Jacinto State Park. The Willow Creek Trail was closed due to damage caused by the Mountain Fire in July of 2013. The Willow Creek Trail is a main trail that connects the town of Idyllwild to Long Valley within Mount San Jacinto State Park. This trail is popular amongst hikers who want to “through hike” from Idyllwild to the Palm Spring Aerial Tramway or vice versa. With the dedication and hard work of both Parks and Forest Service staff and volunteers, the trail has been cleared and is now safe to travel upon.
Hikers traveling on any trail within the Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness must have a day use or overnight hiking permit in their possession at all times. Day use permits are free and can be picked up at the Long Valley Ranger Station and Idyllwild/Stone Creek Campgrounds. California State Parks also accepts day use hiking permits issued by the USFS. California State Parks overnight hiking permits cost $5.00 per person and can be obtained at the Idyllwild Campground office up to 2 months in advance. If there is availability at the wilderness campsites, overnight camping permits can be purchased at both Idyllwild Campground office and the Long Valley Ranger Station. All camping within the State Wilderness must be done within one of the 4 campgrounds. Campfires are NEVER allowed in the wilderness.
California State Parks and the United States Forest Service would like to remind hikers to have proper hiking equipment, appropriate clothing for conditions, a well thought out plan, and to stay on the trail. And please remember to pack out all of your trash.
A big Thank you to the staff at Mt San Jacinto and the rangers at long valley station. My Girl Scout put her JR badge on her vest but it had fallen off🙁 she was able to talk to the ranger station and not only get a replacement (which now hangs in her room, but a little note from Ranger JD) and a little something extra. Thanks again. You made a little girl and this mom very happy. Now she's even MORE motivated to get out and see more parks❤️🌲🐿🌵
This is my little one getting sworn in. what a great staff! Friendly Rangers. She was so proud to show it off on her girls scout vest and it fell off. I was wondering if there is any way to get a replacement badge? we are not local and are really bummed that this happened. I tried calling and messaging but no one has gotten back to me. It would mean the world to her.
Hiking in the snow in a windy day.
The sun is block by the tree on a hill near the trail junction of the RV Loop near Round Valley. The back country area received nearly +16" of snow on the weekend of Thanksgiving.
Cornell Peak in the background as framed in by snow covered trees and boulders in the foreground as taken from the High Trail between Round Valley and the Willow Creek Crossing trail junction. The back country area received +16" of snow on the weekend following Thanksgiving.
Rose sage peaks above the Chinquapin push on the way up to Harvard peak.
Chrysolepis is a small genus in the beech family Fagaceae, endemic to the western United States. Its two species have the common name chinquapin. The genus occurs from western Washington south to the Transverse Ranges in Southern California, and east into Nevada.
This once was the trail to Round Valley. The trail was on the west side of the stream, much earlier that it is now.
I saw a grey fox last night (7:25 p.m.) while hiking on the Willow Creek trail at the Mt. San Jacinto State Park.
A group of snow plants. These aren't normally seen in groups like this photos illustrates.
Sarcodes is a monotypic genus of a single springtime flowering plant in the heath family (Ericaceae) containing the single species Sarcodes sanguinea, commonly called the snow plant or snow flower. It is a parasitic plant that derives sustenance and nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi that attach to roots of trees. Lacking chlorophyll, it is unable to photosynthesize.
See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcodes
for more information.
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