Plant Guide to Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail, San Jacinto Mountains

Plant Guide to Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail, San Jacinto Mountains

This is a working list, about which we make no guarantees at all until we 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
The Plant Guide
Comments On Specific Species
Introduction

The Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail is a beautiful and very popular trail from the bottom of Humber Park in Idyllwild to a rather unglorious end at the dusty non-scenic dirt road of Tahquitz View Drive just north of the turnoff to the South Ridge Trailhead.
The trail itself is indeed scenic, primarily for the views of the plants and rocks along the trail, but it also has a few views to the west that extend to the ocean. One might expect to see lots of views of the nearby homes all along the trail, but that doesn't happen; one feels surrounded by forest all the time. Most of the human traces along the way are large numbers of piles of twigs, branches, and cut-up dead trees stacked for burning in the wet season.
The trail is completely shaded for perhaps 80% or so of its length, with scattered regular shade in the remaining 20% of the trail. The openings in the forest have their own suite of delightful species; many of these areas must be absolutely beautiful with bloom in years when it rains.
The trail traverses a number of delightful drainages, but there is a bittersweet tinge to many of them that are probably only shadows of what they once were. Nearly every moist side drainage has a pipe carrying the precious water away from the plants and animals.
New species are encountered regularly along the trail, despite the trail staying in a fairly narrow range of elevation, and staying mostly with the same west-facing slope. This is very different from a similar trail at higher elevation, such as the PCT from Devils Slide to the South Ridge Trail, which is very depauperate in the total number of species. This difference is probably mainly due to the elevation, with the sunnier more open spots here having some chaparral species, whereas at higher elevation there is no chance of those chaparral species sneaking in there.
Many of the species found here are those also seen on the lower South Ridge Trail, which makes sense since the lower part of the two trails are only ~0.4 miles and ~900 feet of elevation apart. It is in fact quite interesting to be hiking directly below and almost parallel to that trail.
No permit is required to hike this trail, since it does not enter the San Jacinto Wilderness. An Adventure Pass is required to park within Humber Park, but parking spaces just outside Humber Park are about the same distance away from the upper trailhead, and do not require a Pass.
The trail is 2.3 miles one way, 4.6 miles round-trip, with ~750 feet of elevation gain and loss for the round-trip. (I computed 720 feet of gain and loss from all stretches with noticeable change in elevation, and rounded it up to 750 feet to include the imperceptible ups and downs on the trail.) The trail is nearly flat for the first 0.65 miles below Humber Park with an elevation change of only 100 feet, a rate of just 150 feet per mile. The trail then descends 220 feet to mile 1.06 at the rate of about 500 feet per mile. The trail is then again nearly flat to mile 1.5. The last 0.9 miles of the trail descends 380 feet at the rate of 430 feet per mile.
If you would like a shorter less-strenuous trip, hiking to mile 1.52 and back is 3.0 miles roundtrip, with just 350 feet of elevation gain and loss, and you'll only miss one of the on-trail (numbered) species on the trail, and six of the off-trail species.
Note that the two most popular guidebooks incorrectly state the elevation gain of this trail, which is hard to understand since the trail is clearly shown on the USGS topographic map. Robinson and Harris (2006) give 300 feet as the total gain for the one-way trip from the bottom to the top; the actual gain is a minimum of 700 feet.
Ferranti and Koenig (2000) apparently never give the actual elevation gain and loss along a trail in their guidebook, only the elevation difference between the bottom and top. This is a very unusual and misleading way to report it, especially since they call it the elevation gain. (I.e., if they reported their version of elevation gain for a hike from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon down to the bottom and then up the South Rim, they would report an elevation gain of zero feet, despite there being a true elevation gain of nearly one mile along that route!) They only give 300 feet for the elevation difference between the bottom and top; the actual difference is 6400 - 5720 = 680 feet.
For photographs of some of the plants in bloom on 22 May 2009, see Pictures From Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail, San Jacinto Mountains, 22 May 2009.
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 our database that contain each taxon on this trail (not including the taxa seen only off-trail given at the end of the guide). We had 147 trails in our database when this histogram was made; 11 of those trails, including this one, are in the west side or south side of San Jacinto Mountain, with an additional 12 trails at higher elevation at San Jacinto Mountains. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found on this trail among the trails in our database; numbers of "11" 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 0 0%
2 0 0%
3 7 7%
4 5 5%
5 1 1%

