Plant Guide to South Ridge Trail Beginning at the Base, San Jacinto Mountains

Plant Guide to South Ridge Trail Beginning at the Base, San Jacinto Mountains

Introduction and Explanation of Plant Trail Guides
Introduction
The Plant Guide
Comments On Specific Species
Introduction

This page contains a guide to the trail going up, beginning at the trailhead parking area just above Idyllwild. See the guide beginning at the top of the trail if you want a guide going down from Chinquapin Junction.
See the guide beginning at the top of the trail for more information, including dates of fieldwork, some botanical trip reports from this trail, and a link to a checklist in family order for all species on this trail.
A free wilderness permit is required, which can be obtained from the Forest Service Office in Idyllwild. The trailhead is reached by heading south on SR243 from there and following the signs to South Fork Trail. The route is: left on the northernmost intersection with Saunders Meadow Rd.; left on Pine Ave.; right on Tahquitz View Drive; right on Forest Service dirt road 5S11 to a very small parking area. Note that there is an unsigned fork in the dirt road just before the parking area; go left there.
Some relevant GPS coordinates:

# Latitude Longitude Elevation
NAD27
1 33.73747 -116.70599 5783
2 33.73522 -116.69496 6473
WGS84
1 33.73749 -116.70684 5783
2 33.73524 -116.69581 6473

Point #1 is at the intersection of Tahquitz View Drive and F5S11; point #2 is the trailhead. If you don't know the difference between NAD27 and WGS84, use WGS84.
The Plant Guide

See also Checklist in Family Order for all the species on this trail.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (7 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (2 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)

