Plant Guide to Deer Springs / Suicide Rock Trail, San Jacinto Mountains

Plant Guide to Deer Springs / Suicide Rock Trail, San Jacinto Mountains

This is a working list, about which I make no guarantees at all until I officially release it. Use at your own risk!

Introduction and Explanation of Plant Trail Guides
Introduction
Highlights of This Trail
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time
Botanical Trip Reports
The Plant Guide
Comments On Specific Species
Introduction

The Deer Springs Trail begins immediately north of the entrance to Idyllwild County Park, on SR243 one mile north of downtown Idyllwild. The Suicide Rock Trail branches off the Deer Springs Trail at mile 2.25; that branch is also included in this guide as a separate section at the bottom. The Deer Springs Trail continues past the Suicide Trail Junction to Strawberry Junction at mile 4.05 where it meets the PCT. The trails merge heading north to the junction with the Marion Mountain Trail at mile 6.01, which is the terminus of this Guide.
A free wilderness permit is required for day use, available either from the Forest Service office at 54270 Pinecrest, which is just east of SR243 in downtown Idyllwild, or from the San Jacinto State Park headquarters on Highway 243 just north of the Forest Service office. The permit is not available at the trailhead, and there are often rangers at the trailhead or along the trail checking permits on heavy use days. I have personally run into rangers checking permits on several different days.
Parking is extremely limited in the area. There are perhaps 10 spaces on the shoulder of SR243 immediately at the trailhead, and designated parking for perhaps another 10 cars at the signed parking area just west of the trailhead. Parking for the trail is no longer permitted at Idyllwild County Park, despite the presence of a fairly large usually-empty lot just south of the trailhead.
There is a shortcut trail on the northeast corner of the parking area; if you take that unsigned trail, you will miss the first 0.20 miles of this Guide.
The first ~0.25 miles of this trail, along with the entire Idyllwild County Park, are very depressing sites to any botanically-knowledgeable person. Due to the hysteria over fire safety, the area has mostly been nuked of all native plants, with many shrubs butchered into pathetic stick figures. Worse, the butchered parts have been shredded and spread as mulch to discourage the return of anything resembling a native landscape, disrupting the native soil seriously.
Worse yet, I don't think that there is any scientific evidence at all that this vandalization of the native landscape actually reduces the fire danger to the nearby homes or businesses. If anyone knows of any such evidence, please let me know.
Fortunately, the wilderness area has not yet been so vandalized, although I have seen tags with the same name as the organization that vandalized the lower part of the trail.
Highlights of This Trail

The botanical highlights of this trail are:

Number of Unique Taxa On This Trail

The following histogram gives the number of trails in my database that contain each taxon on this trail. I had 94 trails in our database when this histogram was made; 6 of those trails, including this one, are in this area of San Jacinto Mountain. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found on this trail among the trails in my database; numbers of "6" or smaller may indicate taxa found only in this area of San Jacinto Mountain.

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
1 1 1%
2 7 7%
3 6 6%
4 8 8%
5 6 6%

1-5 28 27%
6-10 30 29%
11-15 19 18%
16-20 11 11%
21-25 5 5%
26-30 2 2%
31-35 1 1%
36-40 2 2%
41-45 2 2%
46-50 1 1%
51-55 1 1%
56-60 1 1%
Total Taxa 103 100%

I found 9 additional species not in the above table, since they have not been fully identified yet. The unidentified ones are marked with ? or sp in the id? column in the guide, and have no entries in the #all column.
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time

The following table gives the dates the trail was walked and taxa recorded. After each visit, the table gives the total number of taxa on the list and the breakdown of the taxa without positive identification. See Explanation of Plant Trail Guides to understand the symbols below.

Visit Date Visit # # taxa # "?" # "sp" # "~" # "ssp"
9/29/2006 1 57 2 6 9 6
10/5/2006 2 60 1 2 3 3
10/5/2006 2 90 2 5 7 3
10/10/2006 3 91 1 5 8 4
10/10/2006 3 102 2 5 10 4
10/21/2006 4 106 2 6 12 3
10/21/2006 4 112 2 7 12 3

The Suicide Trail is included in the above table. Since some of the species on it are also found later in the Deer Springs Trail, the number of unique species, given in the table above, is fewer than the combined numbers in the guide. For example, after the fieldwork on 10/10/06, there were 98 taxa found on the Deer Springs Trail proper, and 9 taxa found on the Suicide Trail. Of those 9 taxa, 5 of them were also found on the Deer Springs Trail past the Suicide Jct., and hence the Suicide Trail added 4 taxa to the total taxa on both trails, for a total of 102 taxa.
The fieldwork on 9/29/06 was only to mile 1.17. The fieldwork on 10/5/06 was to Suicide Rock. There are two entries for that date; the first gives the numbers up to mile 1.17 for comparison with 9/29/06; the second gives the complete survey. The fieldwork on 10/10/06 was to mile 4.88. The first time the entire route was covered was on 10/21/06.
Similarly, there are two entries for 10/10/06 and 10/21/06; for 10/10/06, the first gives the numbers up to mile 2.25, including the trail to Suicide Rock; the second gives the survey up to mile 4.88.
I thank Jim Adams for help with the initial reconnaissance of the first 0.20 miles of the trail on 9/29/06, and Dave Stith for help with the fieldwork on 10/5/06, 10/10/06 and 10/21/06.
Botanical Trip Reports

