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

This is a working list, about which we make no guarantees at all until we officially release it. Use at your own risk!

Introduction and Explanation of Plant Trail Guides

Introduction
Highlights of This Trail
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time
Botanical Trip Reports
The Plant Guide
Comments On Specific Species

Introduction

Guide is updated from 1 June 2009 fieldwork, 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
111%
277%
366%
488%
566%
 
1-52827%
6-103029%
11-151918%
16-201111%
21-2555%
26-3022%
31-3511%
36-4022%
41-4522%
46-5011%
51-5511%
56-6011%
Total Taxa103100%

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 DateVisit ## taxa# "?"# "sp"# "~"# "ssp"
9/29/20061572696
10/5/20062601233
10/5/20062902573
10/10/20063911584
10/10/2006310225104
10/21/2006410626123
10/21/2006411227123

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

The mileages in the guide have been fit to GPS data up to mile 1.17 and should be accurate to ~0.01-0.02 miles. 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. The total mileage of 1.96 by pedometer is significantly shorter than the 2.3 miles on the Tom Harrison San Jacinto Wilderness Trail Map, and it is hard to believe that segment of trail is actually 2.3 miles long. Measurements using Topo! are only 1.71 miles, which is undoubtedly too low.

Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (10 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (3 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)

MileS#id?Common NameLatin Name#here#all
0.00   Begin at trailhead (road entrance blocked by huge log); elevation 5620 feet (1710 m). The area here has been nuked of most native plants and the area mulched to prevent their regrowth. (:-(
0.00r1 Jeffrey pinePinus jeffreyi+99 / 923
0.00l  (splendid gilia, Gilia splendens ssp. splendens; green miner's lettuce, Claytonia parviflora ssp. viridis)
0.00l2 pine dwarf-mistletoeArceuthobium campylopodum+1 / 12
0.00b3 pink-bracted manzanitaArctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea99 / 93
0.00r4 Wright's buckwheatEriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum99 / 92
0.00l5 *downy bromeBromus tectorum99 / 923
0.00b6 pineland buckwheatEriogonum molestum20 / 52
0.00r7 San Jacinto buckwheatEriogonum apiculatum50 / 95
0.00l8 Parish' Jacumba milk-vetchAstragalus douglasii var. parishii5 / 25
0.00l9 spear-leaved mountain dandelionAgoseris retrorsa10 / 512
0.00l10 beautiful hulseaHulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha10 / 34
0.00l11sspsquirreltailElymus elymoides99 / 936
0.00b12 coastal giliaGilia diegensis20 / 32
0.00b13 bajada lupineLupinus concinnus99 / 928
0.00b14 strigose lotusLotus strigosus99 / 951
0.00l15 purple-root cryptanthaCryptantha micrantha99 / 914
0.00b16 pinegrove groundsmokeGayophytum oligospermum30 / 310
0.00r17 bur-ragweedAmbrosia acanthicarpa5 / 218
0.00r  (scarlet bugler, Penstemon centranthifolius; slender everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale)
0.00l  (California black oak, Quercus kelloggii; incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens)
0.00b18 California-asterLessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia99 / 954
0.00l19 mountain grape-soda lupineLupinus excubitus var. austromontanus50 / 96
0.01r20 canyon live oakQuercus chrysolepis99 / 924
0.01l21 leafy daisyErigeron foliosus var. foliosus50 / 946
0.01l  Sign: "3E17 (left-right)"
0.01r22 Jepson's blue wildryeElymus glaucus ssp. jepsonii30 / 934
0.02r  Display Board: "Deer Springs Trail..."; trail turns left 90°
0.02   Trail is now lined with pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea
0.03r  (Coulter pine, Pinus coulteri)
0.03l23 goldenrodSolidago californica99 / 939
0.03r  Ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, cones
    Check for Ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa
0.04r  (slender bedstraw, Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum)
0.04l24 seedling California black oakQuercus kelloggii99 / 913
0.05r25 San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrushChrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus50 / 917
0.05l26 southern mountain woolly-starEriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum99 / 312
0.05l27 young chaparral whitethornCeanothus leucodermis10 / 916
0.06l28 slender bedstrawGalium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum30 / 92
0.06b29 southern honeysuckleLonicera subspicata var. denudata20 / 941
0.06l  bigger California black oak, Quercus kelloggii
