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
Histogram not updated to include the field work after 2007.
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 TaxonNumber Of Taxa
On This Trail% of Taxa
On This Trail1 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
The Plant Guide Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (5 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (1 double-sided page without the column explanations). (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 b 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 groundsmoke Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum 20 / 4 24 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 11 Nevin's bird's beak Cordylanthus nevinii / 21 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 l (Fremont's goosefoot, Chenopodium fremontii) 0.12 r 12 sugar pine Pinus lambertiana 50 / 9 20 0.13 r (curl-leaf mountain-mahogany, Cercocarpus ledifolius) 0.13 l 13 goldenrod Solidago californica 5 / 1 47 0.14 b 14 Fendler's blue grass Poa fendleriana ssp. longiligula 5 / 1 12 0.15 l 15 Parish's bedstraw Galium parishii 1 / 1 9 0.15 l 16 Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii / 31 0.15 Trail begins series of minor high and low points, staying close to 8400 feet (2560 m) 0.15 l (western needlegrass, Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale; Cleveland's horkelia, Horkelia clevelandii; Brewer's monkeyflower, Mimulus breweri; false monkeyflower, Mimulus pilosus; Suksdorf's monkeyflower, Mimulus suksdorfii) 0.15 r (pinewoods rock-cress, Arabis holboellii var. pinetorum) 0.24 l (southern mountain-monardella, Monardella australis) 0.25 l (Scouler's willow, Salix scouleriana) 0.25 l 17 Nevada cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa ssp. nevadensis 5 / 2 2 0.25 l sp (yarrow, Achillea millefolium; ~western columbine, ~Aquilegia formosa; Idaho bentgrass, Agrostis idahoensis; sedge, Carex sp.; willowherb, Epilobium ciliatum; western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum; spreading brown-headed rush, Juncus phaeocephalus var. paniculatus; floriferous monkeyflower, Mimulus floribundus; primrose monkeyflower, Mimulus primuloides ssp. primuloides; larger mountain monkeyflower, Mimulus tilingii; pine lousewort, Pedicularis semibarbata; ~rush blue grass, ~Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia; Nevada cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa ssp. nevadensis; young mountain pink currant, Ribes nevadense; thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus; willow-leaved dock, Rumex salicifolius var. salicifolius; pearlwort, Sagina saginoides; ranger's buttons, Sphenosciadium capitellatum; mountain carpet clover, Trifolium monanthum var. grantianum) 0.28 l (brittle bladder fern, Cystopteris fragilis; mountain pink currant, Ribes nevadense; snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea) 0.33 r Jct. use trail to "Beach / Shangri-La" 0.33 Trail turns left 90°, then right 0.33 l (yellow form of San Gabriel beardtongue, Penstemon labrosus) 0.33 b (lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana) 0.35 l (swamp sedge, Carex senta; tall mannagrass, Glyceria elata) 0.37 r (canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis) 0.37 l 18 bush chinquapin Chrysolepis sempervirens 50 / 9 15 0.41 l 19 lodgepole pine Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana 99 / 9 12 0.41 r 20 southern mountain-monardella Monardella australis 10 / 3 13 0.41 l 21 musk monkeyflower Mimulus moschatus / 31 0.41 l (white catch-fly, Silene verecunda ssp. platyota) 0.41 l 22 Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana 10 / 3 10 0.41 l (giant red paintbrush, Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata) 0.41 l (check if this is Carex heteroneura) 0.42 l (San Jacinto lupine, Lupinus hyacinthinus) 0.47 Tight squeeze through rock walls and tree trunk 0.48 r (mountain whitethorn, Ceanothus cordulatus) 0.48 l 23 wax currant Ribes cereum var. cereum / 2 44 0.49 l (vari-nerved sedge, Carex heteroneura var. heteroneura) 0.49 l 24 western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre / 11 0.49 l 25 willow-leaved dock Rumex salicifolius var. salicifolius 10 / 2 3 0.50 26 