Cahuilla Mountain

** Use at Your Own Risk **

See the Retired Peak Guides in the Archives for Microsoft Word and other versions of this peak guide.

29C

Location: Riverside County, about 11 miles south-southwest of Idyllwild, 124 miles from Los Angeles

(USFS Adventure Pass required)

(Northern approach)

Take I-10 or SR 60 east to SR 79 in Beaumont. Take exit south to SR 79.
Go south on SR 79 to the Ramona Expressway. Turn left (east).
Go east and then southeast on the Ramona Expressway until it ends at SR 74. Turn left (east).
Go east on SR 74 to Mountain Center at the junction with Idyllwild Highway (SR 243).
Continue east on SR 74 for 12.5 miles to the intersection with SR 371 on the right. Turn right.
Go 9.5 miles on SR 371 to Cary Road on the right. Turn right. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 3.7 miles, fork, with sign "Tripp Flats". Go left (west).
At 4.5 miles, fork, with Tripp Flats Station on the right. Go left (west) on 6S22, through a gate.
At 6.1 miles, saddle. Park here.

(Southern approach)

Take I-15 south to Temecula.
Go east on SR 79 about 17 miles to Aguanga. Turn left on SR 371.
Go northeast on SR 371 for 11.25 miles to Cary Road. Turn left. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 3.7 miles, fork, with sign "Tripp Flats". Go left (west).
At 4.5 miles, fork, with Tripp Flats Station on the right. Go left (west) on 6S22, through a gate.
At 6.1 miles, saddle. Park here.

From the parking area (4500'), hike south up the obvious trail past the burnt remnants of a sign that once identified it as 2E45 "Cahuilla Mountain Trail." It goes around the mountain's east side to the top of the ridge just southwest of elevation 5604'. The trail is as shown on the topo until it passes a gully at UTM 205158. Beyond here and up to the ridge, the trail is slightly south of that shown, going up the gully to the saddle at UTM 201158.
Continue south on the trail (no longer shown on the topo). It goes down along the right side of the ridge, passes to the left of a rocky hummock, then heads east up a shallow ravine.
Follow the trail as it goes around to the left and comes out on a summit where the register is located. The broad summit to the west-southwest is lower.

Dirt roads in the area may be closed for fire or rainy season. Check with the Forest Service in Idyllwild: (909) 382-2921

Please report any corrections or changes to the Mountain Records Chair.