0.07l30 beautiful rock-cressArabis pulchra20 / 56
0.07r  mature chaparral whitethornCeanothus leucodermis /  
0.07r31 whisker-brushLinanthus ciliatus99 / 58
0.07r  (California coffeeberry, Rhamnus californica)
0.08b32 bristly bird's beakCordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus20 / 129
0.08r  (Indian milkweed, Asclepias eriocarpa)
0.09r33 California coffeeberryRhamnus californica+10 / 93
0.09b34 golden yarrowEriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum99 / 958
0.09l35 Lemmon's linanthusLinanthus lemmonii20 / 21
0.09b36 Sierra Nevada lotusLotus nevadensis var. nevadensis99 / 97
0.09l  (Martin's paintbrush, Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii; check for Tauschia parishii)
0.10l  (interior live oak, Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens)
0.11l37 incense-cedarCalocedrus decurrens50 / 915
0.12b  (Cleveland's horkelia, Horkelia clevelandii; sticky cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa ssp. reflexa; California fuchsia, Epilobium canum)
0.12r  (tree clover, Trifolium ciliolatum; mountain carpet clover, Trifolium monanthum var. grantianum; June grass, Koeleria macrantha; rattail fescue, Vulpia myuros; blue dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum; yarrow, Achillea millefolium; dense-flowered rein orchid, Piperia elongata)
0.12   Cross small drainage with culvert; switchback left
0.12b38~Hall's bromeBromus orcuttianus var. hallii30 / 94
0.12l39 mountain mugwortArtemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta99 / 97
0.12l40 deergrassMuhlenbergia rigens30 / 922
0.13r41 small-head field cloverTrifolium microcephalum30 / 312
0.13r42 tomcat cloverTrifolium willdenovii50 / 319
0.13 43 confusing fescueVulpia microstachys var. confusa10 / 23
0.13b44 Cleveland's horkeliaHorkelia clevelandii10 / 37
0.14l45?June grassKoeleria macrantha / 10
0.15l  (prickly cryptantha, Cryptantha muricata)
0.15l46 splendid giliaGilia splendens ssp. splendens50 / 916
0.15r47 Mexican rushJuncus mexicanus50 / 118
0.15r48 Pacific rushJuncus effusus var. pacificus10 / 15
0.15r49 yarrowAchillea millefolium20 / 315
0.16r50 Kentucky blue grassPoa pratensis ssp. agassizensis10 / 122
0.16r51 swamp sedgeCarex senta20 / 37
0.16l52 volcanic giliaGilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis20 / 35
0.17r53 arroyo willowSalix lasiolepis5 / 137
0.17r54~giant red paintbrushCastilleja miniata ssp. miniata3 / 16
0.17r55?flat-leaved rush or blue-eyed grassJuncus sp. or Sisyrinchium bellum10 / 1 
0.17r  (snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea; slender everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale)
0.19l56 Indian milkweedAsclepias eriocarpa50 / 520
0.20r57 *red bromeBromus madritensis ssp. rubens10 / 177
0.20l  Jct. use trail from parking area
0.22r  Ten wood posts blocking off road
0.22l58 sugar pinePinus lambertiana50 / 914
0.22   Trail curves right
0.25   Trail turns right 90°; do not continue ahead on road
0.25l  Sign: "No dogs beyond this point; wilderness permit required 1/4 mile ahead"; end nuking of landscape
0.25b59 slender everlastingGnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale20 / 93
0.25l60 San Bernardino sun-cupCamissonia confusa40 / 96
0.27   Trail turns right
0.27r  (thread plant, Nemacladus longiflorus var. longiflorus)
0.29b61 interior live oakQuercus wislizeni var. frutescens50 / 99
0.30b62 Coulter pinePinus coulteri50 / 912
0.31l63 prickly cryptanthaCryptantha muricata99 / 923
0.32l64 Parish's tauschiaTauschia parishii5 / 112
0.33   Switchback left
0.33r65 coast-range melicMelica imperfecta / 57
0.33r  definite beautiful rock-cressArabis pulchra /  
0.34r ?(California chicory?, Rafinesquia californica?)
0.37   Trail curves right
0.41l66 blue dicksDichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum50 / 960
0.42r67~goldenstarBloomeria crocea3 / 114
0.42   Cross small drainage
0.42r68 Martin's paintbrushCastilleja applegatei ssp. martinii10 / 637
0.44l69 mustang mintMonardella lanceolata10 / 28
0.44l70 Fremont's monkeyflowerMimulus fremontii50 / 52
0.46b71 sticky cinquefoilPotentilla glandulosa ssp. reflexa30 / 511
0.46   Cross small drainage
0.47b72 California fuchsiaEpilobium canum50 / 916
0.47   Trail turns right 90°
0.49   Trail gradually curves left
0.54   Switchback left
0.56   Switchback right
0.57   Switchback left
0.57r  (Coulter's snapdragon, Antirrhinum coulterianum)
0.57r73 hollyleaf redberryRhamnus ilicifolia3 / 345
0.61   Cross small drainage; trail curves left
0.65b74 whorledleaf penstemonKeckiella ternata var. ternata20 / 26
0.66   Switchback right