The Plant Guide

The mileages in the guide have been fit to GPS data up to mile 1.17 and should be accurate to ~0.01-0.02 miles. Mileages after 1.17, up to Strawberry Junction, are pedometer mileages adjusted to the claimed mileage, and hence have a higher uncertainty. Mileages after Strawberry Junction are pedometer mileages. The total mileage of 1.96 by pedometer is significantly shorter than the 2.3 miles on the Tom Harrison San Jacinto Wilderness Trail Map, and it is hard to believe that segment of trail is actually 2.3 miles long. Measurements using Topo! are only 1.71 miles, which is undoubtedly too low.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (9 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (3 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)

Mile S # id? Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 Begin at trailhead (road entrance blocked by huge log); elevation 5620 feet (1710 m). The area here has been nuked of most native plants and the area mulched to prevent their regrowth. (:-(
0.00 r 1 Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi 99 / 9 23
0.00 l 2 pine dwarf-mistletoe Arceuthobium campylopodum⁺ 1 / 1 2
0.00 b 3 pink-bracted manzanita Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea 99 / 9 3
0.00 l 4 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 99 / 9 23
0.00 b 5 pineland buckwheat Eriogonum molestum 20 / 5 2
0.00 l 6 ~ Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch Astragalus douglasii var. parishii 5 / 2 5
0.00 l 7 beautiful hulsea Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha 10 / 3 4
0.00 l 8 ssp squirreltail Elymus elymoides 30 / 9
0.00 r 9 bur-ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa 5 / 2 18
0.00 r 10 pinegrove groundsmoke Gayophytum oligospermum 5 / 1 10
0.00 r (scarlet bugler, Penstemon centranthifolius; slender everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale)
0.00 l (California black oak, Quercus kelloggii; incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens)
0.00 l 11 California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia 99 / 9 54
0.00 l 12 mountain grape-soda lupine Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus 30 / 9 6
0.01 b 13 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum 99 / 9 2
0.01 r 14 canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis 99 / 9 24
0.01 l 15 leafy daisy Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus 30 / 9 46
0.01 l Sign: "3E17 (left-right)"
0.01 r 16 ssp blue wildrye Elymus glaucus 30 / 9
0.02 r Display Board: "Deer Springs Trail..."; trail turns left 90°
0.02 Trail is now lined with pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea
0.03 l 17 goldenrod Solidago californica 99 / 9 39
0.04 l 18 seedling California black oak Quercus kelloggii 99 / 9 13
0.05 r (Coulter pine, Pinus coulteri)
0.05 r 19 San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus 50 / 9 17
0.05 l 20 southern mountain woolly-star Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum 99 / 3 12
0.06 l 21 southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata 20 / 9 41
0.06 l bigger California black oak, Quercus kelloggii
0.07 l 22 rush blue grass Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia 99 / 9 6
0.08 b 23 bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus 20 / 1 29
0.08 r (Indian milkweed, Asclepias eriocarpa)
0.09 l 24 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 50 / 9 58
0.09 l 25 Sierra Nevada lotus Lotus nevadensis var. nevadensis 99 / 9 7
0.10 l (interior live oak, Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens)
0.11 l 26 incense-cedar Calocedrus decurrens 50 / 9 15
0.11 l 27 chaparral whitethorn Ceanothus leucodermis 10 / 9 16
0.12 r (Cleveland's horkelia, Horkelia clevelandii; sticky cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa ssp. reflexa)
0.12 Cross small drainage with culvert; switchback left
0.12 l (California fuchsia, Epilobium canum)
0.12 l 28 mountain mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta 99 / 9 7
0.12 l 29 deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens 30 / 9 22
0.13 b 30 Cleveland's horkelia Horkelia clevelandii 10 / 3 7
0.15 r 31 Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus 50 / 1 18
0.15 r 32 Pacific rush Juncus effusus var. pacificus 10 / 1 5
0.16 r 33 sp poa with big spreading infl Poa sp. 10 / 1
0.16 l 34 California coffeeberry Rhamnus californica⁺ 10 / 9 3
0.17 r 35 sp arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis 5 / 1 37
0.17 r 36 giant red paintbrush Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata 3 / 1 6
0.19 l 37 Indian milkweed Asclepias eriocarpa 20 / 3 20
0.20 l Jct. use trail from parking area
0.22 r Ten wood posts blocking off road
0.22 l 38 sugar pine Pinus lambertiana 50 / 9 14
0.22 Trail curves right
0.25 Trail turns right 90°; do not continue ahead on road
0.25 l Sign: "No dogs beyond this point; wilderness permit required 1/4 mile ahead"; end nuking of landscape
0.25 l 39 slender everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale 20 / 9 3
0.26 r 40 slender bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum 20 / 9 2
0.27 Trail turns right
0.29 b 41 interior live oak Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens 50 / 9 9
0.30 b 42 Coulter pine Pinus coulteri 50 / 9 12
0.31 Trail turns right
0.33 Switchback left
0.33 r 43 western wallflower Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum 10 / 3 20
0.37 Trail curves right
0.39 r 44 California brome Bromus carinatus var. carinatus 30 / 9 26
0.42 r 45 ~ goldenstar Bloomeria crocea 3 / 1 14
0.42 Cross small drainage
0.42 b 46 ssp small fescue Vulpia microstachys 10 / 1
0.44 l 47 mustang mint Monardella lanceolata 10 / 1 8
0.44 Trail curves right
0.46 r 48 yarrow Achillea millefolium 20 / 2 15
0.46 Cross small drainage
0.47 b 49 California fuchsia Epilobium canum 50 / 9 16
0.47 l 50 sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa ssp. reflexa 20 / 5 11
0.47 Trail turns right 90°
0.49 Trail gradually curves left
0.52 Trail curves left
0.54 Switchback left
0.56 Switchback right
0.57 Switchback left
0.57 r 51 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia 3 / 3 45
0.58 Trail curves right
0.61 Cross small drainage; trail curves left
0.65 r 52 whorledleaf penstemon Keckiella ternata var. ternata 10 / 2 6
0.66 Switchback right
0.66 l 53 scarlet bugler Penstemon centranthifolius 1 / 1 9
0.66 l 54 birch-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides 2 / 2 20
0.67 r Boulder with scooped-out "seat"
0.68 Trail curves left at ridge
0.68 b 55 chaparral yucca Yucca whipplei 3 / 1 32
0.69 Switchback left
0.73 l Check for snow-plant
0.74 Switchback right
0.74 Switchback left; sign: "Mount San Jacinto State Park Wilderness"
0.79 Switchback right
0.81 l (white fir, Abies concolor)
0.81 l 56 changeable phacelia Phacelia mutabilis 30 / 9 7
0.82 Switchback left; jct. use trail to viewpoint 0.02 miles distant
0.84 Local high point on trail
0.85 l 57 twiggy wreath plant Stephanomeria virgata⁺ 1 / 1 7
0.87 Local low point on trail
0.93 Cross small drainage; trail curves right
0.97 Switchback left
0.97 Switchback right
1.00 This area has some really old specimens of chaparral whitethorn, Ceanothus leucodermis, and pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea
1.01 Long switchback left
1.02 Switchback right
1.04 Switchback left
1.07 r View of Tahquitz Lookout
1.10 Local high point on trail, followed quickly by local low point
1.12 l 58 ~ California thistle Cirsium occidentale var. californicum 1 / 1 12
1.13 b 59 broad-leaved lotus Lotus crassifolius var. crassifolius 20 / 2 7
1.15 r 60 oak mistletoe Phoradendron villosum 20 / 9 4
1.16 Trail curves right
1.17 Switchback left
1.19 l 61 bracken Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens 99 / 9 13
1.21 l 62 ~ fragile sheath sedge Carex fracta 10 / 3 9
1.21 l 63 plain mariposa lily Calochortus invenustus 3 / 3 11
1.21 l 64 white fir Abies concolor 50 / 9 22
1.21 l 65 ~ spear-leaved mountain dandelion Agoseris retrorsa 1 / 1 12
1.22 l 66 pinedrops Pterospora andromedea 5 / 3 8
1.24 b 67 western azalea Rhododendron occidentale 50 / 5 4
1.24 r 68 woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca 1 / 1 3
1.24 r 69 little prince's pine Chimaphila menziesii 3 / 1 4
1.24 b (thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus)
1.25 Switchback left
1.26 Switchback right
1.26 l 70 sp cespitose rush Juncus sp. 1 / 1
1.27 Switchback left
1.28 Switchback right
1.28 l 71 naked buckwheat Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum 20 / 9 4
r (Check id of tall plants in creek bed)
1.29 r Canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis, hit by lightning. Many trees here have been struck by lightning.
1.32 Cross small drainage; trail curves right
1.33 Trail turns left 90°; enter Mistletoe Row
1.46 l 72 ~ beaked penstemon Penstemon rostriflorus 5 / 2 14
1.50 (incense-cedar mistletoe, Phoradendron libocedri, at top of tree in distance)
1.52 b 73 mountain pink currant Ribes nevadense 50 / 3 7
1.53 l 74 ~ rigid hedge-nettle Stachys ajugoides var. rigida 10 / 2 17
1.53 Cross the main drainage we've been hiking along, elevation 6480 feet (1975 m); lots of western azalea, Rhododendron occidentale, here
1.53 b 75 lemon lily Lilium parryi 5 / 2 6
1.55 Switchback right
1.58 r Second location of pineland buckwheat, Eriogonum molestum
1.62 Switchback left
1.65 Switchback right
1.68 l Field of southern mountain woolly-star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum
1.72 r Check for different rush, Juncus sp.
1.73 r Cross small drainage; check for the mystery Carex
1.81 Switchback left
1.81 76 sp Dead annuals, probably Nevin's bird's beak or splendid gilia Cordylanthus nevinii or Gilia splendens ssp. splendens /
1.88 Cross small drainage
1.92 Trail turns right 90°
1.93 Switchback right
1.96 r 77 snow-plant Sarcodes sanguinea 2 / 1 8
2.00 Cross small drainage
2.00 Switchback left
2.02 b 78 sp perennial monardella Monardella australis or M. nana 2 / 1
2.04 Cross small drainage
2.13 b 79 San Gabriel beardtongue Penstemon labrosus 20 / 2 9
2.14 r 80 white catch-fly Silene verecunda ssp. platyota 10 / 2 13
2.16 l 81 woodland spurge Euphorbia palmeri 1 / 1 4
2.21 b 82 sapphire woolly-star Eriastrum sapphirinum 10 / 1 8
2.21 l 83 San Jacinto lupine Lupinus hyacinthinus 99 / 9 5
2.25 Jct. trail to Suicide Rock; elevation ~6900 feet (2105 m). Sign: "(r): Suicide Rock 1 mi; (back): Highway 243 2.3 mi; (ahead) Strawberry Jct. 1.8 mi, Little Round Valley 5.5 mi, San Jacinto Peak 7.0 mi". Guide to the Suicide Rock Trail is at the bottom of this Guide

