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

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

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

Guide is updated from all fieldwork through 2019, but nothing else on this page has been updated from that work.
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 official Trail, the Parking Area, and the Shortcut Use Trail are shown in the following map (base map from Google Maps accessed on 25 June 2009):

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, we 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 us know.
Fortunately, the wilderness area has not yet been so vandalized, although we 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

This section not updated from the 4/30/07 and 10/18/07 fieldwork.
The following histogram gives the number of trails in my database that contain each taxon on this trail. We 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 our 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%

We 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

This section not updated from the 4/30/07 and 10/18/07 fieldwork.
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.
We thank Jim Adams for help with the initial reconnaissance of the first 0.20 miles of the trail on 9/29/06.
Botanical Trip Reports

The Plant Guide

See Plant Checklist For Deer Springs Trail for a list of the species in the guide below in traditional family order.
The mileages in the guide from the trailhead to Suicide Rock are from Topo! measurements of the actual trail from GPS data. 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, and hence are not very accurate.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (11 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
0.00 Begin at trailhead (road entrance blocked by huge log directly across from Idyllwild County Park entrance); elevation 5620 feet (1710 m). The area here has been nuked of most native plants and the area mulched to prevent their regrowth. (:-(
Species found only in or near the dirt parking area west of the actual trailhead, and not on the actual Deer Springs Trail (there is a use trail north from the parking area; if you take that, you’ll miss the species in the first 0.18 miles of this guide)
- 1 *rough cat's ear Hypochaeris radicata /
- 2 wild pepper-grass Lepidium virginicum ssp. menziesii /
- 3 golden daisy Pentachaeta aurea /
- 4 *bulbous blue grass Poa bulbosa ssp. vivipara /
- 5 Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii /
- 6 red willow Salix laevigata /
0.00 l (Species found in first 0.03 miles of the drainage off-trail to left of the actual trail, that are only found here, or beyond mile 0.12 on the trail: goldenstar, Bloomeria crocea; lesser paintbrush, Castilleja minor ssp. spiralis; diamond-petaled clarkia, Clarkia rhomboidea; few-flowered heterocodon, Heterocodon rariflorum; Palomar monkeyflower, Mimulus diffusus; common monkeyflower, Mimulus guttatus; false monkeyflower, Mimulus pilosus; variegated clover, Trifolium variegatum)
0.00 l (green miner's lettuce, Claytonia parviflora ssp. viridis; volcanic gilia, Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis)
0.00 r 7 Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi 99 / 9
0.00 l 8 pine dwarf-mistletoe Arceuthobium campylopodum⁺ 33 / 2
0.00 b 9 pink-bracted manzanita Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea 99 / 9
0.00 r 10 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum 99 / 9
0.00 l 11 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 99 / 9
0.00 b 12 pineland buckwheat Eriogonum molestum 20 / 5
0.00 r 13 San Jacinto buckwheat Eriogonum apiculatum 99 / 9
0.00 l 14 Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch Astragalus douglasii var. parishii 15 / 2
0.00 r 15 scarlet bugler Penstemon centranthifolius 2 / 1
0.00 l 16 spear-leaved mountain dandelion Agoseris retrorsa 15 / 5
0.00 l 17 beautiful hulsea Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha 10 / 3
0.00 l 18 squirreltail Elymus elymoides 99 / 9
0.00 b 19 coastal gilia Gilia diegensis 20 / 3
0.00 b 20 showy bajada lupine Lupinus concinnus ssp. optatus 99 / 9
0.00 b 21 strigose lotus Acmispon strigosus 99 / 9
0.00 l 22 mountain red-root cryptantha Cryptantha micrantha var. lepida 99 / 9
0.00 b 23 pinegrove groundsmoke Gayophytum oligospermum 30 / 3
0.00 r 24 bur-ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa 5 / 2
0.00 r (slender everlasting, Pseudognaphalium thermale; splendid gilia, Saltugilia splendens ssp. splendens)
0.00 l (incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens; California black oak, Quercus kelloggii)
0.00 b 25 California-aster Corethrogyne filaginifolia 99 / 9
0.01 r 26 canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis 99 / 9
0.01 l 27 leafy daisy Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus 99 / 9
0.01 l Sign: "3E17 (left-right)"
0.01 r 28 Jepson's blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ssp. 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 r (Coulter pine, Pinus coulteri)
0.03 l 29 goldenrod Solidago velutina ssp. californica 99 / 9
0.03 r (Ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa var. pacifica)
0.04 r 30 mountain grape-soda lupine Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus 50 / 9
0.04 r (narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium)
0.04 l 31 California black oak Quercus kelloggii 99 / 9
0.05 r 32 San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa var. bernardina 50 / 9
0.05 l 33 whisker-brush Leptosiphon ciliatus 99 / 9
0.05 l 34 southern mountain woolly-star Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum 99 / 3
0.05 l 35 chaparral whitethorn Ceanothus leucodermis 15 / 9
0.06 l 36 narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 99 / 9
0.06 b 37 southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata 50 / 9
0.07 l 38 California elegant rock-cress Boechera californica 45 / 5
0.07 r (California coffeeberry, Frangula californica; Fremont's monkeyflower, Mimulus fremontii var. fremontii)
0.08 l 39 *rattail fescue Festuca myuros 99 / 1
0.08 r 40 small fescue Festuca microstachys 99 / 9
0.08 r 41 silky lotus Acmispon heermannii var. heermannii 99 / 9
0.08 r 42 interior live oak Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens 99 / 9
0.08 b 43 bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setiger 20 / 1
0.08 r (Indian milkweed, Asclepias eriocarpa)
0.09 r 44 California coffeeberry Frangula californica⁺ 10 / 9
0.09 b 45 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 99 / 9
0.09 l 46 Lemmon's linanthus Leptosiphon lemmonii 99 / 5
0.09 l (Martin's paintbrush, Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii)
0.10 l 47 June grass Koeleria macrantha 99 / 9
0.11 l 48 incense-cedar Calocedrus decurrens 50 / 9
0.12 b (mountain California-fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium; Cleveland's horkelia, Horkelia clevelandii var. clevelandii; sticky cinquefoil, Drymocallis glandulosa var. viscida)
0.12 r (yarrow, Achillea millefolium; blue dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum; hairy wood rush, Luzula comosa; dense-flowered rein orchid, Piperia elongata; tree clover, Trifolium ciliolatum; mountain carpet clover, Trifolium monanthum ssp. grantianum)
0.12 Cross small drainage with culvert; switchback left
0.12 b 49 tall brome Bromus grandis 30 / 9
0.12 r 50 blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 99 / 9
0.12 r (Parish's tauschia, Tauschia parishii)
0.12 l 51 mountain mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta 99 / 9
0.12 l 52 deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens 50 / 9
0.13 r 53 small-head field clover Trifolium microcephalum 99 / 3
0.13 r 54 tomcat clover Trifolium willdenovii 50 / 3
0.13 r 55 slender everlasting Pseudognaphalium thermale 40 / 9
0.13 b 56 Cleveland's horkelia Horkelia clevelandii var. clevelandii 10 / 3
0.13 c 57 dwarf madia Hemizonella minima⁺ 1 / 1
~0.13 l 58 mountain California-fuchsia Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium 50 / 9
0.14 l (birch-leaf mountain-mahogany, Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides)
0.14 l (Jones' prickly-nut cryptantha, Cryptantha muricata var. jonesii)
0.14 l 59 volcanic gilia Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis 99 / 9
0.14 r 60 Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus 99 / 1
0.14 b 61 dense-flowered rein orchid Piperia elongata 2 / 1
0.14 r 62 spike primrose Epilobium densiflorum 3 / 1
0.14 r 63 Pacific rush Juncus effusus ssp. austrocalifornicus 10 / 1
0.14 r 64 yarrow Achillea millefolium 20 / 3
0.15 r 65 Kentucky blue grass Poa pratensis ssp. agassizensis 10 / 1
0.15 r 66 Spanish clover Acmispon americanus var. americanus 99 / 1