0.66l75 scarlet buglerPenstemon centranthifolius2 / 19
0.66l76 birch-leaf mountain-mahoganyCercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides2 / 220
0.67r  Boulder with scooped-out "seat"
0.68   Trail curves left at ridge
0.68b77 chaparral yuccaYucca whipplei3 / 132
0.69   Switchback left
0.72l78 hybrid manzanitaArctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea4 / 34
0.74   Switchback right
0.74   Switchback left; sign: "Mount San Jacinto State Park Wilderness"
0.74r79 diamond-petaled clarkiaClarkia rhomboidea10 / 38
0.74r80 forest sedgeCarex multicaulis10 / 57
0.75r81 imbricate phaceliaPhacelia imbricata ssp. patula30 / 918
0.76r82 snow-plantSarcodes sanguinea10 / 58
0.79   Switchback right
0.81l  (white fir, Abies concolor)
0.82   Switchback left; jct. use trail to viewpoint 0.02 miles distant
0.84   Local high point on trail
0.85l83 twiggy wreath plantStephanomeria virgata+8 / 37
0.87   Local low point on trail
0.87r  (purple nightshade, Solanum xanti)
0.93   Cross small drainage; trail curves right
0.94l84 white catch-flySilene verecunda ssp. platyota10 / 213
0.94l85 wide-throated yellow monkeyflowerMimulus brevipes1 / 116
0.97   Switchback left
0.97   Switchback right
1.00   This area has some really old specimens of chaparral whitethorn, Ceanothus leucodermis, and pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea
1.01   Long switchback left
1.02   Switchback right
1.04   Switchback left
1.07r  View of Tahquitz Lookout
1.10   Local high point on trail, followed quickly by local low point
1.12l86 California thistleCirsium occidentale var. californicum2 / 112
1.13b87 broad-leaved lotusLotus crassifolius var. crassifolius20 / 27
1.15r88 California bromeBromus carinatus var. carinatus30 / 526
1.15r89 oak mistletoePhoradendron villosum20 / 94
1.16   Trail curves right
1.17   Switchback left
1.18b90 western morning-gloryCalystegia occidentalis ssp. fulcrata5 / 219
1.19l91 brackenPteridium aquilinum var. pubescens99 / 913
1.21l92 plain mariposa lilyCalochortus invenustus30 / 311
1.21l93 white firAbies concolor50 / 922
1.22l94 pinedropsPterospora andromedea5 / 38
1.24b95 western azaleaRhododendron occidentale50 / 54
1.24b96 woodland strawberryFragaria vesca20 / 23
1.24r97 little prince's pineChimaphila menziesii3 / 14
1.24b  (thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus; lemon lily, Lilium parryi; Durango root, Datisca glomerata; mountain pink currant, Ribes nevadense; western columbine, Aquilegia formosa; glaucus willowherb, Epilobium glaberrimum ssp. glaberrimum)
1.25   Switchback left
1.26   Switchback right
1.27   Switchback left
1.28   Switchback right
1.28l98 naked buckwheatEriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum20 / 94
1.29r  Canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis, hit by lightning. Many trees here have been struck by lightning.
1.32   Cross small drainage where trail curves right
1.33   Trail turns left 90°; enter Mistletoe Row
1.46l99~beaked penstemonPenstemon rostriflorus5 / 214
1.48r100 San Jacinto lupineLupinus hyacinthinus99 / 55
1.50   (incense-cedar mistletoe, Phoradendron libocedri, at top of tree in distance)
1.51r  (California wild rose, Rosa californica; Parish's lupine, Lupinus latifolius var. parishii)
1.52b101 mountain pink currantRibes nevadense50 / 37
1.52l102 fragile sheath sedgeCarex fracta / 36
1.53l103~rigid hedge-nettleStachys ajugoides var. rigida10 / 217
1.53r104 western columbineAquilegia formosa2 / 16
1.53   Cross the main drainage we've been hiking along, elevation 6480 feet (1975 m); lots of western azalea, Rhododendron occidentale, here
1.53b105 lemon lilyLilium parryi10 / 26
1.53l106 Parish's lupineLupinus latifolius var. parishii10 / 35
1.53   Switchback right
1.62   Switchback left
1.65   Switchback right
1.68l  Field of southern mountain woolly-star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum
1.73r  Cross small drainage
1.81   Switchback left
1.88   Cross small drainage
1.92   Trail turns right 90° at ridge
1.93   Trail turns right 90° again
2.00   Cross small drainage
2.01   Switchback left
2.01b107 short-flowered monardellaMonardella nana ssp. tenuiflora20 / 229
2.02l108 granite prickly phloxLeptodactylon pungens3 / 29
2.04   Cross small drainage
2.12   Cross small saddle on ridge
2.13b109 San Gabriel beardtonguePenstemon labrosus20 / 29
2.14r110 western wallflowerErysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum5 / 120
2.16l111 woodland spurgeEuphorbia palmeri1 / 14
2.21b112 sapphire woolly-starEriastrum sapphirinum10 / 18
2.25   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
    