2.25 Continue on Deer Springs Trail
2.26 Switchback right
2.27 Trail turns left 90° and then curves right
2.34 Switchback left
2.36 r 84 mountain whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus 99 / 9 17
2.37 Switchback right; trail soon zags right and then curves left
2.42 l (rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.43 Switchback right
2.45 Switchback left
2.47 Switchback right
2.48 Switchback left
2.48 l 85 hybrid manzanita Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea 1 / 1 2
2.52 Switchback right
2.58 Switchback left
2.61 Switchback right
2.65 Switchback left
2.67 (fir mistletoe, Phoradendron pauciflorum, ahead in distance)
2.76 Switchback left
2.80 Switchback right at ridge
2.87 Switchback left
2.90 r Switchback right; view of Tahquitz Peak and top of Suicide Rock
2.94 Switchback left
2.98 Switchback right
3.01 Switchback left
3.08 r 86 fir mistletoe Phoradendron pauciflorum 1 / 1 11
3.13 Switchback left
3.20 Long switchback right at ridge
3.32 b 87 green-leaf manzanita Arctostaphylos patula 30 / 9 14
3.32 Switchback left
3.33 Switchback right
3.41 Trail zigzags right then left
3.45 r canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis, with weird galls of two kinds: terminal galls like a chinquapin male inflorescence, and stem galls like acorns
3.46 l (Idaho bentgrass, Agrostis idahoensis)
3.49 r Nice patch of San Jacinto lupine, Lupinus hyacinthinus
3.49 r Check these plants to make sure they are western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum
3.51 Trail zigzags right then left
3.51 l spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza maculata
3.63 l Four honking incense-cedars, Calocedrus decurrens, struck by lightning, with 3 still alive
3.67 Switchback right
3.68 Switchback left
3.83 Long switchback left
3.85 Switchback right
3.89 l 88 granite prickly phlox Leptodactylon pungens 2 / 1 9
3.98 l Check for different Monardella
4.01 Switchback left
4.05 Strawberry Jct., elevation ~8030 feet (2450 m); sign: "(back) Suicide Trail 1.8 mi, Banning Highway 4.3 mi, Idyllwild 4.8 mi; (ahead) Deer Springs (Camp) 2.3 mi, Little Round Valley 3.8 mi, San Jacinto Peak 5.5 mi; (right) Strawberry Cienega 1.5 mi, Wellman Trail 2.3 mi, Round Valley 4.3 mi, Strawberry Camp 100 yards"
4.09 r 89 San Jacinto buckwheat Eriogonum apiculatum 5 / 1 5
4.19 r 90 bush chinquapin Chrysolepis sempervirens 5 / 2 11
4.25 Trail curves right at ridge; now hiking through wonderland of rocks, with lots of big boulders on flat ground
4.27 l (blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana)
4.38 b 91 Idaho bentgrass Agrostis idahoensis 30 / 2 4
4.39 Highest elevation deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens
4.42 l (Fendler's meadow-rue, Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri)
4.42 Enter meadowy area
4.42 r 92 glaucus willowherb Epilobium glaberrimum ssp. glaberrimum 10 / 2 2
4.42 r 93 scarlet monkeyflower Mimulus cardinalis 5 / 1 17
4.43 Cross drainage
4.43 l 94 ? knotweed? Polygonum sp.? 3 / 1
4.43 l 95 western columbine Aquilegia formosa 2 / 1 6
4.45 l (Parish's lupine, Lupinus latifolius var. parishii)
4.45 r (Check for different plant similar to lemon lily)
4.45 r 96 tinker's penny Hypericum anagalloides 5 / 1 2
4.45 r ~ (brittle bladder fern, Cystopteris fragilis)
4.47 Cross flowing creek
4.47 b 97 streambank lotus Lotus oblongifolius var. oblongifolius 5 / 1 3
4.50 Switchback right
4.50 l 98 San Jacinto Mtns. bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. jacinticum 20 / 2 1
4.50 l 99 ~ swamp sedge Carex senta 20 / 2 7
4.52 Switchback left
4.54 Switchback right
4.54 l 100 ~ Sierra gooseberry Ribes roezlii var. roezlii 1 / 1 11
4.55 Switchback left
4.56 Switchback right
4.57 Switchback left
4.59 Switchback right at ridge
4.62 Switchback right
4.65 Switchback left
4.73 Switchback right
4.79 Local high point on trail; elevation ~8360 feet (2550 m)
4.81 Cross small moist drainage
4.86 ~ (bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata)
4.87 l (wax currant, Ribes cereum var. cereum)
4.88 b 101 California corn lily Veratrum californicum var. californicum 10 / 1 4
4.88 b 102 larger mountain monkeyflower Mimulus tilingii 10 / 1 7
4.88 b 103 sp sedge like Carex alma Carex sp. 20 / 2
4.88 b 104 musk monkeyflower Mimulus moschatus 5 / 1 5
4.90 l Boulder with lots of eroded concavities and some convex protrusions
4.98 r 105 bitter cherry Prunus emarginata 50 / 9 7
5.04 Local low point on trail; elevation ~8320 feet (2535 m)
5.05 r 106 floriferous monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus 20 / 1 9
5.32 Switchback right
5.33 Switchback left
5.35 Switchback right
5.37 Switchback left
5.39 r 107 thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus 10 / 1 3
5.42 Switchback right
5.49 r 108 Richardson's geranium Geranium richardsonii 5 / 3 7
5.51 r 109 spotted coralroot Corallorhiza maculata 1 / 1 6
5.57 Now directly west of Marion Mountain Peak, which is 1800 feet of elevation above this point
5.61 Cross moist drainage
5.61 r 110 sp spreading brown-headed rush? Juncus phaeocephalus var. paniculatus? /
5.67 Switchback right
5.69 Switchback left and trail curves right
5.74 Switchback left
5.76 Local high point on trail; elevation ~8700 feet (2652 m)
6.01 Jct. Marion Mountain Trail; elevation ~8690 feet (2649 m). End Guide