0.15 r 67 swamp sedge Carex senta 20 / 3
0.15 r 68 arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis 5 / 1
0.15 r 69 ~ lesser paintbrush Castilleja minor ssp. spiralis 60 / 1
0.15 r 70 ? flat-leaved rush or blue-eyed grass Juncus sp. or Sisyrinchium bellum 10 / 1
0.15 r (snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea)
0.17 l 71 Indian milkweed Asclepias eriocarpa 99 / 5
0.18 r 72 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 10 / 1
0.18 l Jct. use trail from parking area
0.20 r Ten wood posts blocking off road
0.20 l 73 sugar pine Pinus lambertiana 50 / 9
0.20 Trail curves right
0.24 b 74 oak mistletoe Phoradendron serotinum ssp. tomentosum 99 / 9
0.24 Trail turns right 90°; do not continue ahead on road
0.24 l Sign: "No dogs beyond this point; wilderness permit required 1/4 mile ahead"; end nuking of landscape
0.24 l 75 San Bernardino sun-cup Camissoniopsis confusa 99 / 9
0.26 Trail curves right
0.26 r 76 thread plant Nemacladus longiflorus var. longiflorus 2 / 1
0.28 b 77 Coulter pine Pinus coulteri 50 / 9
0.29 l ~ (California chicory, Rafinesquia californica)
0.29 l 78 Jones' prickly-nut cryptantha Cryptantha muricata var. jonesii 99 / 9
0.30 l 79 Parish's tauschia Tauschia parishii 45 / 5
0.31 r 80 twiggy wreath plant Stephanomeria virgata 9 / 4
0.31 Switchback left
0.31 r 81 coast-range melic Melica imperfecta 10 / 2
0.31 r 82 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia 4 / 4
0.32 r 83 splendid gilia Saltugilia splendens ssp. splendens 99 / 3
0.34 r 84 green miner's lettuce Claytonia parviflora ssp. viridis 40 / 3
0.34 Trail curves right
0.39 l 85 Fremont's monkeyflower Mimulus fremontii var. fremontii 99 / 9
0.39 r 86 goldenstar Bloomeria crocea 3 / 1
0.39 r (curve-flowered skullcap, Scutellaria siphocampyloides)
0.39 Cross small drainage
~0.39 87 sp grey popcorn flower Plagiobothrys canescens var. canescens 1 / 1
0.39 r 88 seashore bentgrass Agrostis pallens 10 / 1
0.39 r 89 Martin's paintbrush Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 30 / 6
0.42 l 90 western needlegrass Stipa occidentalis 5 / 2
0.43 l 91 mustang mint Monardella breweri ssp. lanceolata 10 / 2
0.44 l (scattered blazing star, Mentzelia dispersa, 50 feet from trail)
0.44 b 92 sticky cinquefoil Drymocallis glandulosa var. viscida 30 / 5
0.44 l 93 mountain carpet clover Trifolium monanthum ssp. grantianum 20 / 1
0.44 Cross small drainage
0.44 b 94 curve-flowered skullcap Scutellaria siphocampyloides 5 / 1
0.46 Trail turns right 90°
0.48 Trail gradually curves left
0.53 Switchback left
0.55 Switchback right
0.56 Switchback left
0.56 r (Coulter's snapdragon, Antirrhinum coulterianum)
0.59 r 95 wide-throated yellow monkeyflower Mimulus brevipes 4 / 2
0.59 Cross small drainage
0.60 r (chaparral yucca, Hesperoyucca whipplei)
0.62 r 96 sticky lessingia Lessingia glandulifera var. glandulifera 1 / 1
0.63 b 97 whorledleaf penstemon Keckiella ternata var. ternata 43 / 2
0.64 Switchback right
0.64 l 98 birch-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides 2 / 2
0.65 r Boulder with scooped-out "seat"
0.67 Trail curves left at ridge
0.67 b 99 chaparral yucca Hesperoyucca whipplei 3 / 1
0.68 Switchback left
0.70 r 100 scattered blazing star Mentzelia dispersa 30 / 2
0.71 l 101 hybrid manzanita Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea 4 / 3
0.73 Switchback right
0.73 Switchback left; sign: "Mount San Jacinto State Park Wilderness"
0.73 r 102 diamond-petaled clarkia Clarkia rhomboidea 50 / 3
0.73 r 103 forest sedge Carex multicaulis 20 / 5
0.74 r 104 imbricate phacelia Phacelia imbricata var. patula 30 / 9
0.75 r 105 snow-plant Sarcodes sanguinea 10 / 5
0.77 Switchback right
0.78 l (white fir, Abies concolor)
0.79 Switchback left; jct. use trail to viewpoint 0.02 miles distant with California cliff-brake, Pellaea mucronata var. californica
0.82 Local high point on trail
0.84 Local low point on trail
0.84 r (purple nightshade, Solanum xanti)
0.87 l 106 chickweed oxytheca Sidotheca caryophylloides 50 / 1
0.91 Cross small drainage with big rocks and pipe on left above trail; trail curves right
0.92 l 107 white catch-fly Silene verecunda 50 / 2
0.94 108 sand cress Calyptridium monandrum 5 / 1
0.94 Switchback left
0.94 Switchback right
0.97 l 109 Sierra Nevada lotus Acmispon nevadensis var. nevadensis 99 / 9
0.97 This area has some really old specimens of chaparral whitethorn, Ceanothus leucodermis, and pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea
0.98 Long switchback left
0.99 Switchback right
1.01 Switchback left
1.04 r View of Tahquitz Lookout
1.07 Local high point on trail, followed quickly by local low point
1.08 110 sapphire woolly-star Eriastrum sapphirinum 15 / 3
1.09 l 111 California thistle Cirsium occidentale var. californicum 3 / 1
1.09 l 112 false monkeyflower Mimulus pilosus 20 / 1
1.10 b 113 broad-leaved lotus Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia 20 / 2
r Jct. use trail
1.11 b 114 pine cryptantha Cryptantha simulans 21 / 1
1.12 l 115 sp goosefoot yellow violet Viola purpurea ssp. quercetorum 3 / 1
1.12 r 116 California brome Bromus carinatus var. carinatus 30 / 5
1.12 Trail curves right
1.14 Switchback left
1.15 b 117 western morning-glory Calystegia occidentalis ssp. fulcrata 54 / 2
1.16 l 118 bracken Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens 99 / 9
1.17 l 119 southern miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana 5 / 1
1.18 l 120 plain mariposa lily Calochortus invenustus 30 / 3
1.18 l 121 white fir Abies concolor 50 / 9
1.19 l 122 pinedrops Pterospora andromedea 5 / 3
1.21 b 123 western azalea Rhododendron occidentale 50 / 5
1.21 b 124 woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca⁺ 99 / 2
1.21 r 125 little prince's pine Chimaphila menziesii⁺ 11 / 2
1.21 b (western columbine, Aquilegia formosa; Durango root, Datisca glomerata; glaucus willowherb, Epilobium glaberrimum ssp. glaberrimum; lemon lily, Lilium parryi; mountain pink currant, Ribes nevadense; thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus)
1.22 Switchback left
1.23 Switchback right
1.24 Switchback left
1.25 Switchback right
1.25 r 126 ? unk young plants ? 5 / 1
1.25 l 127 naked buckwheat Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum 20 / 9
1.26 r Canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis, hit by lightning. Many trees here have been struck by lightning.
1.29 Cross small drainage where trail curves right
1.30 Trail turns left 90°; enter Mistletoe Row
1.37 Species found in meadowy area along drainage (Idyllwild Creek) to right, not found elsewhere on trail to Suicide Rock:
OT white hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum 8 / 1
OT Scouler's St. Johnswort Hypericum scouleri 5 / 1
OT willow-leaved dock Rumex californicus 1 / 1
OT spotted coralroot Corallorhiza maculata 13 / 1
1.45 r 128 San Jacinto lupine Lupinus hyacinthinus 99 / 5
1.47 (incense-cedar mistletoe, Phoradendron juniperinum, at top of tree in distance)
1.48 r (Parish's lupine, Lupinus latifolius var. parishii; California wild rose, Rosa californica)
1.49 b 129 mountain pink currant Ribes nevadense 50 / 3
1.49 l 130 fragile sheath sedge Carex fracta 2 / 1
1.49 l 131 ~ rigid hedge-nettle Stachys rigida 10 / 2
1.49 r 132 western columbine Aquilegia formosa 2 / 1
1.49 Cross the main drainage we've been hiking along, informally called “Idyllwild Creek”, which has abundant western azalea, Rhododendron occidentale, here; elevation 6480 feet (1975 m)
1.49 r live plants of woodland strawberry in 2015 Fragaria vesca /
1.49 b 133 lemon lily Lilium parryi 10 / 2
1.49 l 134 Parish's lupine Lupinus latifolius var. parishii 10 / 3
1.49 Switchback right
1.50 l (western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum; live plants of little prince's pine, Chimaphila menziesii, in 2015)
1.55 Switchback left
1.58 Switchback right
1.61 l Field of southern mountain woolly-star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum
1.66 r Cross small drainage
1.73 Switchback left
1.81 Cross small drainage
1.81 l 135 long-styled rush Juncus longistylis 50 / 1
1.85 Trail turns right 90° at ridge
1.86 Trail turns right 90° again
1.93 Cross small drainage
1.93 b 136 Nevin's bird's beak Cordylanthus nevinii 99 / 5
1.94 Switchback left
1.94 b 137 short-flowered monardella Monardella nana 20 / 2
1.95 l 138 granite prickly phlox Linanthus pungens 3 / 2
1.98 Cross small drainage
1.99 r 139 San Gabriel beardtongue Penstemon labrosus 30 / 3
2.04 Cross small saddle on ridge
2.10 r 140 western wallflower Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum 5 / 1
2.13 l 141 woodland spurge Euphorbia lurida 2 / 1
2.13 142 leafless wintergreen Pyrola aphylla 12 / 2
2.18 b
2.22 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

