The quaint, artsy mountain town of Idyllwild is surrounded by numerous trails, making it one of my go-to happy places—especially this time of year.
It’s the perfect time to escape the scorching heat of the desert. From the Coachella Valley, you can be on an Idyllwild-area trail in an hour or so. The town is nestled in the San Jacinto Mountains at an elevation more than 5,000 feet, so the temperature is always much cooler than it is in the Coachella Valley—by as much as 25 to 30 degrees.
Even though Idyllwild-Pine Cove is a small mountain town, I discover something new with each visit, and I almost always find a new trail. I have spent a lot of time over the years running and hiking the Idyllwild-area trails, so I’m familiar with many of them—but until recently, I didn’t know that one of the easiest, shortest, shaded and most serene trails can be accessed from downtown Idyllwild.
It runs right along Strawberry Creek, which flows down from Marion Mountain and through the town of Idyllwild. A leisurely walk along this trail will bring the calming sounds of the creek as water gently flows through and over the rocks, creating small waterfalls and stream pools along the way. You may even catch a glimpse of fish darting around in the stream pools, as Strawberry Creek is stocked with rainbow trout by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. You’ll also hear birds singing in the background and see squirrels playing in the live oak, sycamore and various pine trees that provide a blanket of shade for almost every step. There are private-property boundaries along this path, so stay on the main trail, and only use the public access points. Dogs on leash are welcome.
The trail runs about a mile in length one way. It starts behind the Idyllwild Brewpub at 54423 Village Center Drive. (The brewpub offers great food with a large selection of their very own craft brews on tap, and has amazing views of the forest; it’s a recommended and refreshing stop after your hike.)
Another trail that’s a bit longer and more moderately challenging is the is Strawberry Ridge Road, Mystic Creek, and Silver Crag Loop. I haven’t been able to check it out yet personally, but I’m looking forward to it. This trail loop is just less than 4 miles total, with an elevation gain of 813 feet; it should take around two hours to complete. The trailhead is located about 1.5 miles south of Village Center Drive. Take State Route 243 south (toward Highway 74) and turn right onto Tollgate Road. Tollgate will turn into Apela Drive, and that will take you to the trailhead (the Hub Trails system within the San Bernardino National Forest), where parking should be available; an Adventure Pass must be displayed in your vehicle.
The trail has varied terrain and begins at the gentle double track of Strawberry Ridge Road, leading to what could be a steep climb, especially if you’re not used to hiking at high elevations. (The highest elevation point is more than 5,800 feet.) You’ll enjoy great views of Lake Hemet, the surrounding San Bernardino National Forest and the San Jacinto Mountains. It descends on some fun switchbacks before returning via the Mystic Creek and Silver Crag trails, which are moderately difficult mountain bike trails, but are great for hiking and running as well, according to AllTrails. Dogs on leash are welcome.
Here are some alerts and recommendations for Strawberry Ridge Road, Mystic Creek and Silver Crag Loop Trail:
• Again, you will need an Adventure Pass in your vehicle to use this trail and many other forest trails. Information about where to purchase day passes (for $5), multi-day passes and annual passes can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/r05/passes/adventure-pass.
• The trail has many off shoots where you could easily veer off track, so it’s recommended to have a map, a global positioning system or the AllTrails app.
• This trail can be buggy at times, so it may be a good idea to bring bug spray.
• While this trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime, roads are subject to seasonal closures, so you may want to visit www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sanbernardino/alerts before you go.
Other cool trails to enjoy around Idyllwild—such as “The Grotto,” and hiking trails at Humber Park, the Idyllwild Nature Center, Lake Fulmor and more—are featured in one of my previous hiking articles, which you can read here.
While hiking and exploring the cool, shady trails of Idyllwild, remember that the weather can suddenly change without much notice at all. Just as it is important to stay hydrated and always bring more than enough water, you should be prepared for the varied weather conditions. Dress in layers to accommodate changing temperatures, and wear proper hiking shoes/boots. Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect yourself from UV rays. Always respect nature by keeping the trails clean; pack out what you pack in; leave trails as you find them; and observe wildlife from a distance to avoid disturbing their natural habitat. Enjoy!