Mile S # id? Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 Begin trail at lower trailhead; elevation ~6480 feet (1975 m). See end of guide for additional species near trailhead.
0.00 r (snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea, 40 feet away)
0.00 r 1 Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch Astragalus douglasii var. parishii 30 / 9 15
0.00 r 2 mountain red-root cryptantha Cryptantha micrantha var. lepida 99 / 5 22
0.00 b 3 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum 30 / 9 32
0.00 b 4 California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia 99 / 9 95
0.00 r 5 Sierra Nevada lotus Lotus nevadensis var. nevadensis 30 / 9 49
0.00 r 6 squirreltail Elymus elymoides 30 / 9 76
0.00 b 7 pink-bracted manzanita Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea 99 / 9 36
0.00 l (Martin's paintbrush, Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii, 40 feet away)
0.00 r 8 small fescue Vulpia microstachys 40 / 3 7
0.00 r 9 Indian milkweed Asclepias eriocarpa 1 / 1 24
0.00 Trail turns left 90°
0.00 r Sign: "South Ridge Trail …"
0.00 r 10 canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis 99 / 9 91
0.00 b 11 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 30 / 4 103
0.00 r 12 leafy daisy Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus 30 / 7 83
0.00 r 13 strigose lotus Lotus strigosus 99 / 9 87
0.00 r 14 whisker-brush Linanthus ciliatus 40 / 5 14
0.00 r 15 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 50 / 5 82
0.00 b 16 Coulter pine Pinus coulteri 2 / 2 27
0.00 r 17 pine dwarf-mistletoe Arceuthobium campylopodum 65 / 3 17
0.01 l (incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens)
0.01 r 18 forest sedge Carex multicaulis 5 / 5 14
0.01 b 19 narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 10 / 5 74
0.01 b 20 California black oak Quercus kelloggii 3 / 1 33
0.01 r 21 California elegant rock-cress Arabis sparsiflora var. californica 50 / 3 9
0.01 r 22 oak mistletoe Phoradendron villosum 10 / 2 30
0.01 r 23 June grass Koeleria macrantha 50 / 5 21
0.01 r 24 prickly cryptantha Cryptantha muricata var. jonesii 20 / 2 4
0.01 b 25 goldenrod Solidago californica 10 / 1 115
0.01 l 26 incense-cedar Calocedrus decurrens 5 / 1 62
0.02 r 27 white catch-fly Silene verecunda ssp. platyota 30 / 9 74
0.02 r 28 white fir Abies concolor 30 / 9 106
0.02 r 29 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia 2 / 2 67
0.02 r 30 mountain California-fuchsia Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium 10 / 3 105
0.02 r 31 short-flowered monardella Monardella nana ssp. tenuiflora 50 / 9 49
0.03 r (Parish's tauschia, Tauschia parishii; beady lipfern, Cheilanthes covillei)
0.03 Switchback left at drainage
0.03 l (sticky cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa ssp. reflexa)
0.03 r 32 pinedrops Pterospora andromedea 5 / 3 47
0.03 r 33 Cleveland's horkelia Horkelia clevelandii 1 / 1 37
0.04 r (chaparral whitethorn, Ceanothus leucodermis)
0.04 r 34 Nevin's bird's beak Cordylanthus nevinii 20 / 2 34
0.04 r 35 white-margined oxytheca Oxytheca emarginata 30 / 3 10
0.04 r (splendid gilia, Gilia splendens ssp. splendens)
0.04 r Sign: Be prepared for hazardous conditions; permit required for wilderness area…"
0.04 r 36 incense-cedar mistletoe Phoradendron libocedri 1 / 1 13
0.05 r 37 bajada lupine Lupinus concinnus 10 / 3 66
0.06 l 38 interior live oak Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens 4 / 2 33
0.08 r 39 splendid gilia Gilia splendens ssp. splendens 30 / 3 26
0.08 Switchback right
0.08 l 40 chaparral whitethorn Ceanothus leucodermis 4 / 2 32
0.08 r 41 Mexican manzanita Arctostaphylos pungens 1 / 1 13
0.08 b 42 Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi 99 / 9 105
0.10 r (California coffeeberry, Rhamnus californica)
0.10 r 43 bush monkeyflower Mimulus aurantiacus 10 / 1 56
0.10 Switchback left
0.11 b 44 San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus 99 / 9 77
0.12 r 45 Parish's chaenactis Chaenactis parishii 10 / 1 3
0.12 r 46 California coffeeberry Rhamnus californica⁺ 1 / 1 28
0.12 l 47 sugar pine Pinus lambertiana 50 / 9 80
0.12 r Arabis sparsiflora var. californica with aborted fruit in 2009
0.13 Trail curves right
0.14 r 48 naked buckwheat Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum 30 / 9 58