2.22
Option to continue on Deer Springs Trail
See below for option to continue on the Suicide Rock Trail.
2.23 Switchback right
2.24 Trail turns left 90° and then curves right
2.31 Switchback left
2.33 r 143 mountain whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus 99 / 9
2.34 Switchback right; trail soon zags right and then curves left
2.39 l (rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.40 Switchback right
2.42 Switchback left
2.44 Switchback right
2.45 Switchback left
2.45 l Another hybrid manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea
2.49 Switchback right
2.55 Switchback left
2.58 Switchback right
2.62 Switchback left
2.64 (fir mistletoe, Phoradendron bolleanum, ahead in distance)
2.73 Switchback left
2.77 Switchback right at ridge
2.84 Switchback left
2.87 r Switchback right; view of Tahquitz Peak and top of Suicide Rock
2.91 Switchback left
2.95 Switchback right
2.98 Switchback left
3.05 r 144 fir mistletoe Phoradendron bolleanum 1 / 1
3.10 Switchback left
3.17 Long switchback right at ridge
3.29 b 145 green-leaf manzanita Arctostaphylos patula 30 / 9
3.29 Switchback left
3.30 Switchback right
3.38 Trail zigzags right then left
3.42 r canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis, with weird galls of two kinds: terminal galls like a chinquapin male inflorescence, and stem galls like acorns
3.43 l (Idaho bentgrass, Agrostis idahoensis)
3.46 r Nice patch of San Jacinto lupine, Lupinus hyacinthinus
3.46 r Check these plants to make sure they are western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum
3.48 Trail zigzags right then left
3.48 l (spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza maculata)
3.60 l Four honking incense-cedars, Calocedrus decurrens, struck by lightning, with 3 still alive
3.64 Switchback right
3.65 Switchback left
3.80 Long switchback left
3.82 Switchback right
3.95 l Check for different Monardella
3.98 Switchback left
4.02 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"
4.16 r 146 bush chinquapin Chrysolepis sempervirens 5 / 2
4.22 Trail curves right at ridge; now hiking through wonderland of rocks, with lots of big boulders on flat ground
4.24 l (blue elderberry, Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea)
4.35 b 147 Idaho bentgrass Agrostis idahoensis 30 / 2
4.36 Highest elevation deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens
4.39 l (Fendler's meadow-rue, Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri)
4.39 Enter meadowy area
4.39 r 148 glaucus willowherb Epilobium glaberrimum ssp. glaberrimum 10 / 2
4.39 r 149 scarlet monkeyflower Mimulus cardinalis 5 / 1
4.40 Cross drainage
4.40 l 150 ? knotweed? Polygonum sp.? 3 / 1
4.42 r (Check for different plant similar to lemon lily)
4.42 r 151 tinker's penny Hypericum anagalloides 5 / 1
4.42 r ~ (brittle bladder fern, Cystopteris fragilis)
4.44 Cross flowing creek
4.44 b 152 streambank lotus Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia 5 / 1
4.47 Switchback right
4.47 l 153 San Jacinto Mtns. bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. jacinticum 20 / 2
4.49 Switchback left
4.51 Switchback right
4.51 l 154 ~ Sierra gooseberry Ribes roezlii var. roezlii 1 / 1
4.52 Switchback left
4.53 Switchback right
4.54 Switchback left
4.56 Switchback right at ridge
4.59 Switchback right
4.62 Switchback left
4.70 Switchback right
4.76 Local high point on trail; elevation ~8360 feet (2550 m)
4.78 Cross small moist drainage
4.83 ~ (bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata)
4.84 l (wax currant, Ribes cereum var. cereum)
4.85 b 155 California corn lily Veratrum californicum var. californicum 10 / 1
4.85 b 156 larger mountain monkeyflower Mimulus tilingii 10 / 1
4.85 b 157 sp sedge like Carex alma Carex sp. 20 / 2
4.85 b 158 musk monkeyflower Mimulus moschatus 5 / 1
4.87 l Boulder with lots of eroded concavities and some convex protrusions
4.95 r 159 bitter cherry Prunus emarginata 50 / 9
5.01 Local low point on trail; elevation ~8320 feet (2535 m)
5.02 r 160 floriferous monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus 20 / 1
5.29 Switchback right
5.30 Switchback left
5.32 Switchback right
5.34 Switchback left
5.36 r 161 thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus 10 / 1
5.39 Switchback right
5.46 r 162 California geranium Geranium californicum 5 / 3
5.48 r 163 spotted coralroot Corallorhiza maculata 1 / 1
5.54 Now directly west of Marion Mountain Peak, which is 1800 feet of elevation above this point
5.58 Cross moist drainage
5.58 r 164 sp long-anthered rush Juncus macrandrus /
5.64 Switchback right
5.66 Switchback left and trail curves right
5.71 Switchback left
5.73 Local high point on trail; elevation ~8700 feet (2652 m)
5.98 Jct. Marion Mountain Trail; elevation ~8690 feet (2649 m). End Guide