1-5 13 14%
6-10 20 21%
11-15 21 22%
16-20 15 16%
21-25 7 7%
26-30 4 4%
31-35 1 1%
36-40 4 4%
41-45 1 1%
46-50 0 0%
51-55 4 4%
56-60 2 2%
60-65 0 0%
66-70 1 1%
71-75 1 1%
Total Taxa 94 100%

We found 5 additional species not in the above table, since they have not been identified yet. The unidentified ones are marked with ? or sp in the id? column in the guide, and have no entry 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"
10/4/2007 1 65 4 7 7 6
6/17/2008 2 92 3 4 6 5
5/22/2009 3 99 3 3 1 3

The Plant Guide

See Plant Checklist For Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail for a list of the species in the guide below in traditional family order.
For photographs of some of the plants in bloom on 22 May 2009, see Pictures From Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail, San Jacinto Mountains, 22 May 2009.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (6 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (2 double-sided page). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)
The mileages in the guide come from Topo! and a GPS recording of the trail made on 10/4/07, and should be accurate to ~0.01-0.02 miles.
See Explanation of Plant Trail Guides for an explanation of the column headers.

Mile S # id? FAM Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 r Beginning of trail at Ernie Maxwell sign; 6400 feet (1951 m) elevation.
0.00 l (VIS incense-cedar mistletoe, Phoradendron libocedri)
0.00 r 1 CUP incense-cedar Calocedrus decurrens 99 / 9 24
0.00 r 2 PIN ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa 50 / 9 9
0.00 r (ERI snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea)
0.00 l 3 FAG California black oak Quercus kelloggii 99 / 9 19
0.00 r (FAB Sierra Nevada lotus, Lotus nevadensis var. nevadensis)
0.01 l Jct. shortcut use trail from south end of parking area
0.01 l (CUP white fir, Abies concolor)
0.01 r (FAG canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis)
0.02 r (SCR bristly bird's beak, Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus)
0.02 r 4 FAB Sierra Nevada lotus Lotus nevadensis var. nevadensis 40 / 9 13
0.02 r Jct. use trail to road
0.02 r (FAB broad-leaved lotus, Lotus crassifolius var. crassifolius)
0.02 b 5 PIN white fir Abies concolor 30 / 9 36
0.03 r (VIS fir mistletoe, Phoradendron pauciflorum; PIN sugar pine, Pinus lambertiana)
0.04 l 6 FAG canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis 99 / 9 39
0.05 l Jct. another shortcut use trail from south end of parking area
0.06 r 7 ERI western azalea Rhododendron occidentale 10 / 2 10
0.06 l (ERI pinedrops, Pterospora andromedea)
0.06 r 8 GRO mountain pink currant Ribes nevadense 30 / 5 15
0.06 b (ROS thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus)
0.07 b 9 BET white alder Alnus rhombifolia 3 / 2 13
0.07 Cross moist creek, the drainage from most of the area south of Saddle Junction and north of Lily Rock / Tahquitz Peak
0.07 r 10 ROS thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus 20 / 2 8
0.07 l 11 PIN sugar pine Pinus lambertiana 40 / 9 24
0.08 r (DEN Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens)
0.10 r 12 ERI pinedrops Pterospora andromedea 4 / 1 16
0.13 Trail turns left 90°
0.14 b 13 SCR Grinnell's beardtongue Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii 10 / 2 25
0.14 l (RHA mountain whitethorn, Ceanothus cordulatus)
0.15 r (RUB common bedstraw, Galium aparine)
0.15 r 14 RHA dead mountain whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus 2 / 2 26
0.18 l Jct. use trail to Lily Rock, with a carabiner marker post
0.18 l 15 CYP forest sedge Carex multicaulis 20 / 9 3
0.20 r 16 RUB common bedstraw Galium aparine 5 / 3 45
0.20 b 17 BRA Laguna Mtns. jewel-flower Streptanthus bernardinus 10 / 2 4
0.20 l (AST beautiful hulsea, Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha)
0.25 l Jct. use trail
0.28 l 18 POA June grass Koeleria macrantha 99 / 9 5
0.29 l Jct. use trail
0.29 r (ERI pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea)
0.29 b 19 POL San Jacinto buckwheat Eriogonum apiculatum 20 / 2 12
0.29 b 20 POL naked buckwheat Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum 50 / 9 13
0.30 r RHA live mountain whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus /
0.30 r (BRA western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum)
0.31 l 21 SCR bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus 99 / 9 40