0.14 l 49 volcanic gilia Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis 10 / 2 7
0.14 r 50 mountain grape-soda lupine Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus 6 / 4 35
0.15 Trail curves right
0.17 r (beautiful hulsea, Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha)
0.20 r Several 6 inch wide yellow-brown mushrooms
0.20 l 51 beautiful hulsea Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha 30 / 9 37
0.21 Trail curves right
0.22 r 52 Laguna Mtns. jewel-flower Streptanthus bernardinus 6 / 4 8
0.22 r Boulders showing old soil line by absence of lichens at base
0.22 l (fir mistletoe, Phoradendron pauciflorum)
0.23 l 53 mountain whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus 50 / 9 79
0.25 b 54 little prince's pine Chimaphila menziesii 10 / 3 27
0.25 l (snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea)
0.26 l Rock window formed by two huge boulders
0.26 l (Holboell's rock-cress, Arabis holboellii)
0.26 l 55 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum 99 / 9 44
0.28 Trail jogs right, then left
0.28 b 56 southern mountain woolly-star Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum 30 / 2 25
0.30 l 57 Jepson's blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ssp. jepsonii 10 / 2 21
0.30 l 58 fir mistletoe Phoradendron pauciflorum 2 / 2 32
0.31 Trail turns left 90° at drainage; elevation 6640 feet (2024 m)
0.31 b (plain mariposa lily, Calochortus invenustus)
0.32 r 59 Davidson's buckwheat Eriogonum davidsonii 3 / 1 39
0.33 Trail begins long curve right for 0.1 mile
0.35 r 60 ~ slender wreathplant Stephanomeria exigua 1 / 1 3
0.36 r 61 San Jacinto buckwheat Eriogonum apiculatum 30 / 3 47
0.36 b 62 groundsmoke Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum 10 / 1 47
0.36 l Impressive flat-topped rock outcrop
0.38 r Jct. old road
0.38 l (Grinnell's beardtongue, Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii)
0.39 r (San Jacinto lupine, Lupinus hyacinthinus)
0.39 r Sign: "San Jacinto Wilderness"
0.40 b 63 bracken Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens 2 / 1 72
0.40 Center of long curve right
0.41 l 64 woodland spurge Euphorbia palmeri 1 / 1 18
0.41 r 65 Parish's tauschia Tauschia parishii 30 / 9 23
0.41 l 66 Grinnell's beardtongue Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii 50 / 5 50
0.43 l View of Lily Rock and Tahquitz Peak
0.44 Trail curves right
0.46 Switchback left
0.48 b 67 western wallflower Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum 20 / 2 85
0.58 Trail curves left 90°
0.62 Switchback right, then trail curves left; elevation ~6840 feet (2085 m)
0.65 Trail curves right at drainage, then curves left again; some honking pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea here
0.72 r (rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
0.73 Switchback left; elevation ~6900 feet (2103 m)
68 Burlew's onion Allium burlewii 99 / 3 12
0.77 Switchback right
0.77 l 69 snow-plant Sarcodes sanguinea 10 / 4 45
0.79 Switchback left
0.82 Switchback right
0.84 r View of desert beyond Santa Rosa Mtns on a clear day
0.86 r View of Garner Valley, Lake Hemet, Palomar, Thomas, Cahuilla and Hot Springs Mountains
0.87 l (easier-to-see rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
0.89 Switchback left
0.93 l Rock / tree window; trail curves right at ridge
0.97 Switchback right; elevation 7000 feet (2134 m)
1.02 l View of San Gabriel Mountains
1.04 Switchback left
1.08 Switchback right
1.08 l (granite prickly phlox, Leptodactylon pungens)
1.11 Switchback left
1.14 l View of Santa Margarita Mountains at 9 o'clock, to left of Santa Ana Mountains
1.16 Switchback right
1.20 Trail curves left at ridge
1.24 Switchback left; elevation 7200 feet (2195 m)
1.26 r 70 southern mountain-monardella Monardella australis 10 / 3 34
1.30 Switchback right
1.34 r Good view of Desert Divide and Santa Rosa Mountain peaks; switchback left; tree with 3 trunks beginning 3 feet above ground
1.39 Switchback right
1.41 Switchback left
1.44 Switchback right and curve left 90°
1.59 r Switchback left at rock window with 3 subpanes; elevation 7400 feet (2256 m). California cliff-brake, Pellaea mucronata var. californica, on other side of rock window
1.63 Switchback right
1.66 Switchback left
1.68 Switchback right
1.80 l Former location of Sign: "Entering San Jacinto Wild Area", now gone; elevation ~7520 feet (2292 m)