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) 0.53 l ~ (thyme-leaved speedwell, Veronica serpyllifolia ssp. humifusa) 0.54 r (beautiful hulsea, Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha) 0.54 r Jct. use trail to Tamarack Campground 0.55 r 27 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 l 28 western columbine Aquilegia formosa / 45 0.55 r 29 mountain pink currant Ribes nevadense 20 / 9 12 0.55 r 30 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 0.61 b 31 Parish's campion Silene parishii / 17 0.63 b 32 Martin's paintbrush Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii / 42 0.64 r 33 San Jacinto lupine Lupinus hyacinthinus 99 / 9 11 0.65 l (pinedrops, Pterospora andromedea) 0.68 l 34 pine lousewort Pedicularis semibarbata 20 / 4 15 0.73 Minor local high point 0.82 r 35 mountain gooseberry Ribes montigenum 40 / 9 2 0.96 r 36 limber pine Pinus flexilis 20 / 9 11 0.97 Begin switchbacks on slope separating Long Valley from Round and Tamarack Valleys 0.99 r (California corn lily, Veratrum californicum var. californicum) 1.03 l (bracken, Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens) 1.06 r (Small meadowy area at Round Valley Creek); Trail is less steep for a while now Mileages, and the order, may be in error in the next tenth mile or so 1.07 l (plain mariposa lily, Calochortus invenustus) 1.10 b 37 white catch-fly Silene verecunda ssp. platyota 5 / 2 16 1.10 l 38 pussy paws Calyptridium monospermum / 13 1.20 r sp (slender hairgrass, Deschampsia elongata; thyme-leaved speedwell, Veronica serpyllifolia ssp. humifusa. farther off-trail: purple false-gilia, Allophyllum divaricatum; rosy everlasting, pussytoes, Antennaria rosea; toad lily, Montia chamissoi; Sierra nemophila, Nemophila spatulata; changeable phacelia, Phacelia mutabilis; Douglas' knotweed, Polygonum douglasii ssp. douglasii) 1.22 r (spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza maculata) 1.25 l 39 western wallflower Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum 5 / 1 26 1.48 l 40 changeable phacelia Phacelia mutabilis 10 / 4 11 1.49 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" 1.59 r (Begin Round Valley Meadow) 1.71 r 41 bracken Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens 2 / 1 19 1.72 l 42 California corn lily Veratrum californicum var. californicum 10 / 1 7 1.72 b 43 California geranium Geranium californicum 5 / 1 3 1.72 l 44 mountain carpet clover Trifolium monanthum var. grantianum 10 / 2 28 1.72 l 45 western bistort Polygonum bistortoides 5 / 1 2 1.72 l 46 Idaho bentgrass Agrostis idahoensis 5 / 1 9 1.72 l 47 larger mountain monkeyflower Mimulus tilingii 5 / 1 11 1.72 l 48 swamp sedge Carex senta 2 / 1 38 1.72 l 49 tall mannagrass Glyceria elata 5 / 1 3 1.72 l 50 toad lily Montia chamissoi 2 / 1 1 1.72 l 51 slender buttercup Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismellus / 2 1.72 c 52 mountain sweet-cicely Osmorhiza chilensis / 11 1.73 l (hairy wood rush, Luzula comosa; white bog orchid, Platanthera leucostachys; small white violet, Viola macloskeyi) 1.80 l Trail to outhouse (toilet) 1.86 l Trail to his and her outhouses 1.87 r Nice long log for a rest stop 1.89 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" 1.89 r Tapped spring with available water 1.90 r 53 floriferous monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus / 15 2.07 r 54 forest goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens 10 / 1 7 2.81 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.
S: 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; there is one patch of yellow-flowered penstemons later on the trail, which are just color variants of this species. The Jepson Manual reports that this species does rarely produce yellow flowers, and we have infrequently seen such variation elsewhere at San Jacinto Mountain.
Red flowers often produce yellow variants; see Species With Color Variants.
We thank Nick Nixon for the names of the trails used by the Rangers.
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Copyright © 2007-2010 by Tom Chester, Dave Stith, James Dillane, Eric Baecht and Pete Dodge.
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Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 3 August 2010.