2.22
Option to continue on Suicide Rock Trail
Turn right on trail to Suicide Rock; species numbering is continued from lower portion of trail
2.28 l 143 mountain whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus 10 / 5
2.28 Cross small drainage
2.34 r (Largest stand at SnJt of Parish's lupine, Lupinus latifolius var. parishii, ~150 feet long and 20 feet wide)
2.48 l 144 Yosemite sedge Carex sartwelliana 5 / 1
2.49 l (rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.62 l (Beautiful hanging garden of rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.66 r (Scouler's willow, Salix scouleriana)
2.66 Cross small drainage
2.73 b (subarctic lady-fern, Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum)
2.73 r ssp (willowherb, Epilobium ciliatum; streambank lotus, Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia)
2.73 l (five-fingered fern, Adiantum aleuticum; Parish's burning bush, Euonymus occidentalis var. parishii)
2.73 145 scarlet monkeyflower Mimulus cardinalis 5 / 1
2.73 Cross Marion Creek, with flowing water, elevation ~7080 feet (2160 m). Up the creek out of sight is the happy home of Parish's burning bush, Euonymus occidentalis var. parishii, with hundreds of plants; brittle bladder fern, Cystopteris fragilis; and California geranium, Geranium californicum, at a 30 feet waterfall above the other species
2.73 l 146 white bog orchid Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys 6 / 1
2.77 r Sign: "San Jacinto Wilderness"; honking Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi, and incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, trees here
2.91 Switchback left
2.93 Switchback right
2.94 Switchback left
2.99 Cross small drainage
3.06 Trail turns left 90°
3.14 r Last two plants of hybrid manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea, on trail
3.19 b 147 pine lousewort Pedicularis semibarbata 5 / 1
3.24 Switchback left
3.30 l (fir mistletoe, Phoradendron bolleanum)
3.35 b Field of San Jacinto lupine, Lupinus hyacinthinus
3.40 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

Species only found off-trail in route to Suicide Rock
0.00 few-flowered heterocodon Heterocodon rariflorum OT /
0.00 Palomar monkeyflower Mimulus diffusus OT /
0.00 common monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus OT /
0.00 variegated clover Trifolium variegatum OT /
0.03 ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa var. pacifica OT /
0.12 hairy wood rush Luzula comosa OT /
0.12 tree clover Trifolium ciliolatum OT /
0.31 ~ California chicory Rafinesquia californica OT /
0.56 Coulter's snapdragon Antirrhinum coulterianum OT /
0.79 California cliff-brake Pellaea mucronata var. californica OT /
0.84 purple nightshade Solanum xanti OT /
1.21 Durango root Datisca glomerata OT /
1.21 glaucus willowherb Epilobium glaberrimum ssp. glaberrimum OT /
1.21 thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus OT /
1.37 spotted coralroot Corallorhiza maculata OT /
1.37 white hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum OT /
1.37 Scouler's St. Johnswort Hypericum scouleri OT /
1.47 incense-cedar mistletoe Phoradendron juniperinum OT /
1.48 California wild rose Rosa californica OT /
2.49 rock goldenbush Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata OT /
2.66 Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana OT /
2.73 five-fingered fern Adiantum aleuticum OT /
2.73 subarctic lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum OT /
2.73 brittle bladder fern Cystopteris fragilis OT /
2.73 ssp willowherb Epilobium ciliatum OT /
2.73 Parish's burning bush Euonymus occidentalis var. parishii OT /
2.73 streambank lotus Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia OT /
3.30 fir mistletoe Phoradendron bolleanum OT /

Species found only off-trail on upper Deer Springs Trail
4.84 wax currant Ribes cereum var. cereum /
4.24 blue elderberry Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea /
4.39 Fendler's meadow-rue Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri /

look for:
r slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus /
changeable phacelia Phacelia mutabilis 30 / 9

Comments On Specific Species

Arceuthobium campylopodum. This was growing on a young 3-needle pine at the trailhead in 2010, but that pine was no longer present in 2015.
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.
Madia minima. There is a large field of this species off-trail near mile 1.4.
Fragaria vesca, Chimaphila menziesii. A large tree fell on the location of these two species in 2010, and they haven't been seen since at that location. Both are found later in the guide.
We thank Adrienne Ballwey for help with the 2 June 2015 survey.

