Plant Guide to Round Valley Trail, San Jacinto Mountains

Plant Guide to Round Valley 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
Botanical Trip Reports
The Plant Guide
Comments On Specific Species
Introduction

This guide is from the Long Valley Ranger Station, elevation ~8390 feet, in Long Valley to Wellman Divide, elevation ~9720 feet, going through Round Valley. It begins 0.2 miles west of the upper Palm Springs Tramway Station. The part of this trail from the Ranger Station to Round Valley is called the Low Trail by the rangers at the State Park, with the rest of this trail called the Wellmans Divide Trail.
The trail is somewhere between 2.8 and 3.3 miles long (see below), with about 1400 total feet of elevation gain.
A free wilderness permit is required, available at the Ranger Station.
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 109 trails in our database when this histogram was made; 10 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 our database; numbers of "10" 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 3%
2 3 8%
3 3 8%
4 0 0%
5 0 0%

1-5 7 18%
6-10 9 24%
11-15 12 32%
16-20 4 11%
21-25 1 3%
26-30 4 11%
31-35 0 0%
36-40 0 0%
41-45 0 0%
46-50 1 3%
Total Taxa 38 100%

We found 4 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"
8/7/2007 1 40 2 4 6 1
8/12/2007 2 42 2 5 6 0

We thank Gabi and Cliff Mclean, and Linda and Ted St. John, for help with the fieldwork on 8/12/07.

Botanical Trip Reports

7 August 2007
12 August 2007
The Plant Guide

Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (4 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (1 double-sided page). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)
The mileages in the guide come from Topo!. The total mileage is almost surely slightly underestimated, probably by no more than 10%, due to some tight switchbacks on the trail that are not accurately measured by that program. The elevations come from the topo map, and should be fairly precise.
The mileage of this trail according to Tom Harrison maps is about a half mile more than given in this guide. Further work needs to be done to see which mileage is more accurate.