1.80 b 71 spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium 75 / 1 9
1.83 r View of Tahquitz Lookout; local high point; trail briefly descends
1.89 Local low point at drainage to east; only sandy section of trail; next short stretch is not as steep
1.90 l (bush chinquapin, Chrysolepis sempervirens)
1.98 l 72 bush chinquapin Chrysolepis sempervirens 99 / 9 68
2.10 Trail curves right at ridge; elevation 7600 feet (2316 m)
2.19 l 73 Holboell's rock-cress Arabis holboellii 2 / 1 41
2.20 b (green-leaf manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula)
2.35 b 74 green-leaf manzanita Arctostaphylos patula 99 / 9 65
2.42 l 75 curl-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius 10 / 9 31
2.46 Trail curves left 90° at gully leading uphill to steep cliffs with Tahquitz ivesia, Ivesia callida; elevation 7840 feet (2392 m)
2.54 Switchback right
2.54 l 76 hybrid manzanita Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea 1 / 1 6
2.60 Switchback left just short of ridge with many footprints giving access to the steep cliffs with Tahquitz ivesia, Ivesia callida
2.68 Switchback right just below saddle; elevation 8000 feet (2438 m)
2.74 l (California groundcone, Boschniakia strobilacea)
2.80 Switchback left at huge split boulder
2.81 r (Parish's campion, Silene parishii)
2.86 r 77 California groundcone Boschniakia strobilacea 99 / 9 7
2.90 Switchback right
2.96 Switchback left; elevation 8240 feet (2512 m)
3.04 Switchback right
3.14 Switchback left; elevation 8400 feet (2560 m)
3.16 r (more visible granite prickly phlox, Leptodactylon pungens)
3.18 r (rock buckwheat, Eriogonum saxatile)
3.18 r 78 San Jacinto Mtns. daisy Erigeron breweri var. jacinteus 2 / 2 9
3.20 r 79 granite prickly phlox Leptodactylon pungens 1 / 1 53
3.25 Switchback right
3.27 Switchback left
3.30 Switchback right
3.30 l 80 rock buckwheat Eriogonum saxatile 5 / 2 22
3.33 r (limber pine, Pinus flexilis)
3.34 Switchback left; elevation ~8600 feet (2621 m)
3.38 r 81 Parish's bedstraw Galium parishii 3 / 2 41
3.38 r 82 Martin's paintbrush Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 2 / 2 56
3.38 r (mountain spray, Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus)
3.39 l 83 limber pine Pinus flexilis 40 / 7 29
3.39 Switchback right at saddle
3.41 l 84 mountain spray Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus 3 / 3 38
3.43 r 85 lodgepole pine Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana 20 / 7 50
3.43 l (beaked penstemon, Penstemon rostriflorus)
3.44 l 86 Parish's needlegrass Achnatherum parishii 1 / 1 44
3.45 l (San Jacinto prickly phlox, Leptodactylon jaegeri)
3.50 Switchback left
3.53 Switchback right
3.55 Switchback left
3.57 Switchback right
3.60 Switchback left
3.60 Switchback right
3.61 Jct. to Tahquitz Lookout; go right on it; elevation 8800 feet (2682 m)
3.63 Trail begins a series of zig-zags.
3.65 Tahquitz Lookout base.
3.66 Catwalk of Tahquitz Lookout; elevation 8846 feet (2696 m); broad-seeded rock-cress, Arabis platysperma just east of Lookout; return to trail jct.
3.71 Jct. main South Ridge Trail; go right on it
Species below are placed in the guide mostly using locations from the guide going downhill; some may have earlier locations in this uphill guide
3.74 r 87 white-veined wintergreen Pyrola picta 10 / 1 21
3.74 r 88 mountain holly fern Polystichum scopulinum 3 / 1 7
3.74 r (spike trisetum, Trisetum spicatum)
3.77 Trail curves right 90°.
3.79 Switchback left
3.80 Switchback right
3.84 Trail curves right
3.86 r 89 Watson's spike-moss Selaginella watsonii 1 / 1 21
3.86 r 90 ~ rush blue grass Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia⁺ 5 / 1 8
3.86 r 91 shaggy-haired alumroot Heuchera hirsutissima 6 / 2 30
3.93 Trail curves right
3.93 l 92 limber-pine dwarf-mistletoe Arceuthobium cyanocarpum 2 / 2 1
3.97 r 93 Parish's campion Silene parishii 10 / 2 36
4.08 b 94 Parish's snowberry Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii 2 / 1 74
4.09 r 95 western needlegrass Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale 2 / 2 12
4.09 r 96 ~ Ross' sedge Carex rossii 10 / 2 33
4.09 r 97 San Jacinto Mts. Keckiella (in chinquapin) Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis 1 / 1 44
4.11 r 98 pussy paws Calyptridium monospermum 5 / 1 33
4.11 End South Ridge Trail at Chinquapin Jct with the PCT, elevation 8570 feet (2610 m)