0.31 l 22 ssp POA squirreltail Elymus elymoides 50 / 9 16
0.31 l 23 BOR purple-root cryptantha Cryptantha micrantha 20 / 5 14
0.31 l 24 POL splendid gilia Gilia splendens ssp. splendens 99 / 9 9
0.31 l 25 LIL plain mariposa lily Calochortus invenustus 99 / 9 16
0.31 l (closer ERI pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea)
0.32 r 26 CHE Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii 2 / 1 19
0.32 Cross very small drainage
0.34 Cross very small drainage
0.36 b 27 ERI pink-bracted manzanita Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea 30 / 9 13
0.36 l 28 VIS oak mistletoe Phoradendron villosum 30 / 3 15
0.36 l 29 ? unk baby annual like sow thistle Sonchus sp.? 1 / 1
0.36 l Check if these first-year seedlings are pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea
0.36 l (POL southern mountain woolly-star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum)
0.36 r 30 ssp LAM short-flowered monardella Monardella nana ssp. tenuiflora 50 / 9 7
0.36 r ? (API sweet-cicely?, Osmorhiza sp.?)
0.36 l 31 FAB wild sweetpea Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus 99 / 9 11
0.36 b 32 POL Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum 40 / 9 13
0.36 l 33 AST California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia 40 / 9 67
0.37 b 34 FAB mountain grape-soda lupine Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus 30 / 9 11
0.37 r 35 API Parish's tauschia Tauschia parishii 30 / 9 12
0.38 b 37 CAR white catch-fly Silene verecunda ssp. platyota 30 / 9 18
0.38 r 36 ssp AST white mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula 10 / 1 12
0.38 r (AST golden yarrow, Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum)
0.39 r 38 PIN Coulter pine Pinus coulteri 30 / 9 18
0.40 b 39 BRA pinewoods rock-cress Arabis holboellii var. pinetorum⁺ 20 / 5 4
0.40 l 40 AST leafy daisy Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus 20 / 9 52
0.40 r 41 FAB American vetch Vicia americana var. americana 20 / 5 11
0.42 l 42 AST goldenrod Solidago californica 10 / 5 56
0.42 l 43 AST white hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum 10 / 2 3
0.43 l 44 AST golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 99 / 9 71
0.43 l 45 SCR Martin's paintbrush Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 30 / 9 25
0.44 l 46 AST slender everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale 3 / 3 10
0.45 l 47 FAB strigose lotus Lotus strigosus 20 / 4 51
0.46 l 48 sp ONA groundsmoke? Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum? 2 / 1
0.47 Cross small drainage
0.48 l 49 RUB narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 30 / 9 56
0.48 l 50 FAB bajada lupine Lupinus concinnus 10 / 3 28
0.48 l 51 POL southern mountain woolly-star Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum 30 / 5 19
0.48 r 52 ERI snow-plant Sarcodes sanguinea 1 / 1 13
0.50 l 53 ONA mountain California-fuchsia Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium 40 / 5 18
0.60 Cross dry drainage from southwest side of Lily Rock
0.65 Trail begins to descend more steeply; elevation ~6300 feet (1920 m)
0.67 r Jct. trail probably leading to road just below; stay left
0.71 Enter forest of oak mistletoe, Phoradendron villosum, for 0.01 miles
0.72 l (AST San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus)
0.73 Leave dense continuous forest; forest now interspersed with sunny open areas
0.76 l Check if these plants are a different sedge, Carex sp., or if they are Elymus elymoides
0.77 b 54 FAG interior live oak Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens 30 / 5 19
0.79 l 55 POA *downy brome Bromus tectorum 50 / 9 36
0.79 l 56 BOR prickly cryptantha Cryptantha muricata 20 / 9 18
0.81 b 57 POA small fescue Vulpia microstachys⁺ 20 / 3 3
0.81 l 58 VIS pine dwarf-mistletoe Arceuthobium campylopodum 1 / 1 6
0.81 l 59 POL white-margined oxytheca Oxytheca emarginata 10 / 2 6
0.83 l (CAP southern honeysuckle, Lonicera subspicata var. denudata)
0.84 b 60 BRA beautiful rock-cress Arabis pulchra 20 / 5 3
0.84 r 61 CAP southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata 2 / 2 52
0.85 l 62 POL whisker-brush Linanthus ciliatus 99 / 9 8
0.93 l 63 FAB broad-leaved lotus Lotus crassifolius var. crassifolius 10 / 2 12
0.97 Switchback left at ridge; elevation ~6100 feet (1859 m)
0.99 Cross moist drainage from Tahquitz Peak
0.99 l (RAN western columbine, Aquilegia formosa)
