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

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

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
http://tchester.org/sb/plants/guides/deer_springs.html
Updated 11 June 2020.