Additional species on “shortcut trail”, the old trail route north of trailhead
mountain mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta 2 / 1 54
slender everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale 5 / 1 26
Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus 99 / 1 56
dwarf madia Madia minima 50 / 1 2
deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens 10 / 1 55

Comments On Specific Species

Rhamnus californica. See note in Devils Slide Trail Guide.
Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia. Plants at mile 0.24 are very different-looking from normal Poa secunda, and as a result formerly were called Poa nevadensis. However, Elizabeth Anne Kellogg showed in 1985 that these different forms are environmentally induced.
Curiously, most vouchers from this area are of ssp. secunda, which is clearly ruled out by every characteristic in the Jepson Manual key. The lemmas are glabrous, not hairy; the ligule of the sterile shoots is only 1 mm and truncate, not greater than 2 mm and acute; and the leaf blade is firm, retaining its shape, not withering after bloom. The non-withering leaves is the easiest trait to observe in the field.

#	Latitude	Longitude	Elevation
NAD27
1	33.73747	-116.70599	5783
2	33.73522	-116.69496	6473
WGS84
1	33.73749	-116.70684	5783
2	33.73524	-116.69581	6473

Mile	S	#	id?	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Begin trail at lower trailhead; elevation ~6480 feet (1975 m). See end of guide for additional species near trailhead.
0.00	r			(snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea, 40 feet away)
0.00	r	1		Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch	Astragalus douglasii var. parishii	30 / 9	15
0.00	r	2		mountain red-root cryptantha	Cryptantha micrantha var. lepida	99 / 5	22
0.00	b	3		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum	30 / 9	32
0.00	b	4		California-aster	Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia	99 / 9	95
0.00	r	5		Sierra Nevada lotus	Lotus nevadensis var. nevadensis	30 / 9	49
0.00	r	6		squirreltail	Elymus elymoides	30 / 9	76
0.00	b	7		pink-bracted manzanita	Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea	99 / 9	36
0.00	l			(Martin's paintbrush, Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii, 40 feet away)
0.00	r	8		small fescue	Vulpia microstachys	40 / 3	7
0.00	r	9		Indian milkweed	Asclepias eriocarpa	1 / 1	24
0.00				Trail turns left 90°
0.00	r			Sign: "South Ridge Trail …"
0.00	r	10		canyon live oak	Quercus chrysolepis	99 / 9	91
0.00	b	11		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	30 / 4	103
0.00	r	12		leafy daisy	Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus	30 / 7	83
0.00	r	13		strigose lotus	Lotus strigosus	99 / 9	87
0.00	r	14		whisker-brush	Linanthus ciliatus	40 / 5	14
0.00	r	15		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	50 / 5	82
0.00	b	16		Coulter pine	Pinus coulteri	2 / 2	27
0.00	r	17		pine dwarf-mistletoe	Arceuthobium campylopodum	65 / 3	17
0.01	l			(incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens)
0.01	r	18		forest sedge	Carex multicaulis	5 / 5	14
0.01	b	19		narrowleaf bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium	10 / 5	74
0.01	b	20		California black oak	Quercus kelloggii	3 / 1	33
0.01	r	21		California elegant rock-cress	Arabis sparsiflora var. californica	50 / 3	9
0.01	r	22		oak mistletoe	Phoradendron villosum	10 / 2	30
0.01	r	23		June grass	Koeleria macrantha	50 / 5	21
0.01	r	24		prickly cryptantha	Cryptantha muricata var. jonesii	20 / 2	4
0.01	b	25		goldenrod	Solidago californica	10 / 1	115
0.01	l	26		incense-cedar	Calocedrus decurrens	5 / 1	62
0.02	r	27		white catch-fly	Silene verecunda ssp. platyota	30 / 9	74
0.02	r	28		white fir	Abies concolor	30 / 9	106
0.02	r	29		hollyleaf redberry	Rhamnus ilicifolia	2 / 2	67
0.02	r	30		mountain California-fuchsia	Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium	10 / 3	105