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
0.00				Begin at trailhead (road entrance blocked by huge log directly across from Idyllwild County Park entrance); elevation 5620 feet (1710 m). The area here has been nuked of most native plants and the area mulched to prevent their regrowth. (:-(
				Species found only in or near the dirt parking area west of the actual trailhead, and not on the actual Deer Springs Trail (there is a use trail north from the parking area; if you take that, you’ll miss the species in the first 0.18 miles of this guide)
-		1		*rough cat's ear	Hypochaeris radicata	/
-		2		wild pepper-grass	Lepidium virginicum ssp. menziesii	/
-		3		golden daisy	Pentachaeta aurea	/
-		4		*bulbous blue grass	Poa bulbosa ssp. vivipara	/
-		5		Fremont cottonwood	Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii	/
-		6		red willow	Salix laevigata	/
0.00	l			(Species found in first 0.03 miles of the drainage off-trail to left of the actual trail, that are only found here, or beyond mile 0.12 on the trail: goldenstar, Bloomeria crocea; lesser paintbrush, Castilleja minor ssp. spiralis; diamond-petaled clarkia, Clarkia rhomboidea; few-flowered heterocodon, Heterocodon rariflorum; Palomar monkeyflower, Mimulus diffusus; common monkeyflower, Mimulus guttatus; false monkeyflower, Mimulus pilosus; variegated clover, Trifolium variegatum)
0.00	l			(green miner's lettuce, Claytonia parviflora ssp. viridis; volcanic gilia, Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis)
0.00	r	7		Jeffrey pine	Pinus jeffreyi	99 / 9
0.00	l	8		pine dwarf-mistletoe	Arceuthobium campylopodum⁺	33 / 2
0.00	b	9		pink-bracted manzanita	Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea	99 / 9
0.00	r	10		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum	99 / 9
0.00	l	11		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	99 / 9
0.00	b	12		pineland buckwheat	Eriogonum molestum	20 / 5
0.00	r	13		San Jacinto buckwheat	Eriogonum apiculatum	99 / 9
0.00	l	14		Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch	Astragalus douglasii var. parishii	15 / 2
0.00	r	15		scarlet bugler	Penstemon centranthifolius	2 / 1
0.00	l	16		spear-leaved mountain dandelion	Agoseris retrorsa	15 / 5
0.00	l	17		beautiful hulsea	Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha	10 / 3
0.00	l	18		squirreltail	Elymus elymoides	99 / 9
0.00	b	19		coastal gilia	Gilia diegensis	20 / 3
0.00	b	20		showy bajada lupine	Lupinus concinnus ssp. optatus	99 / 9
0.00	b	21		strigose lotus	Acmispon strigosus	99 / 9
0.00	l	22		mountain red-root cryptantha	Cryptantha micrantha var. lepida	99 / 9
0.00	b	23		pinegrove groundsmoke	Gayophytum oligospermum	30 / 3
0.00	r	24		bur-ragweed	Ambrosia acanthicarpa	5 / 2
0.00	r			(slender everlasting, Pseudognaphalium thermale; splendid gilia, Saltugilia splendens ssp. splendens)
0.00	l			(incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens; California black oak, Quercus kelloggii)
0.00	b	25		California-aster	Corethrogyne filaginifolia	99 / 9
0.01	r	26		canyon live oak	Quercus chrysolepis	99 / 9
0.01	l	27		leafy daisy	Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus	99 / 9
0.01	l			Sign: "3E17 (left-right)"
0.01	r	28		Jepson's blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus ssp. 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	r			(Coulter pine, Pinus coulteri)
0.03	l	29		goldenrod	Solidago velutina ssp. californica	99 / 9
0.03	r			(Ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa var. pacifica)
0.04	r	30		mountain grape-soda lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus	50 / 9
0.04	r			(narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium)
0.04	l	31		California black oak	Quercus kelloggii	99 / 9
0.05	r	32		San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush	Ericameria nauseosa var. bernardina	50 / 9
0.05	l	33		whisker-brush	Leptosiphon ciliatus	99 / 9
0.05	l	34		southern mountain woolly-star	Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum	99 / 3
0.05	l	35		chaparral whitethorn	Ceanothus leucodermis	15 / 9
0.06	l	36		narrowleaf bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium	99 / 9
0.06	b	37		southern honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata var. denudata	50 / 9
0.07	l	38		California elegant rock-cress	Boechera californica	45 / 5
0.07	r			(California coffeeberry, Frangula californica; Fremont's monkeyflower, Mimulus fremontii var. fremontii)
0.08	l	39		*rattail fescue	Festuca myuros	99 / 1
0.08	r	40		small fescue	Festuca microstachys	99 / 9
0.08	r	41		silky lotus	Acmispon heermannii var. heermannii	99 / 9
0.08	r	42		interior live oak	Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens	99 / 9
0.08	b	43		bristly bird's beak	Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setiger	20 / 1
0.08	r			(Indian milkweed, Asclepias eriocarpa)
0.09	r	44		California coffeeberry	Frangula californica⁺	10 / 9
0.09	b	45		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	99 / 9
0.09	l	46		Lemmon's linanthus	Leptosiphon lemmonii	99 / 5
0.09	l			(Martin's paintbrush, Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii)
0.10	l	47		June grass	Koeleria macrantha	99 / 9
0.11	l	48		incense-cedar	Calocedrus decurrens	50 / 9
0.12	b			(mountain California-fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium; Cleveland's horkelia, Horkelia clevelandii var. clevelandii; sticky cinquefoil, Drymocallis glandulosa var. viscida)
0.12	r			(yarrow, Achillea millefolium; blue dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum; hairy wood rush, Luzula comosa; dense-flowered rein orchid, Piperia elongata; tree clover, Trifolium ciliolatum; mountain carpet clover, Trifolium monanthum ssp. grantianum)
0.12				Cross small drainage with culvert; switchback left
0.12	b	49		tall brome	Bromus grandis	30 / 9
0.12	r	50		blue dicks	Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum	99 / 9
0.12	r			(Parish's tauschia, Tauschia parishii)
0.12	l	51		mountain mugwort	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta	99 / 9
0.12	l	52		deergrass	Muhlenbergia rigens	50 / 9
0.13	r	53		small-head field clover	Trifolium microcephalum	99 / 3
0.13	r	54		tomcat clover	Trifolium willdenovii	50 / 3
0.13	r	55		slender everlasting	Pseudognaphalium thermale	40 / 9
0.13	b	56		Cleveland's horkelia	Horkelia clevelandii var. clevelandii	10 / 3
0.13	c	57		dwarf madia	Hemizonella minima⁺	1 / 1
~0.13	l	58		mountain California-fuchsia	Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium	50 / 9
0.14	l			(birch-leaf mountain-mahogany, Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides)
0.14	l			(Jones' prickly-nut cryptantha, Cryptantha muricata var. jonesii)
0.14	l	59		volcanic gilia	Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis	99 / 9
0.14	r	60		Mexican rush	Juncus mexicanus	99 / 1
0.14	b	61		dense-flowered rein orchid	Piperia elongata	2 / 1
0.14	r	62		spike primrose	Epilobium densiflorum	3 / 1
0.14	r	63		Pacific rush	Juncus effusus ssp. austrocalifornicus	10 / 1
0.14	r	64		yarrow	Achillea millefolium	20 / 3
0.15	r	65		Kentucky blue grass	Poa pratensis ssp. agassizensis	10 / 1
0.15	r	66		Spanish clover	Acmispon americanus var. americanus	99 / 1
0.15	r	67		swamp sedge	Carex senta	20 / 3
0.15	r	68		arroyo willow	Salix lasiolepis	5 / 1
0.15	r	69	~	lesser paintbrush	Castilleja minor ssp. spiralis	60 / 1
0.15	r	70	?	flat-leaved rush or blue-eyed grass	Juncus sp. or Sisyrinchium bellum	10 / 1
0.15	r			(snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea)
0.17	l	71		Indian milkweed	Asclepias eriocarpa	99 / 5
0.18	r	72		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	10 / 1
0.18	l			Jct. use trail from parking area
0.20	r			Ten wood posts blocking off road
0.20	l	73		sugar pine	Pinus lambertiana	50 / 9
0.20				Trail curves right
0.24	b	74		oak mistletoe	Phoradendron serotinum ssp. tomentosum	99 / 9
0.24				Trail turns right 90°; do not continue ahead on road
0.24	l			Sign: "No dogs beyond this point; wilderness permit required 1/4 mile ahead"; end nuking of landscape
0.24	l	75		San Bernardino sun-cup	Camissoniopsis confusa	99 / 9
0.26				Trail curves right
0.26	r	76		thread plant	Nemacladus longiflorus var. longiflorus	2 / 1
0.28	b	77		Coulter pine	Pinus coulteri	50 / 9
0.29	l		~	(California chicory, Rafinesquia californica)
0.29	l	78		Jones' prickly-nut cryptantha	Cryptantha muricata var. jonesii	99 / 9
0.30	l	79		Parish's tauschia	Tauschia parishii	45 / 5
0.31	r	80		twiggy wreath plant	Stephanomeria virgata	9 / 4
0.31				Switchback left
0.31	r	81		coast-range melic	Melica imperfecta	10 / 2
0.31	r	82		hollyleaf redberry	Rhamnus ilicifolia	4 / 4
0.32	r	83		splendid gilia	Saltugilia splendens ssp. splendens	99 / 3
0.34	r	84		green miner's lettuce	Claytonia parviflora ssp. viridis	40 / 3
0.34				Trail curves right
0.39	l	85		Fremont's monkeyflower	Mimulus fremontii var. fremontii	99 / 9
0.39	r	86		goldenstar	Bloomeria crocea	3 / 1
0.39	r			(curve-flowered skullcap, Scutellaria siphocampyloides)
0.39				Cross small drainage
~0.39		87	sp	grey popcorn flower	Plagiobothrys canescens var. canescens	1 / 1
0.39	r	88		seashore bentgrass	Agrostis pallens	10 / 1
0.39	r	89		Martin's paintbrush	Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii	30 / 6
0.42	l	90		western needlegrass	Stipa occidentalis	5 / 2
0.43	l	91		mustang mint	Monardella breweri ssp. lanceolata	10 / 2
0.44	l			(scattered blazing star, Mentzelia dispersa, 50 feet from trail)
0.44	b	92		sticky cinquefoil	Drymocallis glandulosa var. viscida	30 / 5
0.44	l	93		mountain carpet clover	Trifolium monanthum ssp. grantianum	20 / 1
0.44				Cross small drainage
0.44	b	94		curve-flowered skullcap	Scutellaria siphocampyloides	5 / 1
0.46				Trail turns right 90°
0.48				Trail gradually curves left
0.53				Switchback left
0.55				Switchback right
0.56				Switchback left
0.56	r			(Coulter's snapdragon, Antirrhinum coulterianum)
0.59	r	95		wide-throated yellow monkeyflower	Mimulus brevipes	4 / 2
0.59				Cross small drainage
0.60	r			(chaparral yucca, Hesperoyucca whipplei)
0.62	r	96		sticky lessingia	Lessingia glandulifera var. glandulifera	1 / 1
0.63	b	97		whorledleaf penstemon	Keckiella ternata var. ternata	43 / 2
0.64				Switchback right
0.64	l	98		birch-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides	2 / 2
0.65	r			Boulder with scooped-out "seat"
0.67				Trail curves left at ridge
0.67	b	99		chaparral yucca	Hesperoyucca whipplei	3 / 1
0.68				Switchback left
0.70	r	100		scattered blazing star	Mentzelia dispersa	30 / 2
0.71	l	101		hybrid manzanita	Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea	4 / 3
0.73				Switchback right
0.73				Switchback left; sign: "Mount San Jacinto State Park Wilderness"
0.73	r	102		diamond-petaled clarkia	Clarkia rhomboidea	50 / 3
0.73	r	103		forest sedge	Carex multicaulis	20 / 5
0.74	r	104		imbricate phacelia	Phacelia imbricata var. patula	30 / 9
0.75	r	105		snow-plant	Sarcodes sanguinea	10 / 5
0.77				Switchback right
0.78	l			(white fir, Abies concolor)
0.79				Switchback left; jct. use trail to viewpoint 0.02 miles distant with California cliff-brake, Pellaea mucronata var. californica
0.82				Local high point on trail
0.84				Local low point on trail
0.84	r			(purple nightshade, Solanum xanti)
0.87	l	106		chickweed oxytheca	Sidotheca caryophylloides	50 / 1
0.91				Cross small drainage with big rocks and pipe on left above trail; trail curves right
0.92	l	107		white catch-fly	Silene verecunda	50 / 2
0.94		108		sand cress	Calyptridium monandrum	5 / 1
0.94				Switchback left
0.94				Switchback right
0.97	l	109		Sierra Nevada lotus	Acmispon nevadensis var. nevadensis	99 / 9
0.97				This area has some really old specimens of chaparral whitethorn, Ceanothus leucodermis, and pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea
0.98				Long switchback left
0.99				Switchback right
1.01				Switchback left
1.04	r			View of Tahquitz Lookout
1.07				Local high point on trail, followed quickly by local low point
1.08		110		sapphire woolly-star	Eriastrum sapphirinum	15 / 3
1.09	l	111		California thistle	Cirsium occidentale var. californicum	3 / 1
1.09	l	112		false monkeyflower	Mimulus pilosus	20 / 1
1.10	b	113		broad-leaved lotus	Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia	20 / 2
	r			Jct. use trail
1.11	b	114		pine cryptantha	Cryptantha simulans	21 / 1
1.12	l	115	sp	goosefoot yellow violet	Viola purpurea ssp. quercetorum	3 / 1
1.12	r	116		California brome	Bromus carinatus var. carinatus	30 / 5
1.12				Trail curves right
1.14				Switchback left
1.15	b	117		western morning-glory	Calystegia occidentalis ssp. fulcrata	54 / 2
1.16	l	118		bracken	Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens	99 / 9
1.17	l	119		southern miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana	5 / 1
1.18	l	120		plain mariposa lily	Calochortus invenustus	30 / 3
1.18	l	121		white fir	Abies concolor	50 / 9
1.19	l	122		pinedrops	Pterospora andromedea	5 / 3
1.21	b	123		western azalea	Rhododendron occidentale	50 / 5
1.21	b	124		woodland strawberry	Fragaria vesca⁺	99 / 2
1.21	r	125		little prince's pine	Chimaphila menziesii⁺	11 / 2
1.21	b			(western columbine, Aquilegia formosa; Durango root, Datisca glomerata; glaucus willowherb, Epilobium glaberrimum ssp. glaberrimum; lemon lily, Lilium parryi; mountain pink currant, Ribes nevadense; thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus)
1.22				Switchback left
1.23				Switchback right
1.24				Switchback left
1.25				Switchback right
1.25	r	126	?	unk young plants	?	5 / 1
1.25	l	127		naked buckwheat	Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum	20 / 9
1.26	r			Canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis, hit by lightning. Many trees here have been struck by lightning.
1.29				Cross small drainage where trail curves right
1.30				Trail turns left 90°; enter Mistletoe Row
1.37				Species found in meadowy area along drainage (Idyllwild Creek) to right, not found elsewhere on trail to Suicide Rock:
		OT		white hawkweed	Hieracium albiflorum	8 / 1
		OT		Scouler's St. Johnswort	Hypericum scouleri	5 / 1
		OT		willow-leaved dock	Rumex californicus	1 / 1
		OT		spotted coralroot	Corallorhiza maculata	13 / 1
1.45	r	128		San Jacinto lupine	Lupinus hyacinthinus	99 / 5
1.47				(incense-cedar mistletoe, Phoradendron juniperinum, at top of tree in distance)
1.48	r			(Parish's lupine, Lupinus latifolius var. parishii; California wild rose, Rosa californica)
1.49	b	129		mountain pink currant	Ribes nevadense	50 / 3
1.49	l	130		fragile sheath sedge	Carex fracta	2 / 1
1.49	l	131	~	rigid hedge-nettle	Stachys rigida	10 / 2
1.49	r	132		western columbine	Aquilegia formosa	2 / 1
1.49				Cross the main drainage we've been hiking along, informally called “Idyllwild Creek”, which has abundant western azalea, Rhododendron occidentale, here; elevation 6480 feet (1975 m)
1.49	r			live plants of woodland strawberry in 2015	Fragaria vesca	/
1.49	b	133		lemon lily	Lilium parryi	10 / 2
1.49	l	134		Parish's lupine	Lupinus latifolius var. parishii	10 / 3
1.49				Switchback right
1.50	l			(western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum; live plants of little prince's pine, Chimaphila menziesii, in 2015)
1.55				Switchback left
1.58				Switchback right
1.61	l			Field of southern mountain woolly-star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum
1.66	r			Cross small drainage
1.73				Switchback left
1.81				Cross small drainage
1.81	l	135		long-styled rush	Juncus longistylis	50 / 1
1.85				Trail turns right 90° at ridge
1.86				Trail turns right 90° again
1.93				Cross small drainage
1.93	b	136		Nevin's bird's beak	Cordylanthus nevinii	99 / 5
1.94				Switchback left
1.94	b	137		short-flowered monardella	Monardella nana	20 / 2
1.95	l	138		granite prickly phlox	Linanthus pungens	3 / 2
1.98				Cross small drainage
1.99	r	139		San Gabriel beardtongue	Penstemon labrosus	30 / 3
2.04				Cross small saddle on ridge
2.10	r	140		western wallflower	Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum	5 / 1
2.13	l	141		woodland spurge	Euphorbia lurida	2 / 1
2.13		142		leafless wintergreen	Pyrola aphylla	12 / 2
2.18	b
2.22				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