Mile S # id? Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 l Begin guide at sign at southwest of Ranger Station: "Round Valley Trail; Wilderness Permit Required", 0.22 miles from Tram Station; elevation ~8390 feet (2557 m)
0.00 l 1 wild tarragon Artemisia dracunculus 50 / 9 28
0.00 r 2 San Jacinto buckwheat Eriogonum apiculatum 5 / 1 8
0.00 l (San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus)
0.00 r 3 sp groundsmoke Gayophytum sp. 20 / 4
0.02 l 4 San Gabriel beardtongue Penstemon labrosus⁺ 10 / 2 12
0.04 r 5 San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus 50 / 9 24
0.04 b 6 white fir Abies concolor 99 / 9 28
0.05 r 7 Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi 50 / 9 29
0.07 r (sugar pine, Pinus lambertiana)
0.08 l 8 Parish's snowberry Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii 99 / 9 15
0.08 r 9 green-leaf manzanita Arctostaphylos patula 5 / 2 20
0.08 r (granite prickly phlox, Leptodactylon pungens)
0.09 l 10 San Jacinto Mts. keckiella Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis 50 / 9 8
0.09 l (Parish's bedstraw, Galium parishii)
0.10 l ~ (splendid gilia, Gilia splendens ssp. splendens)
0.10 l (little-leaf mock orange, Philadelphus microphyllus; mountain California-fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium)
0.12 l Jct. Long Valley to Willow Creek Trail; Sign: "[left] Willow Creek 3.7 mi; Skunk Cabbage Meadow 5 mi; Idyllwild 10.5 mi; [ahead] Long Valley; Round Valley 2 mi; Saddle Junction 5.5 mi; [back] Tramway 0.3 mi"
0.12 r 11 sugar pine Pinus lambertiana 50 / 9 20
0.13 r (curl-leaf mountain-mahogany, Cercocarpus ledifolius)
0.14 b 12 ? squirreltail? Elymus elymoides? 5 / 1
0.15 l 13 Parish's bedstraw Galium parishii 1 / 1 9
0.15 r 14 goldenrod Solidago californica 5 / 1 47
0.15 Trail begins series of minor high and low points, staying close to 8400 feet (2560 m)
0.15 ? (Cleveland's horkelia, Horkelia clevelandii; needlegrass?, Achnatherum sp.?)
0.24 l (southern mountain-monardella, Monardella australis)
0.25 l (Scouler's willow, Salix scouleriana)
0.25 sp (yarrow, Achillea millefolium; Idaho bentgrass, Agrostis idahoensis; sedge, Carex sp.; slimstem willowweed, Epilobium oregonense; floriferous monkeyflower, Mimulus floribundus; false monkeyflower, Mimulus pilosus; pine lousewort, Pedicularis semibarbata; ~rush blue grass, ~Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia; Nevada cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa ssp. nevadensis; thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus; willow-leaved dock, Rumex salicifolius var. salicifolius)
0.28 l (mountain pink currant, Ribes nevadense)
0.33 r Jct. use trail (climber's trail) to "Beach / Shangri-La"
0.33 b (lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana)
0.35 l ~ (swamp or Nebraska sedge, Carex senta or C. nebrascensis; tall mannagrass, Glyceria elata)
0.37 r (canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis)
0.37 l 15 bush chinquapin Chrysolepis sempervirens 50 / 9 15
0.41 l 16 lodgepole pine Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana 99 / 9 12
0.41 r 17 southern mountain-monardella Monardella australis 10 / 3 13
0.41 l ~ (rough bentgrass, Agrostis scabra)
0.41 l 18 Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana 10 / 3 10
0.41 l (giant red paintbrush, Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata)
0.41 l (ranger's buttons, Sphenosciadium capitellatum in Creek; check for different sedge)
0.47 Tight squeeze through rock walls
0.48 r (mountain whitethorn, Ceanothus cordulatus)
0.49 l 19 Nevada cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa ssp. nevadensis 5 / 2 2
0.49 l 20 willow-leaved dock Rumex salicifolius var. salicifolius 10 / 2 3
0.50 21 bitter cherry Prunus emarginata 10 / 1 11
Check for rush blue grass, ~Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia, on trail here or later
0.51 r (western azalea, Rhododendron occidentale; wax currant, Ribes cereum var. cereum)
0.53 l ~ (thyme-leaved speedwell, Veronica serpyllifolia ssp. humifusa)
0.54 r Jct. use trail
0.55 r 22 thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus 5 / 1 7
0.55 Trail turns left to cross Long Valley Creek
0.55 r Sign: "Round Valley (ahead)"
0.55 r 23 mountain pink currant Ribes nevadense 20 / 9 12
0.55 Eric Baecht reports that cow parsnip, Heracleum lanatum, used to be here before the 2001-2002 severe drought.
0.55 l (western columbine, Aquilegia formosa)
0.55 r 24 ranger's buttons Sphenosciadium capitellatum 20 / 9 10
0.55 Cross Long Valley Creek in middle of a switchback left; elevation ~8475 feet (2583 m)
0.59 First of a number of tight switchbacks; trail now climbs significantly
0.64 r 25 San Jacinto lupine Lupinus hyacinthinus 99 / 9 11
0.65 l (pinedrops, Pterospora andromedea)
0.73 Minor local high point
0.81 l (Parish's campion, Silene parishii)
0.82 r 26 mountain gooseberry Ribes montigenum 40 / 9 2
0.99 r (California corn lily, Veratrum californicum var. californicum)
1.03 l (bracken, Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens)
1.03 l 27 pine lousewort Pedicularis semibarbata 20 / 4 15
1.06 r (Small meadowy area at Round Valley Creek); Trail is less steep for a while now
1.08 l (western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum)
1.12 l ~ (white catch-fly, Silene verecunda ssp. platyota)
1.15 l (pussy paws, Calyptridium monospermum 1.20 r sp (brittle bladder fern, Cystopteris fragilis; slender hairgrass, Deschampsia elongata; larger mountain monkeyflower, Mimulus tilingii; toad lily, Montia chamissoi; clover, Trifolium sp.)
1.25 l 28 western wallflower Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum 5 / 1 26
1.51 l Jct. Round Valley to Willow Creek trail; elevation 8960 feet (2731 m); Sign: "[left] Willow Creek Trail 3.8 mi; [back] Long Valley 1.7 mi; [ahead] Round Valley 0.3 mi"
1.53 l (changeable phacelia, Phacelia mutabilis)
1.54 l 29 white catch-fly Silene verecunda ssp. platyota 2 / 1 16
1.57 r Begin Round Valley Meadow
1.68 r 30 bracken Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens 2 / 1 19
1.69 l 31 California corn lily Veratrum californicum var. californicum 10 / 1 7
1.69 b 32 California geranium Geranium californicum 5 / 1 3
1.69 l 33 sp clover Trifolium sp. 10 / 2
1.69 l 34 western bistort Polygonum bistortoides 5 / 1 2
1.69 l 35 Idaho bentgrass Agrostis idahoensis 5 / 1 9
1.69 l 36 larger mountain monkeyflower Mimulus tilingii 5 / 1 11
1.69 l 37 sp swamp or Nebraska sedge Carex nebrascensis or C. senta 2 / 1
1.69 l 38 tall mannagrass Glyceria elata 5 / 1 3
1.69 l 39 ~ toad lily Montia chamissoi 2 / 1 1
1.75 l Trail to outhouse (toilet)
1.82 l Trail to his and her outhouses
1.82 r Nice long log for a rest stop
1.84 r 40 changeable phacelia Phacelia mutabilis 10 / 3 11
1.84 Jct. trails to Wellman Divide (l) and Tamarack Valley (r); go left; elevation 9040 feet (2755 m). Sign: "[left] Wellman Divide 1 mi; San Jacinto Peak 3.3 mi; Saddle Junction 4.3 mi; Humber Park 6.8 mi; [right] Tamarack Valley 0.5 mi; [back] Long Valley 2.0 mi; Willow Creek 4.0 mi; Saddle Junction 5.5 mi"
1.84 r Tapped spring with available water
2.02 r 41 forest goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens 10 / 1 7
2.03 b 42 limber pine Pinus flexilis 20 / 9 11
2.77 Wellman Divide; elevation ~9720 feet (2963 m); Sign: "[right] San Jacinto Peak 2.3 mi; [back] Round Valley 1.0 mi; Long Valley 3.0 mi"