2.25 Suicide Rock Trail: Turn right on trail to Suicide Rock; species numbering is continued from lower portion of trail
2.29 l Nevin's bird's beak Cordylanthus nevinii⁺ 20 / 3 9
2.31 l 84 mountain whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus 10 / 5 17
2.37 r (Parish's lupine, Lupinus latifolius var. parishii)
2.51 l 85 Parish's lupine Lupinus latifolius var. parishii 3 / 1 5
2.51 r ? (Parish's yampah?, Perideridia parishii?)
2.52 l (rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.65 l (Beautiful hanging garden of rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.69 r (Scouler's willow, Salix scouleriana)
2.69 Cross small drainage
2.76 l 86 ~ swamp sedge Carex senta 5 / 1 7
2.76 l (subarctic lady-fern, Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum; western columbine, Aquilegia formosa)
2.76 87 scarlet monkeyflower Mimulus cardinalis 5 / 1 17
2.76 88 glaucus willowherb Epilobium glaberrimum ssp. glaberrimum 1 / 1 2
2.76 Cross Marion Creek, with flowing water, elevation ~7080 feet (2160 m)
2.80 r Sign: "San Jacinto Wilderness"; honking Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi, and incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, trees here
2.94 Switchback left
2.96 Switchback right
2.97 Switchback left
3.02 Cross small drainage
3.09 Trail turns left 90°
3.17 r 89 hybrid manzanita Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea 2 / 1 2
3.23 r 90 granite prickly phlox Leptodactylon pungens 5 / 1 9
3.25 Cross saddle
3.27 Switchback left
3.33 l (fir mistletoe, Phoradendron pauciflorum)
3.38 b 91 San Jacinto buckwheat Eriogonum apiculatum 30 / 1 5
3.38 b Perhaps the best field of San Jacinto lupine, Lupinus hyacinthinus, on the mountain
3.42 l 92 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum 5 / 1 15
3.43 End trail on top of the white cliffsides of Suicide Rock, elevation 7440 feet (2268 m); Suicide Rock itself is ~90 feet above you. Return to jct. with Deer Springs Trail