1.01 l 64 ERI little prince's pine Chimaphila menziesii 3 / 2 9
1.04 b 65 APO spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium 20 / 2 6
1.06 Trail levels off; elevation ~6080 feet (1853 m)
1.15 r 66 BOR pine cryptantha Cryptantha simulans 50 / 9 3
1.18 l 67 LIL blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 20 / 4 55
1.19 Cross dry drainage
1.21 l 68 POL annual phlox Phlox gracilis 30 / 4 3
1.21 l 69 ONA diamond-petaled clarkia Clarkia rhomboidea 99 / 9 7
1.21 r 70 POA Orcutt's brome Bromus orcuttianus 5 / 2 7
1.22 l 71 POR green miner's lettuce Claytonia parviflora ssp. viridis 10 / 2 4
1.23 l 72 POR southern miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana 30 / 5 30
1.24 r (SAX woodland star, Lithophragma affine)
1.25 l field of plain mariposa lily, Calochortus invenustus
1.25 l 73 AST spear-leaved mountain dandelion Agoseris retrorsa 20 / 9 21
1.26 b 74 LIL *garden daffodil Narcissus sp. 20 / 1
1.26 b 75 AST California thistle Cirsium occidentale var. californicum 2 / 1 20
1.26 r (Large water tank)
1.27 l 76 VIS incense-cedar mistletoe Phoradendron libocedri 1 / 1 6
1.27 r 77 HYD imbricate phacelia Phacelia imbricata ssp. patula 2 / 1 11
1.34 b 78 DEN bracken Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens 2 / 1 25
1.34 Cross moist drainage coming from base of upper switchbacks on South Ridge Trail; minor local low point; elevation ~6080 feet (1853 m)
1.34 b (CER Parish's burning bush, Euonymus occidentalis var. parishii)
1.34 l 79 FAB seedling Parish's lupine Lupinus latifolius var. parishii 5 / 3 9
1.34 r 80 RAN western columbine Aquilegia formosa 1 / 1 16
1.34 r (ROS California wild rose, Rosa californica)
1.35 b (ORC spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza maculata)
1.39 r 81 sp SCR dead tall penstemon with clasping, non-connate leaves Penstemon sp. 5 / 1
1.39 r 82 SCR musk monkeyflower Mimulus moschatus 20 / 1 7
1.39 l (DAT Durango root, Datisca glomerata in distance)
1.39 b 83 ROS sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa ssp. reflexa 20 / 4 12
1.39 Cross moist drainage coming from small saddle / level section of South Ridge Trail at 7600 feet elevation on that trail
1.39 r 84 SCR floriferous monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus 20 / 1 12
1.43 b 85 BRA Yosemite rockcress Arabis repanda var. repanda 30 / 5 4
1.43 86 SAX woodland star Lithophragma affine 50 / 5 8
1.43 r 87 BRA western wallflower Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum 3 / 2 32
1.46 r (blue larkspur, Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi)
1.47 Minor local high point; elevation ~6100 feet (1859 m)
1.47 r 88 AST beautiful hulsea Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha 5 / 2 12
1.47 r 89 ORO clustered broom-rape Orobanche fasciculata 1 / 1 3
1.52 l 90 FAB Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch Astragalus douglasii var. parishii 5 / 1 8
1.52 l Check for slender wheatgrass, Elymus trachycaulus
1.52 l 91 LOA scattered blazing star Mentzelia dispersa 10 / 1 4
1.58 Cross small dry drainage; elevation 6000 feet (1829 m)
1.59 l 92 ORC spotted coralroot Corallorhiza maculata 7 / 1 10
1.71 l 93 ROS birch-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides 1 / 1 30
1.73 r Jct. steep path down to road below with deep roadcut
1.73 l (AST rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata in distance)
1.80 l Check for vetch with narrow leaves
1.82 Cross drainage
1.82 l (SAL Scouler's willow, Salix scouleriana)
1.91 l 94 LIL goldenstar Bloomeria crocea 10 / 2 18
1.97 l sp (ORC rein orchid, Piperia sp.)
1.98 l 95 AST California chicory Rafinesquia californica 1 / 1 25
2.00 l 96 ORC rein orchid Piperia sp. 3 / 2
2.03 l FAB mature Parish's lupine Lupinus latifolius var. parishii /
2.03 l 97 ~ CYP fragile sheath sedge Carex fracta 1 / 1 15
2.03 r 98 ROS California wild rose Rosa californica 1 / 1 16
2.03 Cross moist drainage; elevation 5800 feet (1768 m)
2.05 l (way off-trail: ERI Mexican manzanita, Arctostaphylos pungens)
2.15 l 99 SCR southern Chinese houses Collinsia concolor 30 / 1 7
2.26 Cross dry drainage below spring just north of South Ridge Spring
2.26 r ? (unk sprawling shrub like cultivated plum or Pyracantha?; DAT Durango root, Datisca glomerata; per like Epilobium ciliatum but without prominent veins)
2.35 End trail at Tahquitz View Drive just north of the turnoff to the South Ridge Trailhead; elevation 5720 feet (1743 m); return the way you came