0.02	r	31		short-flowered monardella	Monardella nana ssp. tenuiflora	50 / 9	49
0.03	r			(Parish's tauschia, Tauschia parishii; beady lipfern, Cheilanthes covillei)
0.03				Switchback left at drainage
0.03	l			(sticky cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa ssp. reflexa)
0.03	r	32		pinedrops	Pterospora andromedea	5 / 3	47
0.03	r	33		Cleveland's horkelia	Horkelia clevelandii	1 / 1	37
0.04	r			(chaparral whitethorn, Ceanothus leucodermis)
0.04	r	34		Nevin's bird's beak	Cordylanthus nevinii	20 / 2	34
0.04	r	35		white-margined oxytheca	Oxytheca emarginata	30 / 3	10
0.04	r			(splendid gilia, Gilia splendens ssp. splendens)
0.04	r			Sign: Be prepared for hazardous conditions; permit required for wilderness area…"
0.04	r	36		incense-cedar mistletoe	Phoradendron libocedri	1 / 1	13
0.05	r	37		bajada lupine	Lupinus concinnus	10 / 3	66
0.06	l	38		interior live oak	Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens	4 / 2	33
0.08	r	39		splendid gilia	Gilia splendens ssp. splendens	30 / 3	26
0.08				Switchback right
0.08	l	40		chaparral whitethorn	Ceanothus leucodermis	4 / 2	32
0.08	r	41		Mexican manzanita	Arctostaphylos pungens	1 / 1	13
0.08	b	42		Jeffrey pine	Pinus jeffreyi	99 / 9	105
0.10	r			(California coffeeberry, Rhamnus californica)
0.10	r	43		bush monkeyflower	Mimulus aurantiacus	10 / 1	56
0.10				Switchback left
0.11	b	44		San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush	Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus	99 / 9	77
0.12	r	45		Parish's chaenactis	Chaenactis parishii	10 / 1	3
0.12	r	46		California coffeeberry	Rhamnus californica⁺	1 / 1	28
0.12	l	47		sugar pine	Pinus lambertiana	50 / 9	80
0.12	r			Arabis sparsiflora var. californica with aborted fruit in 2009
0.13				Trail curves right
0.14	r	48		naked buckwheat	Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum	30 / 9	58
0.14	l	49		volcanic gilia	Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis	10 / 2	7
0.14	r	50		mountain grape-soda lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus	6 / 4	35
0.15				Trail curves right
0.17	r			(beautiful hulsea, Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha)
0.20	r			Several 6 inch wide yellow-brown mushrooms
0.20	l	51		beautiful hulsea	Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha	30 / 9	37
0.21				Trail curves right
0.22	r	52		Laguna Mtns. jewel-flower	Streptanthus bernardinus	6 / 4	8
0.22	r			Boulders showing old soil line by absence of lichens at base
0.22	l			(fir mistletoe, Phoradendron pauciflorum)
0.23	l	53		mountain whitethorn	Ceanothus cordulatus	50 / 9	79
0.25	b	54		little prince's pine	Chimaphila menziesii	10 / 3	27
0.25	l			(snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea)
0.26	l			Rock window formed by two huge boulders
0.26	l			(Holboell's rock-cress, Arabis holboellii)
0.26	l	55		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum	99 / 9	44
0.28				Trail jogs right, then left
0.28	b	56		southern mountain woolly-star	Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum	30 / 2	25
0.30	l	57		Jepson's blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus ssp. jepsonii	10 / 2	21
0.30	l	58		fir mistletoe	Phoradendron pauciflorum	2 / 2	32
0.31				Trail turns left 90° at drainage; elevation 6640 feet (2024 m)
0.31	b			(plain mariposa lily, Calochortus invenustus)
0.32	r	59		Davidson's buckwheat	Eriogonum davidsonii	3 / 1	39
0.33				Trail begins long curve right for 0.1 mile
0.35	r	60	~	slender wreathplant	Stephanomeria exigua	1 / 1	3
0.36	r	61		San Jacinto buckwheat	Eriogonum apiculatum	30 / 3	47
0.36	b	62		groundsmoke	Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum	10 / 1	47
0.36	l			Impressive flat-topped rock outcrop
0.38	r			Jct. old road
0.38	l			(Grinnell's beardtongue, Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii)