2.22				Option to continue on Deer Springs Trail See below for option to continue on the Suicide Rock Trail.
2.23				Switchback right
2.24				Trail turns left 90° and then curves right
2.31				Switchback left
2.33	r	143		mountain whitethorn	Ceanothus cordulatus	99 / 9
2.34				Switchback right; trail soon zags right and then curves left
2.39	l			(rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.40				Switchback right
2.42				Switchback left
2.44				Switchback right
2.45				Switchback left
2.45	l			Another hybrid manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea
2.49				Switchback right
2.55				Switchback left
2.58				Switchback right
2.62				Switchback left
2.64				(fir mistletoe, Phoradendron bolleanum, ahead in distance)
2.73				Switchback left
2.77				Switchback right at ridge
2.84				Switchback left
2.87	r			Switchback right; view of Tahquitz Peak and top of Suicide Rock
2.91				Switchback left
2.95				Switchback right
2.98				Switchback left
3.05	r	144		fir mistletoe	Phoradendron bolleanum	1 / 1
3.10				Switchback left
3.17				Long switchback right at ridge
3.29	b	145		green-leaf manzanita	Arctostaphylos patula	30 / 9
3.29				Switchback left
3.30				Switchback right
3.38				Trail zigzags right then left
3.42	r			canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis, with weird galls of two kinds: terminal galls like a chinquapin male inflorescence, and stem galls like acorns
3.43	l			(Idaho bentgrass, Agrostis idahoensis)
3.46	r			Nice patch of San Jacinto lupine, Lupinus hyacinthinus
3.46	r			Check these plants to make sure they are western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum
3.48				Trail zigzags right then left
3.48	l			(spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza maculata)
3.60	l			Four honking incense-cedars, Calocedrus decurrens, struck by lightning, with 3 still alive
3.64				Switchback right
3.65				Switchback left
3.80				Long switchback left
3.82				Switchback right
3.95	l			Check for different Monardella
3.98				Switchback left
4.02				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"
4.16	r	146		bush chinquapin	Chrysolepis sempervirens	5 / 2
4.22				Trail curves right at ridge; now hiking through wonderland of rocks, with lots of big boulders on flat ground
4.24	l			(blue elderberry, Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea)
4.35	b	147		Idaho bentgrass	Agrostis idahoensis	30 / 2
4.36				Highest elevation deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens
4.39	l			(Fendler's meadow-rue, Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri)
4.39				Enter meadowy area
4.39	r	148		glaucus willowherb	Epilobium glaberrimum ssp. glaberrimum	10 / 2
4.39	r	149		scarlet monkeyflower	Mimulus cardinalis	5 / 1
4.40				Cross drainage
4.40	l	150	?	knotweed?	Polygonum sp.?	3 / 1
4.42	r			(Check for different plant similar to lemon lily)
4.42	r	151		tinker's penny	Hypericum anagalloides	5 / 1
4.42	r		~	(brittle bladder fern, Cystopteris fragilis)
4.44				Cross flowing creek
4.44	b	152		streambank lotus	Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia	5 / 1
4.47				Switchback right
4.47	l	153		San Jacinto Mtns. bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. jacinticum	20 / 2
4.49				Switchback left
4.51				Switchback right
4.51	l	154	~	Sierra gooseberry	Ribes roezlii var. roezlii	1 / 1
4.52				Switchback left
4.53				Switchback right
4.54				Switchback left
4.56				Switchback right at ridge
4.59				Switchback right
4.62				Switchback left
4.70				Switchback right
4.76				Local high point on trail; elevation ~8360 feet (2550 m)
4.78				Cross small moist drainage
4.83			~	(bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata)
4.84	l			(wax currant, Ribes cereum var. cereum)
4.85	b	155		California corn lily	Veratrum californicum var. californicum	10 / 1
4.85	b	156		larger mountain monkeyflower	Mimulus tilingii	10 / 1
4.85	b	157	sp	sedge like Carex alma	Carex sp.	20 / 2
4.85	b	158		musk monkeyflower	Mimulus moschatus	5 / 1
4.87	l			Boulder with lots of eroded concavities and some convex protrusions
4.95	r	159		bitter cherry	Prunus emarginata	50 / 9
5.01				Local low point on trail; elevation ~8320 feet (2535 m)
5.02	r	160		floriferous monkeyflower	Mimulus floribundus	20 / 1
5.29				Switchback right
5.30				Switchback left
5.32				Switchback right
5.34				Switchback left
5.36	r	161		thimbleberry	Rubus parviflorus	10 / 1
5.39				Switchback right
5.46	r	162		California geranium	Geranium californicum	5 / 3
5.48	r	163		spotted coralroot	Corallorhiza maculata	1 / 1
5.54				Now directly west of Marion Mountain Peak, which is 1800 feet of elevation above this point
5.58				Cross moist drainage
5.58	r	164	sp	long-anthered rush	Juncus macrandrus	/
5.64				Switchback right
5.66				Switchback left and trail curves right
5.71				Switchback left
5.73				Local high point on trail; elevation ~8700 feet (2652 m)
5.98				Jct. Marion Mountain Trail; elevation ~8690 feet (2649 m). End Guide