Comments On Specific Species

Arabis holboellii var. pinetorum. Unfortunately, this isn't the appropriate name for these plants, but there is no binomial name currently available for these plants. See Recent Changes in Delineation of These Species for more information.
Vulpia microstachys. The variety here is ciliata, with hairy glumes and lemmas. However, two other varieties are found nearby on the South Ridge Trail, hence one has to wonder whether these are just forms within a single species.
.

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	0	0%
2	0	0%
3	7	7%
4	5	5%
5	1	1%

1-5	13	14%
6-10	20	21%
11-15	21	22%
16-20	15	16%
21-25	7	7%
26-30	4	4%
31-35	1	1%
36-40	4	4%
41-45	1	1%
46-50	0	0%
51-55	4	4%
56-60	2	2%
60-65	0	0%
66-70	1	1%
71-75	1	1%
Total Taxa	94	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
10/4/2007	1	65	4	7	7	6
6/17/2008	2	92	3	4	6	5
5/22/2009	3	99	3	3	1	3

Mile	S	#	id?	FAM	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00	r			Beginning of trail at Ernie Maxwell sign; 6400 feet (1951 m) elevation.
0.00	l			(VIS incense-cedar mistletoe, Phoradendron libocedri)
0.00	r	1		CUP	incense-cedar	Calocedrus decurrens	99 / 9	24
0.00	r	2		PIN	ponderosa pine	Pinus ponderosa	50 / 9	9
0.00	r			(ERI snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea)
0.00	l	3		FAG	California black oak	Quercus kelloggii	99 / 9	19
0.00	r			(FAB Sierra Nevada lotus, Lotus nevadensis var. nevadensis)
0.01	l			Jct. shortcut use trail from south end of parking area
0.01	l			(CUP white fir, Abies concolor)
0.01	r			(FAG canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis)
0.02	r			(SCR bristly bird's beak, Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus)
0.02	r	4		FAB	Sierra Nevada lotus	Lotus nevadensis var. nevadensis	40 / 9	13
0.02	r			Jct. use trail to road
0.02	r			(FAB broad-leaved lotus, Lotus crassifolius var. crassifolius)
0.02	b	5		PIN	white fir	Abies concolor	30 / 9	36
0.03	r			(VIS fir mistletoe, Phoradendron pauciflorum; PIN sugar pine, Pinus lambertiana)
0.04	l	6		FAG	canyon live oak	Quercus chrysolepis	99 / 9	39
0.05	l			Jct. another shortcut use trail from south end of parking area
0.06	r	7		ERI	western azalea	Rhododendron occidentale	10 / 2	10
0.06	l			(ERI pinedrops, Pterospora andromedea)
0.06	r	8		GRO	mountain pink currant	Ribes nevadense	30 / 5	15
0.06	b			(ROS thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus)
0.07	b	9		BET	white alder	Alnus rhombifolia	3 / 2	13
0.07				Cross moist creek, the drainage from most of the area south of Saddle Junction and north of Lily Rock / Tahquitz Peak
0.07	r	10		ROS	thimbleberry	Rubus parviflorus	20 / 2	8
0.07	l	11		PIN	sugar pine	Pinus lambertiana	40 / 9	24
0.08	r			(DEN Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens)
0.10	r	12		ERI	pinedrops	Pterospora andromedea	4 / 1	16
0.13				Trail turns left 90°
0.14	b	13		SCR	Grinnell's beardtongue	Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii	10 / 2	25
0.14	l			(RHA mountain whitethorn, Ceanothus cordulatus)
0.15	r			(RUB common bedstraw, Galium aparine)
0.15	r	14		RHA	dead mountain whitethorn	Ceanothus cordulatus	2 / 2	26
0.18	l			Jct. use trail to Lily Rock, with a carabiner marker post
0.18	l	15		CYP	forest sedge	Carex multicaulis	20 / 9	3
0.20	r	16		RUB	common bedstraw	Galium aparine	5 / 3	45
0.20	b	17		BRA	Laguna Mtns. jewel-flower	Streptanthus bernardinus	10 / 2	4