0.39	r			(San Jacinto lupine, Lupinus hyacinthinus)
0.39	r			Sign: "San Jacinto Wilderness"
0.40	b	63		bracken	Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens	2 / 1	72
0.40				Center of long curve right
0.41	l	64		woodland spurge	Euphorbia palmeri	1 / 1	18
0.41	r	65		Parish's tauschia	Tauschia parishii	30 / 9	23
0.41	l	66		Grinnell's beardtongue	Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii	50 / 5	50
0.43	l			View of Lily Rock and Tahquitz Peak
0.44				Trail curves right
0.46				Switchback left
0.48	b	67		western wallflower	Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum	20 / 2	85
0.58				Trail curves left 90°
0.62				Switchback right, then trail curves left; elevation ~6840 feet (2085 m)
0.65				Trail curves right at drainage, then curves left again; some honking pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea here
0.72	r			(rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
0.73				Switchback left; elevation ~6900 feet (2103 m)
		68		Burlew's onion	Allium burlewii	99 / 3	12
0.77				Switchback right
0.77	l	69		snow-plant	Sarcodes sanguinea	10 / 4	45
0.79				Switchback left
0.82				Switchback right
0.84	r			View of desert beyond Santa Rosa Mtns on a clear day
0.86	r			View of Garner Valley, Lake Hemet, Palomar, Thomas, Cahuilla and Hot Springs Mountains
0.87	l			(easier-to-see rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
0.89				Switchback left
0.93	l			Rock / tree window; trail curves right at ridge
0.97				Switchback right; elevation 7000 feet (2134 m)
1.02	l			View of San Gabriel Mountains
1.04				Switchback left
1.08				Switchback right
1.08	l			(granite prickly phlox, Leptodactylon pungens)
1.11				Switchback left
1.14	l			View of Santa Margarita Mountains at 9 o'clock, to left of Santa Ana Mountains
1.16				Switchback right
1.20				Trail curves left at ridge
1.24				Switchback left; elevation 7200 feet (2195 m)
1.26	r	70		southern mountain-monardella	Monardella australis	10 / 3	34
1.30				Switchback right
1.34	r			Good view of Desert Divide and Santa Rosa Mountain peaks; switchback left; tree with 3 trunks beginning 3 feet above ground
1.39				Switchback right
1.41				Switchback left
1.44				Switchback right and curve left 90°
1.59	r			Switchback left at rock window with 3 subpanes; elevation 7400 feet (2256 m). California cliff-brake, Pellaea mucronata var. californica, on other side of rock window
1.63				Switchback right
1.66				Switchback left
1.68				Switchback right
1.80	l			Former location of Sign: "Entering San Jacinto Wild Area", now gone; elevation ~7520 feet (2292 m)
1.80	b	71		spreading dogbane	Apocynum androsaemifolium	75 / 1	9
1.83	r			View of Tahquitz Lookout; local high point; trail briefly descends
1.89				Local low point at drainage to east; only sandy section of trail; next short stretch is not as steep
1.90	l			(bush chinquapin, Chrysolepis sempervirens)
1.98	l	72		bush chinquapin	Chrysolepis sempervirens	99 / 9	68
2.10				Trail curves right at ridge; elevation 7600 feet (2316 m)
2.19	l	73		Holboell's rock-cress	Arabis holboellii	2 / 1	41
2.20	b			(green-leaf manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula)
2.35	b	74		green-leaf manzanita	Arctostaphylos patula	99 / 9	65
2.42	l	75		curl-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus ledifolius	10 / 9	31
2.46				Trail curves left 90° at gully leading uphill to steep cliffs with Tahquitz ivesia, Ivesia callida; elevation 7840 feet (2392 m)
2.54				Switchback right
2.54	l	76		hybrid manzanita	Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea	1 / 1	6
2.60				Switchback left just short of ridge with many footprints giving access to the steep cliffs with Tahquitz ivesia, Ivesia callida
2.68				Switchback right just below saddle; elevation 8000 feet (2438 m)
2.74	l			(California groundcone, Boschniakia strobilacea)
2.80				Switchback left at huge split boulder