Mile: 0.00 includes all mileages from 0.000 to 0.009; etc.
Side: Side of trail on which the first occurrence is found: left, right, both, or center
#: On-Trail species are numbered in order of first occurrence on trail (touchable without leaving the trail). Off-trail species are in parentheses.
id?: Species without an entry in this column are positively identified. "?" means we are just guessing the identification; "sp" means the genera is probably known, but the species name is uncertain; "~" means we have 95% confidence that this is the determination, but have not yet positively identified it; "ssp" means the subspecies or variety needs to be determined.
#here gives the minimum number of on-trail plants of this species on this trail, with the number of locations on this trail following the /, using maximum values of 99/9. 1/1 means a single plant in a single location; 10/9 means 10 plants occurring in at least 9 locations, etc.
#all gives the number of plant trail guides, from all over southern California, that contain this taxon.
Comments On Specific Species

Penstemon labrosus. The first specimens on the trail have the normal red flowers. Yellow-flowered penstemon reported later on the trail, but not seen by us so far, are probably just color variants of this species. The Jepson Manual reports that this species does rarely produce yellow flowers.
Red flowers often produce yellow variants; see Species With Color Variants.

I thank Nick Nixon for the names of the trails used by the Rangers.

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	1	3%
2	3	8%
3	3	8%
4	0	0%
5	0	0%

1-5	7	18%
6-10	9	24%
11-15	12	32%
16-20	4	11%
21-25	1	3%
26-30	4	11%
31-35	0	0%
36-40	0	0%
41-45	0	0%
46-50	1	3%
Total Taxa	38	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
8/7/2007	1	40	2	4	6	1
8/12/2007	2	42	2	5	6	0