0.20	l			(AST beautiful hulsea, Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha)
0.25	l			Jct. use trail
0.28	l	18		POA	June grass	Koeleria macrantha	99 / 9	5
0.29	l			Jct. use trail
0.29	r			(ERI pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea)
0.29	b	19		POL	San Jacinto buckwheat	Eriogonum apiculatum	20 / 2	12
0.29	b	20		POL	naked buckwheat	Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum	50 / 9	13
0.30	r			RHA	live mountain whitethorn	Ceanothus cordulatus	/
0.30	r			(BRA western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum)
0.31	l	21		SCR	bristly bird's beak	Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus	99 / 9	40
0.31	l	22	ssp	POA	squirreltail	Elymus elymoides	50 / 9	16
0.31	l	23		BOR	purple-root cryptantha	Cryptantha micrantha	20 / 5	14
0.31	l	24		POL	splendid gilia	Gilia splendens ssp. splendens	99 / 9	9
0.31	l	25		LIL	plain mariposa lily	Calochortus invenustus	99 / 9	16
0.31	l			(closer ERI pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea)
0.32	r	26		CHE	Fremont's goosefoot	Chenopodium fremontii	2 / 1	19
0.32				Cross very small drainage
0.34				Cross very small drainage
0.36	b	27		ERI	pink-bracted manzanita	Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea	30 / 9	13
0.36	l	28		VIS	oak mistletoe	Phoradendron villosum	30 / 3	15
0.36	l	29	?		unk baby annual like sow thistle	Sonchus sp.?	1 / 1
0.36	l			Check if these first-year seedlings are pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea
0.36	l			(POL southern mountain woolly-star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum)
0.36	r	30	ssp	LAM	short-flowered monardella	Monardella nana ssp. tenuiflora	50 / 9	7
0.36	r		?	(API sweet-cicely?, Osmorhiza sp.?)
0.36	l	31		FAB	wild sweetpea	Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus	99 / 9	11
0.36	b	32		POL	Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum	40 / 9	13
0.36	l	33		AST	California-aster	Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia	40 / 9	67
0.37	b	34		FAB	mountain grape-soda lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus	30 / 9	11
0.37	r	35		API	Parish's tauschia	Tauschia parishii	30 / 9	12
0.38	b	37		CAR	white catch-fly	Silene verecunda ssp. platyota	30 / 9	18
0.38	r	36	ssp	AST	white mugwort	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula	10 / 1	12
0.38	r			(AST golden yarrow, Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum)
0.39	r	38		PIN	Coulter pine	Pinus coulteri	30 / 9	18
0.40	b	39		BRA	pinewoods rock-cress	Arabis holboellii var. pinetorum⁺	20 / 5	4
0.40	l	40		AST	leafy daisy	Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus	20 / 9	52
0.40	r	41		FAB	American vetch	Vicia americana var. americana	20 / 5	11
0.42	l	42		AST	goldenrod	Solidago californica	10 / 5	56
0.42	l	43		AST	white hawkweed	Hieracium albiflorum	10 / 2	3
0.43	l	44		AST	golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	99 / 9	71
0.43	l	45		SCR	Martin's paintbrush	Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii	30 / 9	25
0.44	l	46		AST	slender everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale	3 / 3	10
0.45	l	47		FAB	strigose lotus	Lotus strigosus	20 / 4	51
0.46	l	48	sp	ONA	groundsmoke?	Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum?	2 / 1
0.47				Cross small drainage