Comments On Specific Species

Arceuthobium campylopodum. This is growing on a young 3-needle pine.
Rhamnus californica. The subspecies are not distinct in this area, so none are given. See Note in Devils Slide Trail Guide.
Stephanomeria virgata. It isn't clear to me that the subspecies exist, so none are given. See Stephanomeria virgata.
Cordylanthus nevinii. This species isn't numbered, since it is likely that the dead annuals found previously on the trail are this species.

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	1	1%
2	7	7%
3	6	6%
4	8	8%
5	6	6%

1-5	28	27%
6-10	30	29%
11-15	19	18%
16-20	11	11%
21-25	5	5%
26-30	2	2%
31-35	1	1%
36-40	2	2%
41-45	2	2%
46-50	1	1%
51-55	1	1%
56-60	1	1%
Total Taxa	103	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
9/29/2006	1	57	2	6	9	6
10/5/2006	2	60	1	2	3	3
10/5/2006	2	90	2	5	7	3
10/10/2006	3	91	1	5	8	4
10/10/2006	3	102	2	5	10	4
10/21/2006	4	106	2	6	12	3
10/21/2006	4	112	2	7	12	3

Mile	S	#	id?	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Begin at trailhead (road entrance blocked by huge log); elevation 5620 feet (1710 m). The area here has been nuked of most native plants and the area mulched to prevent their regrowth. (:-(
0.00	r	1		Jeffrey pine	Pinus jeffreyi	99 / 9	23
0.00	l	2		pine dwarf-mistletoe	Arceuthobium campylopodum⁺	1 / 1	2
0.00	b	3		pink-bracted manzanita	Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea	99 / 9	3
0.00	l	4		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	99 / 9	23
0.00	b	5		pineland buckwheat	Eriogonum molestum	20 / 5	2
0.00	l	6	~	Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch	Astragalus douglasii var. parishii	5 / 2	5
0.00	l	7		beautiful hulsea	Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha	10 / 3	4
0.00	l	8	ssp	squirreltail	Elymus elymoides	30 / 9
0.00	r	9		bur-ragweed	Ambrosia acanthicarpa	5 / 2	18
0.00	r	10		pinegrove groundsmoke	Gayophytum oligospermum	5 / 1	10
0.00	r			(scarlet bugler, Penstemon centranthifolius; slender everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale)
0.00	l			(California black oak, Quercus kelloggii; incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens)
0.00	l	11		California-aster	Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia	99 / 9	54
0.00	l	12		mountain grape-soda lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus	30 / 9	6
0.01	b	13		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum	99 / 9	2
0.01	r	14		canyon live oak	Quercus chrysolepis	99 / 9	24
0.01	l	15		leafy daisy	Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus	30 / 9	46
0.01	l			Sign: "3E17 (left-right)"
0.01	r	16	ssp	blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus	30 / 9
0.02	r			Display Board: "Deer Springs Trail..."; trail turns left 90°
0.02				Trail is now lined with pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea
0.03	l	17		goldenrod	Solidago californica	99 / 9	39
0.04	l	18		seedling California black oak	Quercus kelloggii	99 / 9	13
0.05	r			(Coulter pine, Pinus coulteri)
0.05	r	19		San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush	Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus	50 / 9	17
0.05	l	20		southern mountain woolly-star	Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum	99 / 3	12
0.06	l	21		southern honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata var. denudata	20 / 9	41
0.06	l			bigger California black oak, Quercus kelloggii
0.07	l	22		rush blue grass	Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia	99 / 9	6
0.08	b	23		bristly bird's beak	Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus	20 / 1	29
0.08	r			(Indian milkweed, Asclepias eriocarpa)
0.09	l	24		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	50 / 9	58
0.09	l	25		Sierra Nevada lotus	Lotus nevadensis var. nevadensis	99 / 9	7
0.10	l			(interior live oak, Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens)
0.11	l	26		incense-cedar	Calocedrus decurrens	50 / 9	15
0.11	l	27		chaparral whitethorn	Ceanothus leucodermis	10 / 9	16
0.12	r			(Cleveland's horkelia, Horkelia clevelandii; sticky cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa ssp. reflexa)
0.12				Cross small drainage with culvert; switchback left
0.12	l			(California fuchsia, Epilobium canum)
0.12	l	28		mountain mugwort	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta	99 / 9	7
0.12	l	29		deergrass	Muhlenbergia rigens	30 / 9	22
0.13	b	30		Cleveland's horkelia	Horkelia clevelandii	10 / 3	7
0.15	r	31		Mexican rush	Juncus mexicanus	50 / 1	18
0.15	r	32		Pacific rush	Juncus effusus var. pacificus	10 / 1	5
0.16	r	33	sp	poa with big spreading infl	Poa sp.	10 / 1
0.16	l	34		California coffeeberry	Rhamnus californica⁺	10 / 9	3
0.17	r	35	sp	arroyo willow	Salix lasiolepis	5 / 1	37
0.17	r	36		giant red paintbrush	Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata	3 / 1	6
0.19	l	37		Indian milkweed	Asclepias eriocarpa	20 / 3	20
0.20	l			Jct. use trail from parking area
0.22	r			Ten wood posts blocking off road
0.22	l	38		sugar pine	Pinus lambertiana	50 / 9	14
0.22				Trail curves right
0.25				Trail turns right 90°; do not continue ahead on road
0.25	l			Sign: "No dogs beyond this point; wilderness permit required 1/4 mile ahead"; end nuking of landscape
0.25	l	39		slender everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale	20 / 9	3
0.26	r	40		slender bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum	20 / 9	2
0.27				Trail turns right
0.29	b	41		interior live oak	Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens	50 / 9	9