Mile	S	#	id?	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00	l			Begin guide at sign at southwest of Ranger Station: "Round Valley Trail; Wilderness Permit Required", 0.22 miles from Tram Station; elevation ~8390 feet (2557 m)
0.00	l	1		wild tarragon	Artemisia dracunculus	50 / 9	28
0.00	r	2		San Jacinto buckwheat	Eriogonum apiculatum	5 / 1	8
0.00	l			(San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus)
0.00	r	3	sp	groundsmoke	Gayophytum sp.	20 / 4
0.02	l	4		San Gabriel beardtongue	Penstemon labrosus⁺	10 / 2	12
0.04	r	5		San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush	Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus	50 / 9	24
0.04	b	6		white fir	Abies concolor	99 / 9	28
0.05	r	7		Jeffrey pine	Pinus jeffreyi	50 / 9	29
0.07	r			(sugar pine, Pinus lambertiana)
0.08	l	8		Parish's snowberry	Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii	99 / 9	15
0.08	r	9		green-leaf manzanita	Arctostaphylos patula	5 / 2	20
0.08	r			(granite prickly phlox, Leptodactylon pungens)
0.09	l	10		San Jacinto Mts. keckiella	Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis	50 / 9	8
0.09	l			(Parish's bedstraw, Galium parishii)
0.10	l		~	(splendid gilia, Gilia splendens ssp. splendens)
0.10	l			(little-leaf mock orange, Philadelphus microphyllus; mountain California-fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium)
0.12	l			Jct. Long Valley to Willow Creek Trail; Sign: "[left] Willow Creek 3.7 mi; Skunk Cabbage Meadow 5 mi; Idyllwild 10.5 mi; [ahead] Long Valley; Round Valley 2 mi; Saddle Junction 5.5 mi; [back] Tramway 0.3 mi"
0.12	r	11		sugar pine	Pinus lambertiana	50 / 9	20
0.13	r			(curl-leaf mountain-mahogany, Cercocarpus ledifolius)
0.14	b	12	?	squirreltail?	Elymus elymoides?	5 / 1
0.15	l	13		Parish's bedstraw	Galium parishii	1 / 1	9
0.15	r	14		goldenrod	Solidago californica	5 / 1	47
0.15				Trail begins series of minor high and low points, staying close to 8400 feet (2560 m)
0.15			?	(Cleveland's horkelia, Horkelia clevelandii; needlegrass?, Achnatherum sp.?)
0.24	l			(southern mountain-monardella, Monardella australis)
0.25	l			(Scouler's willow, Salix scouleriana)
0.25			sp	(yarrow, Achillea millefolium; Idaho bentgrass, Agrostis idahoensis; sedge, Carex sp.; slimstem willowweed, Epilobium oregonense; floriferous monkeyflower, Mimulus floribundus; false monkeyflower, Mimulus pilosus; pine lousewort, Pedicularis semibarbata; ~rush blue grass, ~Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia; Nevada cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa ssp. nevadensis; thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus; willow-leaved dock, Rumex salicifolius var. salicifolius)
0.28	l			(mountain pink currant, Ribes nevadense)
0.33	r			Jct. use trail (climber's trail) to "Beach / Shangri-La"
0.33	b			(lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana)
0.35	l		~	(swamp or Nebraska sedge, Carex senta or C. nebrascensis; tall mannagrass, Glyceria elata)
0.37	r			(canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis)
0.37	l	15		bush chinquapin	Chrysolepis sempervirens	50 / 9	15
0.41	l	16		lodgepole pine	Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana	99 / 9	12
0.41	r	17		southern mountain-monardella	Monardella australis	10 / 3	13
0.41	l		~	(rough bentgrass, Agrostis scabra)
0.41	l	18		Scouler's willow	Salix scouleriana	10 / 3	10
0.41	l			(giant red paintbrush, Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata)
0.41	l			(ranger's buttons, Sphenosciadium capitellatum in Creek; check for different sedge)
0.47				Tight squeeze through rock walls
0.48	r			(mountain whitethorn, Ceanothus cordulatus)
0.49	l	19		Nevada cinquefoil	Potentilla glandulosa ssp. nevadensis	5 / 2	2
0.49	l	20		willow-leaved dock	Rumex salicifolius var. salicifolius	10 / 2	3
0.50		21		bitter cherry	Prunus emarginata	10 / 1	11
				Check for rush blue grass, ~Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia, on trail here or later