0.48	l	49		RUB	narrowleaf bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium	30 / 9	56
0.48	l	50		FAB	bajada lupine	Lupinus concinnus	10 / 3	28
0.48	l	51		POL	southern mountain woolly-star	Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum	30 / 5	19
0.48	r	52		ERI	snow-plant	Sarcodes sanguinea	1 / 1	13
0.50	l	53		ONA	mountain California-fuchsia	Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium	40 / 5	18
0.60				Cross dry drainage from southwest side of Lily Rock
0.65				Trail begins to descend more steeply; elevation ~6300 feet (1920 m)
0.67	r			Jct. trail probably leading to road just below; stay left
0.71				Enter forest of oak mistletoe, Phoradendron villosum, for 0.01 miles
0.72	l			(AST San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus)
0.73				Leave dense continuous forest; forest now interspersed with sunny open areas
0.76	l			Check if these plants are a different sedge, Carex sp., or if they are Elymus elymoides
0.77	b	54		FAG	interior live oak	Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens	30 / 5	19
0.79	l	55		POA	*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	50 / 9	36
0.79	l	56		BOR	prickly cryptantha	Cryptantha muricata	20 / 9	18
0.81	b	57		POA	small fescue	Vulpia microstachys⁺	20 / 3	3
0.81	l	58		VIS	pine dwarf-mistletoe	Arceuthobium campylopodum	1 / 1	6
0.81	l	59		POL	white-margined oxytheca	Oxytheca emarginata	10 / 2	6
0.83	l			(CAP southern honeysuckle, Lonicera subspicata var. denudata)
0.84	b	60		BRA	beautiful rock-cress	Arabis pulchra	20 / 5	3
0.84	r	61		CAP	southern honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata var. denudata	2 / 2	52
0.85	l	62		POL	whisker-brush	Linanthus ciliatus	99 / 9	8
0.93	l	63		FAB	broad-leaved lotus	Lotus crassifolius var. crassifolius	10 / 2	12
0.97				Switchback left at ridge; elevation ~6100 feet (1859 m)
0.99				Cross moist drainage from Tahquitz Peak
0.99	l			(RAN western columbine, Aquilegia formosa)
1.01	l	64		ERI	little prince's pine	Chimaphila menziesii	3 / 2	9
1.04	b	65		APO	spreading dogbane	Apocynum androsaemifolium	20 / 2	6
1.06				Trail levels off; elevation ~6080 feet (1853 m)
1.15	r	66		BOR	pine cryptantha	Cryptantha simulans	50 / 9	3
1.18	l	67		LIL	blue dicks	Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum	20 / 4	55
1.19				Cross dry drainage
1.21	l	68		POL	annual phlox	Phlox gracilis	30 / 4	3
1.21	l	69		ONA	diamond-petaled clarkia	Clarkia rhomboidea	99 / 9	7
1.21	r	70		POA	Orcutt's brome	Bromus orcuttianus	5 / 2	7
1.22	l	71		POR	green miner's lettuce	Claytonia parviflora ssp. viridis	10 / 2	4
1.23	l	72		POR	southern miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana	30 / 5	30
1.24	r			(SAX woodland star, Lithophragma affine)
1.25	l			field of plain mariposa lily, Calochortus invenustus
1.25	l	73		AST	spear-leaved mountain dandelion	Agoseris retrorsa	20 / 9	21
1.26	b	74		LIL	*garden daffodil	Narcissus sp.	20 / 1
1.26	b	75		AST	California thistle	Cirsium occidentale var. californicum	2 / 1	20
1.26	r			(Large water tank)
1.27	l	76		VIS	incense-cedar mistletoe	Phoradendron libocedri	1 / 1	6
1.27	r	77		HYD	imbricate phacelia	Phacelia imbricata ssp. patula	2 / 1	11
1.34	b	78		DEN	bracken	Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens	2 / 1	25
1.34				Cross moist drainage coming from base of upper switchbacks on South Ridge Trail; minor local low point; elevation ~6080 feet (1853 m)