2.25   Continue on Deer Springs Trail
2.26   Switchback right
2.27   Trail turns left 90° and then curves right
2.34   Switchback left
2.36r113 mountain whitethornCeanothus cordulatus99 / 917
2.37   Switchback right; trail soon zags right and then curves left
2.42l  (rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.43   Switchback right
2.45   Switchback left
2.47   Switchback right
2.48   Switchback left
2.48l  Another hybrid manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea
2.52   Switchback right
2.58   Switchback left
2.61   Switchback right
2.65   Switchback left
2.67   (fir mistletoe, Phoradendron pauciflorum, ahead in distance)
2.76   Switchback left
2.80   Switchback right at ridge
2.87   Switchback left
2.90r  Switchback right; view of Tahquitz Peak and top of Suicide Rock
2.94   Switchback left
2.98   Switchback right
3.01   Switchback left
3.08r114 fir mistletoePhoradendron pauciflorum1 / 111
3.13   Switchback left
3.20   Long switchback right at ridge
3.32b115 green-leaf manzanitaArctostaphylos patula30 / 914
3.32   Switchback left
3.33   Switchback right
3.41   Trail zigzags right then left
3.45r  canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis, with weird galls of two kinds: terminal galls like a chinquapin male inflorescence, and stem galls like acorns
3.46l  (Idaho bentgrass, Agrostis idahoensis)
3.49r  Nice patch of San Jacinto lupine, Lupinus hyacinthinus
3.49r  Check these plants to make sure they are western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum
3.51   Trail zigzags right then left
3.51l  spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza maculata
3.63l  Four honking incense-cedars, Calocedrus decurrens, struck by lightning, with 3 still alive
3.67   Switchback right
3.68   Switchback left
3.83   Long switchback left
3.85   Switchback right
3.98l  Check for different Monardella
4.01   Switchback left
4.05   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"
4.19r116 bush chinquapinChrysolepis sempervirens5 / 211
4.25   Trail curves right at ridge; now hiking through wonderland of rocks, with lots of big boulders on flat ground
4.27l  (blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana)
4.38b117 Idaho bentgrassAgrostis idahoensis30 / 24
4.39   Highest elevation deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens
4.42l  (Fendler's meadow-rue, Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri)
4.42   Enter meadowy area
4.42r118 glaucus willowherbEpilobium glaberrimum ssp. glaberrimum10 / 22
4.42r119 scarlet monkeyflowerMimulus cardinalis5 / 117
4.43   Cross drainage
4.43l120?knotweed?Polygonum sp.?3 / 1 
4.43l  
4.45r  (Check for different plant similar to lemon lily)
4.45r121 tinker's pennyHypericum anagalloides5 / 12
4.45r ~(brittle bladder fern, Cystopteris fragilis)
4.47   Cross flowing creek
4.47b122 streambank lotusLotus oblongifolius var. oblongifolius5 / 13
4.50   Switchback right
4.50l123 San Jacinto Mtns. bedstrawGalium angustifolium ssp. jacinticum20 / 21
4.52   Switchback left
4.54   Switchback right
4.54l124~Sierra gooseberryRibes roezlii var. roezlii1 / 111
4.55   Switchback left
4.56   Switchback right
4.57   Switchback left
4.59   Switchback right at ridge
4.62   Switchback right
4.65   Switchback left
4.73   Switchback right
4.79   Local high point on trail; elevation ~8360 feet (2550 m)
4.81   Cross small moist drainage
4.86  ~(bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata)
4.87l  (wax currant, Ribes cereum var. cereum)
4.88b125 California corn lilyVeratrum californicum var. californicum10 / 14
4.88b126 larger mountain monkeyflowerMimulus tilingii10 / 17
4.88b127spsedge like Carex almaCarex sp.20 / 2 
4.88b128 musk monkeyflowerMimulus moschatus5 / 15
4.90l  Boulder with lots of eroded concavities and some convex protrusions
4.98r129 bitter cherryPrunus emarginata50 / 97
5.04   Local low point on trail; elevation ~8320 feet (2535 m)
5.05r130 floriferous monkeyflowerMimulus floribundus20 / 19
5.32   Switchback right
5.33   Switchback left
5.35   Switchback right
5.37   Switchback left
5.39r131 thimbleberryRubus parviflorus10 / 13
5.42   Switchback right
5.49r132 California geraniumGeranium californicum5 / 37
5.51r133 spotted coralrootCorallorhiza maculata1 / 16
5.57   Now directly west of Marion Mountain Peak, which is 1800 feet of elevation above this point
5.61   Cross moist drainage
5.61r134spspreading brown-headed rush?Juncus phaeocephalus var. paniculatus? /  
5.67   Switchback right
5.69   Switchback left and trail curves right
5.74   Switchback left
5.76   Local high point on trail; elevation ~8700 feet (2652 m)
6.01   Jct. Marion Mountain Trail; elevation ~8690 feet (2649 m). End Guide
    