0.51	r			(western azalea, Rhododendron occidentale; wax currant, Ribes cereum var. cereum)
0.53	l		~	(thyme-leaved speedwell, Veronica serpyllifolia ssp. humifusa)
0.54	r			Jct. use trail
0.55	r	22		thimbleberry	Rubus parviflorus	5 / 1	7
0.55				Trail turns left to cross Long Valley Creek
0.55	r			Sign: "Round Valley (ahead)"
0.55	r	23		mountain pink currant	Ribes nevadense	20 / 9	12
0.55				Eric Baecht reports that cow parsnip, Heracleum lanatum, used to be here before the 2001-2002 severe drought.
0.55	l			(western columbine, Aquilegia formosa)
0.55	r	24		ranger's buttons	Sphenosciadium capitellatum	20 / 9	10
0.55				Cross Long Valley Creek in middle of a switchback left; elevation ~8475 feet (2583 m)
0.59				First of a number of tight switchbacks; trail now climbs significantly
0.64	r	25		San Jacinto lupine	Lupinus hyacinthinus	99 / 9	11
0.65	l			(pinedrops, Pterospora andromedea)
0.73				Minor local high point
0.81	l			(Parish's campion, Silene parishii)
0.82	r	26		mountain gooseberry	Ribes montigenum	40 / 9	2
0.99	r			(California corn lily, Veratrum californicum var. californicum)
1.03	l			(bracken, Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens)
1.03	l	27		pine lousewort	Pedicularis semibarbata	20 / 4	15
1.06	r			(Small meadowy area at Round Valley Creek); Trail is less steep for a while now
1.08	l			(western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum)
1.12	l		~	(white catch-fly, Silene verecunda ssp. platyota)
1.15	l			(pussy paws, Calyptridium monospermum	1.20	r		sp	(brittle bladder fern, Cystopteris fragilis; slender hairgrass, Deschampsia elongata; larger mountain monkeyflower, Mimulus tilingii; toad lily, Montia chamissoi; clover, Trifolium sp.)
1.25	l	28		western wallflower	Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum	5 / 1	26
1.51	l			Jct. Round Valley to Willow Creek trail; elevation 8960 feet (2731 m); Sign: "[left] Willow Creek Trail 3.8 mi; [back] Long Valley 1.7 mi; [ahead] Round Valley 0.3 mi"
1.53	l			(changeable phacelia, Phacelia mutabilis)
1.54	l	29		white catch-fly	Silene verecunda ssp. platyota	2 / 1	16
1.57	r			Begin Round Valley Meadow
1.68	r	30		bracken	Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens	2 / 1	19
1.69	l	31		California corn lily	Veratrum californicum var. californicum	10 / 1	7
1.69	b	32		California geranium	Geranium californicum	5 / 1	3
1.69	l	33	sp	clover	Trifolium sp.	10 / 2
1.69	l	34		western bistort	Polygonum bistortoides	5 / 1	2
1.69	l	35		Idaho bentgrass	Agrostis idahoensis	5 / 1	9
1.69	l	36		larger mountain monkeyflower	Mimulus tilingii	5 / 1	11
1.69	l	37	sp	swamp or Nebraska sedge	Carex nebrascensis or C. senta	2 / 1
1.69	l	38		tall mannagrass	Glyceria elata	5 / 1	3
1.69	l	39	~	toad lily	Montia chamissoi	2 / 1	1
1.75	l			Trail to outhouse (toilet)
1.82	l			Trail to his and her outhouses
1.82	r			Nice long log for a rest stop
1.84	r	40		changeable phacelia	Phacelia mutabilis	10 / 3	11
1.84				Jct. trails to Wellman Divide (l) and Tamarack Valley (r); go left; elevation 9040 feet (2755 m). Sign: "[left] Wellman Divide 1 mi; San Jacinto Peak 3.3 mi; Saddle Junction 4.3 mi; Humber Park 6.8 mi; [right] Tamarack Valley 0.5 mi; [back] Long Valley 2.0 mi; Willow Creek 4.0 mi; Saddle Junction 5.5 mi"
1.84	r			Tapped spring with available water
2.02	r	41		forest goosefoot	Chenopodium atrovirens	10 / 1	7
2.03	b	42		limber pine	Pinus flexilis	20 / 9	11
2.77				Wellman Divide; elevation ~9720 feet (2963 m); Sign: "[right] San Jacinto Peak 2.3 mi; [back] Round Valley 1.0 mi; Long Valley 3.0 mi"

Go to:

Flora of San Jacinto Mountain
Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2007 by Tom Chester, James Dillane, Eric Baecht and Pete Dodge.
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to us at this source:
http://tchester.org/sb/plants/guides/round_valley.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 15 August 2007.