1.34	b			(CER Parish's burning bush, Euonymus occidentalis var. parishii)
1.34	l	79		FAB	seedling Parish's lupine	Lupinus latifolius var. parishii	5 / 3	9
1.34	r	80		RAN	western columbine	Aquilegia formosa	1 / 1	16
1.34	r			(ROS California wild rose, Rosa californica)
1.35	b			(ORC spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza maculata)
1.39	r	81	sp	SCR	dead tall penstemon with clasping, non-connate leaves	Penstemon sp.	5 / 1
1.39	r	82		SCR	musk monkeyflower	Mimulus moschatus	20 / 1	7
1.39	l			(DAT Durango root, Datisca glomerata in distance)
1.39	b	83		ROS	sticky cinquefoil	Potentilla glandulosa ssp. reflexa	20 / 4	12
1.39				Cross moist drainage coming from small saddle / level section of South Ridge Trail at 7600 feet elevation on that trail
1.39	r	84		SCR	floriferous monkeyflower	Mimulus floribundus	20 / 1	12
1.43	b	85		BRA	Yosemite rockcress	Arabis repanda var. repanda	30 / 5	4
1.43		86		SAX	woodland star	Lithophragma affine	50 / 5	8
1.43	r	87		BRA	western wallflower	Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum	3 / 2	32
1.46	r			(blue larkspur, Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi)
1.47				Minor local high point; elevation ~6100 feet (1859 m)
1.47	r	88		AST	beautiful hulsea	Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha	5 / 2	12
1.47	r	89		ORO	clustered broom-rape	Orobanche fasciculata	1 / 1	3
1.52	l	90		FAB	Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch	Astragalus douglasii var. parishii	5 / 1	8
1.52	l			Check for slender wheatgrass, Elymus trachycaulus
1.52	l	91		LOA	scattered blazing star	Mentzelia dispersa	10 / 1	4
1.58				Cross small dry drainage; elevation 6000 feet (1829 m)
1.59	l	92		ORC	spotted coralroot	Corallorhiza maculata	7 / 1	10
1.71	l	93		ROS	birch-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides	1 / 1	30
1.73	r			Jct. steep path down to road below with deep roadcut
1.73	l			(AST rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata in distance)
1.80	l			Check for vetch with narrow leaves
1.82				Cross drainage
1.82	l			(SAL Scouler's willow, Salix scouleriana)
1.91	l	94		LIL	goldenstar	Bloomeria crocea	10 / 2	18
1.97	l		sp	(ORC rein orchid, Piperia sp.)
1.98	l	95		AST	California chicory	Rafinesquia californica	1 / 1	25
2.00	l	96		ORC	rein orchid	Piperia sp.	3 / 2
2.03	l			FAB	mature Parish's lupine	Lupinus latifolius var. parishii	/
2.03	l	97	~	CYP	fragile sheath sedge	Carex fracta	1 / 1	15
2.03	r	98		ROS	California wild rose	Rosa californica	1 / 1	16
2.03				Cross moist drainage; elevation 5800 feet (1768 m)
2.05	l			(way off-trail: ERI Mexican manzanita, Arctostaphylos pungens)
2.15	l	99		SCR	southern Chinese houses	Collinsia concolor	30 / 1	7
2.26				Cross dry drainage below spring just north of South Ridge Spring
2.26	r		?	(unk sprawling shrub like cultivated plum or Pyracantha?; DAT Durango root, Datisca glomerata; per like Epilobium ciliatum but without prominent veins)
2.35				End trail at Tahquitz View Drive just north of the turnoff to the South Ridge Trailhead; elevation 5720 feet (1743 m); return the way you came

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

Copyright © 2007-2009 by Tom Chester and Dave Stith.
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http://tchester.org/sb/plants/guides/ernie_maxwell.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 4 June 2009.