Location: Riverside County, about 4 miles east of Idyllwild, 112 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Auto Club: Riverside County, Los Angeles and Vicinity

Forest Service: San Bernardino National Forest

USGS Topo: Idyllwild 7½, San Jacinto Peak 7½

HPS: Route(s), waypoints and explanation of usage

Nearby Peaks: Red Tahquitz, Antsell Rock

Distance: 14 miles round trip on trail and cross-country

Gain: 3100' total, 2200' out plus 900' on return

Time: 7-8 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, strenuous

Original: Paul A. Lipsohn, July 1974

DRIVING ROUTE 1

• From the Chevron station in Idyllwild, go northeast on North Circle Drive 0.8 mile to South Circle Drive. Turn right.
• Go 0.1 mile to Fern Valley Road. Turn left.
• Go 1.8 miles following the yellow line to Humber Park. Park here. Ample parking.

HIKING ROUTE 1

• The Devils Slide Trail begins at the upper right corner of the parking lot. From this trailhead (6440'), hike up the trail 2 1/2 miles to Saddle Junction (8040').
• At this point there are four trail choices. Take the second trail from the right with a sign "Tahquitz Valley".
• Go 0.6 mile to another junction with a sign "Tahquitz, Skunk Cabbage Meadow". Go right at this junction.
• Go another 0.6 mile to another junction signed "Tahquitz Peak, Tahquitz Meadow". This is the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) marked by a square post.
• Turn left and follow it along the north side of Red Tahquitz for about 3/4 mile to a shallow saddle with a rock outcrop about 100 yards to the left (east). There may be a duck on the right of the trail here. This is the turnoff for Red Tahquitz.
• Continue on the trail past elevations 7900' and 7640'+ and past the east side of Southwell Peak.
• About 1/4 mile from the last saddle at 7600'-, the trail starts downhill at a small saddle with a rock outcrop on the right. At this point the slope on the right side of the trail changes from steep rocks to a gentler slope. There may be a duck here.
• Turn right, leave the trail and go up the slope to the summit.