0.30	b	42		Coulter pine	Pinus coulteri	50 / 9	12
0.31				Trail turns right
0.33				Switchback left
0.33	r	43		western wallflower	Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum	10 / 3	20
0.37				Trail curves right
0.39	r	44		California brome	Bromus carinatus var. carinatus	30 / 9	26
0.42	r	45	~	goldenstar	Bloomeria crocea	3 / 1	14
0.42				Cross small drainage
0.42	b	46	ssp	small fescue	Vulpia microstachys	10 / 1
0.44	l	47		mustang mint	Monardella lanceolata	10 / 1	8
0.44				Trail curves right
0.46	r	48		yarrow	Achillea millefolium	20 / 2	15
0.46				Cross small drainage
0.47	b	49		California fuchsia	Epilobium canum	50 / 9	16
0.47	l	50		sticky cinquefoil	Potentilla glandulosa ssp. reflexa	20 / 5	11
0.47				Trail turns right 90°
0.49				Trail gradually curves left
0.52				Trail curves left
0.54				Switchback left
0.56				Switchback right
0.57				Switchback left
0.57	r	51		hollyleaf redberry	Rhamnus ilicifolia	3 / 3	45
0.58				Trail curves right
0.61				Cross small drainage; trail curves left
0.65	r	52		whorledleaf penstemon	Keckiella ternata var. ternata	10 / 2	6
0.66				Switchback right
0.66	l	53		scarlet bugler	Penstemon centranthifolius	1 / 1	9
0.66	l	54		birch-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides	2 / 2	20
0.67	r			Boulder with scooped-out "seat"
0.68				Trail curves left at ridge
0.68	b	55		chaparral yucca	Yucca whipplei	3 / 1	32
0.69				Switchback left
0.73	l			Check for snow-plant
0.74				Switchback right
0.74				Switchback left; sign: "Mount San Jacinto State Park Wilderness"
0.79				Switchback right
0.81	l			(white fir, Abies concolor)
0.81	l	56		changeable phacelia	Phacelia mutabilis	30 / 9	7
0.82				Switchback left; jct. use trail to viewpoint 0.02 miles distant
0.84				Local high point on trail
0.85	l	57		twiggy wreath plant	Stephanomeria virgata⁺	1 / 1	7
0.87				Local low point on trail
0.93				Cross small drainage; trail curves right
0.97				Switchback left
0.97				Switchback right
1.00				This area has some really old specimens of chaparral whitethorn, Ceanothus leucodermis, and pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea
1.01				Long switchback left
1.02				Switchback right
1.04				Switchback left
1.07	r			View of Tahquitz Lookout
1.10				Local high point on trail, followed quickly by local low point
1.12	l	58	~	California thistle	Cirsium occidentale var. californicum	1 / 1	12
1.13	b	59		broad-leaved lotus	Lotus crassifolius var. crassifolius	20 / 2	7
1.15	r	60		oak mistletoe	Phoradendron villosum	20 / 9	4
1.16				Trail curves right
1.17				Switchback left
1.19	l	61		bracken	Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens	99 / 9	13
1.21	l	62	~	fragile sheath sedge	Carex fracta	10 / 3	9
1.21	l	63		plain mariposa lily	Calochortus invenustus	3 / 3	11
1.21	l	64		white fir	Abies concolor	50 / 9	22
1.21	l	65	~	spear-leaved mountain dandelion	Agoseris retrorsa	1 / 1	12
1.22	l	66		pinedrops	Pterospora andromedea	5 / 3	8
1.24	b	67		western azalea	Rhododendron occidentale	50 / 5	4
1.24	r	68		woodland strawberry	Fragaria vesca	1 / 1	3
1.24	r	69		little prince's pine	Chimaphila menziesii	3 / 1	4
1.24	b			(thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus)
1.25				Switchback left
1.26				Switchback right
1.26	l	70	sp	cespitose rush	Juncus sp.	1 / 1
1.27				Switchback left
1.28				Switchback right
1.28	l	71		naked buckwheat	Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum	20 / 9	4
	r			(Check id of tall plants in creek bed)
1.29	r			Canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis, hit by lightning. Many trees here have been struck by lightning.
1.32				Cross small drainage; trail curves right
1.33				Trail turns left 90°; enter Mistletoe Row
1.46	l	72	~	beaked penstemon	Penstemon rostriflorus	5 / 2	14
1.50				(incense-cedar mistletoe, Phoradendron libocedri, at top of tree in distance)
1.52	b	73		mountain pink currant	Ribes nevadense	50 / 3	7
1.53	l	74	~	rigid hedge-nettle	Stachys ajugoides var. rigida	10 / 2	17
1.53				Cross the main drainage we've been hiking along, elevation 6480 feet (1975 m); lots of western azalea, Rhododendron occidentale, here
1.53	b	75		lemon lily	Lilium parryi	5 / 2	6
1.55				Switchback right
1.58	r			Second location of pineland buckwheat, Eriogonum molestum
1.62				Switchback left
1.65				Switchback right
1.68	l			Field of southern mountain woolly-star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum
1.72	r			Check for different rush, Juncus sp.
1.73	r			Cross small drainage; check for the mystery Carex
1.81				Switchback left
1.81		76	sp	Dead annuals, probably Nevin's bird's beak or splendid gilia	Cordylanthus nevinii or Gilia splendens ssp. splendens	/
1.88				Cross small drainage
1.92				Trail turns right 90°
1.93				Switchback right
1.96	r	77		snow-plant	Sarcodes sanguinea	2 / 1	8
2.00				Cross small drainage
2.00				Switchback left
2.02	b	78	sp	perennial monardella	Monardella australis or M. nana	2 / 1
2.04				Cross small drainage
2.13	b	79		San Gabriel beardtongue	Penstemon labrosus	20 / 2	9
2.14	r	80		white catch-fly	Silene verecunda ssp. platyota	10 / 2	13
2.16	l	81		woodland spurge	Euphorbia palmeri	1 / 1	4
2.21	b	82		sapphire woolly-star	Eriastrum sapphirinum	10 / 1	8
2.21	l	83		San Jacinto lupine	Lupinus hyacinthinus	99 / 9	5
2.25				Jct. trail to Suicide Rock; elevation ~6900 feet (2105 m). Sign: "(r): Suicide Rock 1 mi; (back): Highway 243 2.3 mi; (ahead) Strawberry Jct. 1.8 mi, Little Round Valley 5.5 mi, San Jacinto Peak 7.0 mi". Guide to the Suicide Rock Trail is at the bottom of this Guide