2.22				Option to continue on Suicide Rock Trail Turn right on trail to Suicide Rock; species numbering is continued from lower portion of trail
2.28	l	143		mountain whitethorn	Ceanothus cordulatus	10 / 5
2.28				Cross small drainage
2.34	r			(Largest stand at SnJt of Parish's lupine, Lupinus latifolius var. parishii, ~150 feet long and 20 feet wide)
2.48	l	144		Yosemite sedge	Carex sartwelliana	5 / 1
2.49	l			(rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.62	l			(Beautiful hanging garden of rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.66	r			(Scouler's willow, Salix scouleriana)
2.66				Cross small drainage
2.73	b			(subarctic lady-fern, Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum)
2.73	r		ssp	(willowherb, Epilobium ciliatum; streambank lotus, Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia)
2.73	l			(five-fingered fern, Adiantum aleuticum; Parish's burning bush, Euonymus occidentalis var. parishii)
2.73		145		scarlet monkeyflower	Mimulus cardinalis	5 / 1
2.73				Cross Marion Creek, with flowing water, elevation ~7080 feet (2160 m). Up the creek out of sight is the happy home of Parish's burning bush, Euonymus occidentalis var. parishii, with hundreds of plants; brittle bladder fern, Cystopteris fragilis; and California geranium, Geranium californicum, at a 30 feet waterfall above the other species
2.73	l	146		white bog orchid	Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys	6 / 1
2.77	r			Sign: "San Jacinto Wilderness"; honking Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi, and incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, trees here
2.91				Switchback left
2.93				Switchback right
2.94				Switchback left
2.99				Cross small drainage
3.06				Trail turns left 90°
3.14	r			Last two plants of hybrid manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea, on trail
3.19	b	147		pine lousewort	Pedicularis semibarbata	5 / 1
3.24				Switchback left
3.30	l			(fir mistletoe, Phoradendron bolleanum)
3.35	b			Field of San Jacinto lupine, Lupinus hyacinthinus
3.40				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