2.81	r			(Parish's campion, Silene parishii)
2.86	r	77		California groundcone	Boschniakia strobilacea	99 / 9	7
2.90				Switchback right
2.96				Switchback left; elevation 8240 feet (2512 m)
3.04				Switchback right
3.14				Switchback left; elevation 8400 feet (2560 m)
3.16	r			(more visible granite prickly phlox, Leptodactylon pungens)
3.18	r			(rock buckwheat, Eriogonum saxatile)
3.18	r	78		San Jacinto Mtns. daisy	Erigeron breweri var. jacinteus	2 / 2	9
3.20	r	79		granite prickly phlox	Leptodactylon pungens	1 / 1	53
3.25				Switchback right
3.27				Switchback left
3.30				Switchback right
3.30	l	80		rock buckwheat	Eriogonum saxatile	5 / 2	22
3.33	r			(limber pine, Pinus flexilis)
3.34				Switchback left; elevation ~8600 feet (2621 m)
3.38	r	81		Parish's bedstraw	Galium parishii	3 / 2	41
3.38	r	82		Martin's paintbrush	Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii	2 / 2	56
3.38	r			(mountain spray, Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus)
3.39	l	83		limber pine	Pinus flexilis	40 / 7	29
3.39				Switchback right at saddle
3.41	l	84		mountain spray	Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus	3 / 3	38
3.43	r	85		lodgepole pine	Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana	20 / 7	50
3.43	l			(beaked penstemon, Penstemon rostriflorus)
3.44	l	86		Parish's needlegrass	Achnatherum parishii	1 / 1	44
3.45	l			(San Jacinto prickly phlox, Leptodactylon jaegeri)
3.50				Switchback left
3.53				Switchback right
3.55				Switchback left
3.57				Switchback right
3.60				Switchback left
3.60				Switchback right
3.61				Jct. to Tahquitz Lookout; go right on it; elevation 8800 feet (2682 m)
3.63				Trail begins a series of zig-zags.
3.65				Tahquitz Lookout base.
3.66				Catwalk of Tahquitz Lookout; elevation 8846 feet (2696 m); broad-seeded rock-cress, Arabis platysperma just east of Lookout; return to trail jct.
3.71				Jct. main South Ridge Trail; go right on it
				Species below are placed in the guide mostly using locations from the guide going downhill; some may have earlier locations in this uphill guide
3.74	r	87		white-veined wintergreen	Pyrola picta	10 / 1	21
3.74	r	88		mountain holly fern	Polystichum scopulinum	3 / 1	7
3.74	r			(spike trisetum, Trisetum spicatum)
3.77				Trail curves right 90°.
3.79				Switchback left
3.80				Switchback right
3.84				Trail curves right
3.86	r	89		Watson's spike-moss	Selaginella watsonii	1 / 1	21
3.86	r	90	~	rush blue grass	Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia⁺	5 / 1	8
3.86	r	91		shaggy-haired alumroot	Heuchera hirsutissima	6 / 2	30
3.93				Trail curves right
3.93	l	92		limber-pine dwarf-mistletoe	Arceuthobium cyanocarpum	2 / 2	1
3.97	r	93		Parish's campion	Silene parishii	10 / 2	36
4.08	b	94		Parish's snowberry	Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii	2 / 1	74
4.09	r	95		western needlegrass	Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale	2 / 2	12
4.09	r	96	~	Ross' sedge	Carex rossii	10 / 2	33
4.09	r	97		San Jacinto Mts. Keckiella (in chinquapin)	Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis	1 / 1	44
4.11	r	98		pussy paws	Calyptridium monospermum	5 / 1	33
4.11				End South Ridge Trail at Chinquapin Jct with the PCT, elevation 8570 feet (2610 m)

				Additional species on “shortcut trail”, the old trail route north of trailhead
				mountain mugwort	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta	2 / 1	54
				slender everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale	5 / 1	26
				Mexican rush	Juncus mexicanus	99 / 1	56
				dwarf madia	Madia minima	50 / 1	2
				deergrass	Muhlenbergia rigens	10 / 1	55

Go to:

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

Copyright © 2006-2012 by Tom Chester, Dave Stith and James Dillane.
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/srt_up.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 19 November 2012.