2.25				Continue on Deer Springs Trail
2.26				Switchback right
2.27				Trail turns left 90° and then curves right
2.34				Switchback left
2.36	r	84		mountain whitethorn	Ceanothus cordulatus	99 / 9	17
2.37				Switchback right; trail soon zags right and then curves left
2.42	l			(rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.43				Switchback right
2.45				Switchback left
2.47				Switchback right
2.48				Switchback left
2.48	l	85		hybrid manzanita	Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea	1 / 1	2
2.52				Switchback right
2.58				Switchback left
2.61				Switchback right
2.65				Switchback left
2.67				(fir mistletoe, Phoradendron pauciflorum, ahead in distance)
2.76				Switchback left
2.80				Switchback right at ridge
2.87				Switchback left
2.90	r			Switchback right; view of Tahquitz Peak and top of Suicide Rock
2.94				Switchback left
2.98				Switchback right
3.01				Switchback left
3.08	r	86		fir mistletoe	Phoradendron pauciflorum	1 / 1	11
3.13				Switchback left
3.20				Long switchback right at ridge
3.32	b	87		green-leaf manzanita	Arctostaphylos patula	30 / 9	14
3.32				Switchback left
3.33				Switchback right
3.41				Trail zigzags right then left
3.45	r			canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis, with weird galls of two kinds: terminal galls like a chinquapin male inflorescence, and stem galls like acorns
3.46	l			(Idaho bentgrass, Agrostis idahoensis)
3.49	r			Nice patch of San Jacinto lupine, Lupinus hyacinthinus
3.49	r			Check these plants to make sure they are western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum
3.51				Trail zigzags right then left
3.51	l			spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza maculata
3.63	l			Four honking incense-cedars, Calocedrus decurrens, struck by lightning, with 3 still alive
3.67				Switchback right
3.68				Switchback left
3.83				Long switchback left
3.85				Switchback right
3.89	l	88		granite prickly phlox	Leptodactylon pungens	2 / 1	9
3.98	l			Check for different Monardella
4.01				Switchback left
4.05				Strawberry Jct., elevation ~8030 feet (2450 m); sign: "(back) Suicide Trail 1.8 mi, Banning Highway 4.3 mi, Idyllwild 4.8 mi; (ahead) Deer Springs (Camp) 2.3 mi, Little Round Valley 3.8 mi, San Jacinto Peak 5.5 mi; (right) Strawberry Cienega 1.5 mi, Wellman Trail 2.3 mi, Round Valley 4.3 mi, Strawberry Camp 100 yards"
4.09	r	89		San Jacinto buckwheat	Eriogonum apiculatum	5 / 1	5
4.19	r	90		bush chinquapin	Chrysolepis sempervirens	5 / 2	11
4.25				Trail curves right at ridge; now hiking through wonderland of rocks, with lots of big boulders on flat ground
4.27	l			(blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana)
4.38	b	91		Idaho bentgrass	Agrostis idahoensis	30 / 2	4
4.39				Highest elevation deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens
4.42	l			(Fendler's meadow-rue, Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri)
4.42				Enter meadowy area
4.42	r	92		glaucus willowherb	Epilobium glaberrimum ssp. glaberrimum	10 / 2	2
4.42	r	93		scarlet monkeyflower	Mimulus cardinalis	5 / 1	17
4.43				Cross drainage
4.43	l	94	?	knotweed?	Polygonum sp.?	3 / 1
4.43	l	95		western columbine	Aquilegia formosa	2 / 1	6
4.45	l			(Parish's lupine, Lupinus latifolius var. parishii)
4.45	r			(Check for different plant similar to lemon lily)
4.45	r	96		tinker's penny	Hypericum anagalloides	5 / 1	2
4.45	r		~	(brittle bladder fern, Cystopteris fragilis)
4.47				Cross flowing creek
4.47	b	97		streambank lotus	Lotus oblongifolius var. oblongifolius	5 / 1	3
4.50				Switchback right
4.50	l	98		San Jacinto Mtns. bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. jacinticum	20 / 2	1
4.50	l	99	~	swamp sedge	Carex senta	20 / 2	7
4.52				Switchback left
4.54				Switchback right
4.54	l	100	~	Sierra gooseberry	Ribes roezlii var. roezlii	1 / 1	11
4.55				Switchback left
4.56				Switchback right
4.57				Switchback left
4.59				Switchback right at ridge
4.62				Switchback right
4.65				Switchback left
4.73				Switchback right
4.79				Local high point on trail; elevation ~8360 feet (2550 m)
4.81				Cross small moist drainage
4.86			~	(bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata)
4.87	l			(wax currant, Ribes cereum var. cereum)
4.88	b	101		California corn lily	Veratrum californicum var. californicum	10 / 1	4
4.88	b	102		larger mountain monkeyflower	Mimulus tilingii	10 / 1	7
4.88	b	103	sp	sedge like Carex alma	Carex sp.	20 / 2
4.88	b	104		musk monkeyflower	Mimulus moschatus	5 / 1	5
4.90	l			Boulder with lots of eroded concavities and some convex protrusions
4.98	r	105		bitter cherry	Prunus emarginata	50 / 9	7
5.04				Local low point on trail; elevation ~8320 feet (2535 m)
5.05	r	106		floriferous monkeyflower	Mimulus floribundus	20 / 1	9
5.32				Switchback right
5.33				Switchback left
5.35				Switchback right
5.37				Switchback left
5.39	r	107		thimbleberry	Rubus parviflorus	10 / 1	3
5.42				Switchback right
5.49	r	108		Richardson's geranium	Geranium richardsonii	5 / 3	7
5.51	r	109		spotted coralroot	Corallorhiza maculata	1 / 1	6
5.57				Now directly west of Marion Mountain Peak, which is 1800 feet of elevation above this point
5.61				Cross moist drainage
5.61	r	110	sp	spreading brown-headed rush?	Juncus phaeocephalus var. paniculatus?	/
5.67				Switchback right
5.69				Switchback left and trail curves right
5.74				Switchback left
5.76				Local high point on trail; elevation ~8700 feet (2652 m)
6.01				Jct. Marion Mountain Trail; elevation ~8690 feet (2649 m). End Guide