				Species only found off-trail in route to Suicide Rock
0.00				few-flowered heterocodon	Heterocodon rariflorum	OT /
0.00				Palomar monkeyflower	Mimulus diffusus	OT /
0.00				common monkeyflower	Mimulus guttatus	OT /
0.00				variegated clover	Trifolium variegatum	OT /
0.03				ponderosa pine	Pinus ponderosa var. pacifica	OT /
0.12				hairy wood rush	Luzula comosa	OT /
0.12				tree clover	Trifolium ciliolatum	OT /
0.31			~	California chicory	Rafinesquia californica	OT /
0.56				Coulter's snapdragon	Antirrhinum coulterianum	OT /
0.79				California cliff-brake	Pellaea mucronata var. californica	OT /
0.84				purple nightshade	Solanum xanti	OT /
1.21				Durango root	Datisca glomerata	OT /
1.21				glaucus willowherb	Epilobium glaberrimum ssp. glaberrimum	OT /
1.21				thimbleberry	Rubus parviflorus	OT /
1.37				spotted coralroot	Corallorhiza maculata	OT /
1.37				white hawkweed	Hieracium albiflorum	OT /
1.37				Scouler's St. Johnswort	Hypericum scouleri	OT /
1.47				incense-cedar mistletoe	Phoradendron juniperinum	OT /
1.48				California wild rose	Rosa californica	OT /
2.49				rock goldenbush	Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata	OT /
2.66				Scouler's willow	Salix scouleriana	OT /
2.73				five-fingered fern	Adiantum aleuticum	OT /
2.73				subarctic lady-fern	Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum	OT /
2.73				brittle bladder fern	Cystopteris fragilis	OT /
2.73			ssp	willowherb	Epilobium ciliatum	OT /
2.73				Parish's burning bush	Euonymus occidentalis var. parishii	OT /
2.73				streambank lotus	Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia	OT /
3.30				fir mistletoe	Phoradendron bolleanum	OT /

				Species found only off-trail on upper Deer Springs Trail
4.84				wax currant	Ribes cereum var. cereum	/
4.24				blue elderberry	Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea	/
4.39				Fendler's meadow-rue	Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri	/

				look for:
	r			slender wheatgrass	Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus	/
				changeable phacelia	Phacelia mutabilis	30 / 9

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Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2006-2020 by Tom Chester, Dave Stith, and Bruce Watts.
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/deer_springs.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 11 June 2020.