2.25   Suicide Rock Trail: Turn right on trail to Suicide Rock; species numbering is continued from lower portion of trail
2.29l113 Nevin's bird's beakCordylanthus nevinii+20 / 39
2.31l114 mountain whitethornCeanothus cordulatus10 / 517
2.31   Cross small drainage
2.37r  (Largest stand at SnJt of Parish's lupine, Lupinus latifolius var. parishii)
2.51l115spmystery sedgeCarex sp.1 / 1 
2.52l  (rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.65l  (Beautiful hanging garden of rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
2.69r  (Scouler's willow, Salix scouleriana)
2.69   Cross small drainage
2.76b  (subarctic lady-fern, Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum)
2.76r ssp(streambank lotus, Lotus oblongifolius var. oblongifolius; willowherb, Epilobium ciliatum)
2.76l  (maidenhair fern, Adiantum aleuticum; Parish's burning bush, Euonymus occidentalis var. parishii)
2.76 116 scarlet monkeyflowerMimulus cardinalis5 / 117
2.76   Cross Marion Creek, with flowing water, elevation ~7080 feet (2160 m)
2.80r  Sign: "San Jacinto Wilderness"; honking Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi, and incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, trees here
2.94   Switchback left
2.96   Switchback right
2.97   Switchback left
3.02   Cross small drainage
3.09   Trail turns left 90°
3.17r  Last two plants of hybrid manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea on trail
3.22b117 pine lousewortPedicularis semibarbata5 / 133
3.27   Switchback left
3.33l  (fir mistletoe, Phoradendron pauciflorum)
3.38b  Field of San Jacinto lupine, Lupinus hyacinthinus
3.43   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

Comments On Specific Species

Arceuthobium campylopodum. This is growing on a young 3-needle pine.

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.

Cordylanthus nevinii. This species isn't numbered, since it is likely that the dead annuals found previously on the trail are this species.



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Copyright © 2006-2010 by Tom Chester and Dave Stith.
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Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 28 August 2010.