2.25				Suicide Rock Trail: Turn right on trail to Suicide Rock; species numbering is continued from lower portion of trail
2.29	l			Nevin's bird's beak	Cordylanthus nevinii⁺	20 / 3	9
2.31	l	84		mountain whitethorn	Ceanothus cordulatus	10 / 5	17
2.37	r			(Parish's lupine, Lupinus latifolius var. parishii)
2.51	l	85		Parish's lupine	Lupinus latifolius var. parishii	3 / 1	5
2.51	r		?	(Parish's yampah?, Perideridia parishii?)
2.52	l			(rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.65	l			(Beautiful hanging garden of rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.69	r			(Scouler's willow, Salix scouleriana)
2.69				Cross small drainage
2.76	l	86	~	swamp sedge	Carex senta	5 / 1	7
2.76	l			(subarctic lady-fern, Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum; western columbine, Aquilegia formosa)
2.76		87		scarlet monkeyflower	Mimulus cardinalis	5 / 1	17
2.76		88		glaucus willowherb	Epilobium glaberrimum ssp. glaberrimum	1 / 1	2
2.76				Cross Marion Creek, with flowing water, elevation ~7080 feet (2160 m)
2.80	r			Sign: "San Jacinto Wilderness"; honking Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi, and incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, trees here
2.94				Switchback left
2.96				Switchback right
2.97				Switchback left
3.02				Cross small drainage
3.09				Trail turns left 90°
3.17	r	89		hybrid manzanita	Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea	2 / 1	2
3.23	r	90		granite prickly phlox	Leptodactylon pungens	5 / 1	9
3.25				Cross saddle
3.27				Switchback left
3.33	l			(fir mistletoe, Phoradendron pauciflorum)
3.38	b	91		San Jacinto buckwheat	Eriogonum apiculatum	30 / 1	5
3.38	b			Perhaps the best field of San Jacinto lupine, Lupinus hyacinthinus, on the mountain
3.42	l	92		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum	5 / 1	15
3.43				End trail on top of the white cliffsides of Suicide Rock, elevation 7440 feet (2268 m); Suicide Rock itself is ~90 feet above you. Return to jct. with Deer Springs Trail

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Plants With Voucher Records for San Jacinto Mountain in Calflora
Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2006 by Tom Chester.
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to me at this source:
http://tchester.org/sb/plants/guides/deer_springs.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 23 October 2006.