Trails Other Than ...

[woodowl]

Following up on a post by Cathy...What are your favorite trails other than that "route" we won't mention?

I'm mostly a lurker on here, but being a PCT hiker I have hiked on San Jacinto for the last four years. It's my favorite PCT section in southern CA.
I cut off the PCT at the Wellmans Divide Junction and go up to the hut and then back down to where the PCT starts down Fuller Ridge. It takes longer because of the elevation gains and of course the photos of the hut and the sign , but I really look forward being up there again this year.

Woodowl

[tinaballina]

Here is my SP page about Lost Palms Oasis - http://www.summitpost.org/route/333396/lost-palms-oasis.html

Nice pics Adam.

[WOLFDOG]

Did a hike late in the late afternoon up the Cahuilla Canyon Trail, which forks off to the left at the begining of the Lyken Trail. Lots of flowers in bloom with green plants sprouted up everywhere. Reason why I chose this trail was that I thought it would be the begining part of the Gordon Trail. But as I hiked further into the canyon, the trail began to diminish once I hit running water. Several grotto ponds with palms and cottonwoods. From there on was alot of boulder hopping up the canyon with steep cliff walls on both sides. Heard a waterfall further up, but was starting to get dark so I headed back. Nonetheless, my guess is that the Gordon Trail to Caramba, starts fairly close to those private homes tucked up along that hillside just before entering Andreas Canyon. Also believe the Gordon would never go along the base of any canyon and would stick mostly along ridges. Nevertheless, I am intent on finding it.

[halhiker]

Wolfdog,
The Gordon Trail does start at the top of those houses up on hill north of Andreas Canyon (the Andreas Club) but since you can't get there the best way I have found is to climb up the hill near the big white rock on the side of the hill (Eagle's Rest) and then head south until you hit the trail. The trail is not easy to find but once you've found it, it is pretty easy to follow.

Hal

[WOLFDOG]

Thanks Halhiker for the info. Anyways, had a flashback from the early 90's when I still lived up in Idyllwild, and would take my dogs up the old Devils Slide trail that ran more to the south of the present trail. Heard from some literature source that the old trail was initially used as a cattle trail to heard cattle from Idyllwild up into Tahquitz Valley for grazing. Nevertheless, the trail is spotty with switchbacks in some areas and is not well defined till you get near the upper half of the ridge. The trail ends out at the top about a half mile south of Saddle Junction. What I liked about this trail is that almost no one used it and that being the Devils Slide Trail is the most busiest trail in the San Jacintos, it was wiser for me to take my dogs on this trail because one of my dogs (border collie) was a nipper. But all in all, I always thought of this route as steeper and quicker to gain access to the plateau region from Humber Park.

[cynthia23]

I love the first part of the Cactus Springs trail, when you are following the little creek. It's a very unusual biome (sp?) with strange combos of pines and desert plants. It always reminds me of a Japanese Zen garden.

[magikwalt]

I like to yo-yo the north end of Lykken. Starts in Little Tuscany area with a quick pop up to a nob of a hill and then a long gentle descent into Tachevah Canyon. From there it cuts back upward overlooking O'Donnell GC before coming out close to the picnic tables above the Palm Springs Museum. Sitting on the rocks over close to the English Tom geo cache gives a great view of the Las Palmas area. Time for a PBJ sandwich and then head back to Little Tuscany. There are wildflowers everywhere and its not so tough a hike as to chase away the family.

[cynthia23]

Hey MW, I have always wanted to do this North Lykken bit, but where is the trailhead in Little Tuscany?

[Perry]

that's a secret.

[magikwalt]

Check you email for a map.