Plant Guide to Round Valley Loop Trail, San Jacinto Mountains

Plant Guide to Round Valley Loop Trail, San Jacinto Mountains

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

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

This guide is to the Upper Willow Creek Trail / High Round Valley Trail to Round Valley, which is the longer way to get to Round Valley from the Upper Tram Station. A Loop can be made by returning via the Low Round Valley Trail; see its guide if you are returning that way. (But note that guide is for travel in the opposite direction, and hence has to be followed backwards.)
This guide includes an optional portion to continue 0.3 miles past the High Round Valley Trail to go to Hidden Divide.
The trailhead for the Willow Creek Trail is 0.12 miles west of the Ranger Station in Long Valley, which is 0.2 miles west of the upper Palm Springs Tramway Station.
The portion of the loop covered in this guide is roughly 2.0 miles one way, with 600 feet of elevation gain. The entire loop is 3.5 miles long, with the same 600 feet of elevation gain and loss. Including the trail from the Tram Station, the entire loop is 4.3 miles roundtrip, with 700 feet of elevation gain and loss. Adding the optional excursion to Hidden Divide adds 0.6 miles and another 100 feet of elevation gain and loss.
A free wilderness permit is required, available at the Ranger Station.
Highlights of This Trail

The botanical highlights of this trail are:

Number of Unique Taxa On This Trail

The following histogram gives the number of trails in our database that contain each taxon on this trail (not including the taxa seen only off-trail given at the end of the guide). We had 115 trails in our database when this histogram was made; 16 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 "16" 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
4 1 5%

1-5 1 5%
6-10 0 0%
11-15 9 43%
16-20 3 14%
21-25 3 14%
26-30 2 10%
31-35 3 14%
Total Taxa 21 100%

We found 5 additional species not in the above table, since they have not been fully identified yet. The unidentified ones are marked with ? or sp in the id? column in the guide, and have no entries in the #all column.
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time

The following table gives the dates the trail was walked and taxa recorded. After each visit, the table gives the total number of taxa on the list and the breakdown of the taxa without positive identification. See Explanation of Plant Trail Guides to understand the symbols below.

Visit Date Visit # # taxa # "?" # "sp" # "~" # "ssp"
8/16/2007 1 26 2 3 0 0

We thank Phillip Erdelsky for help with the fieldwork on 8/16/07.

Botanical Trip Reports

The Plant Guide

Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (3 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (1 double-sided page). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)
The mileages in the guide come from Topo! and a GPS recording of the trail made on 8/16/07. The mileage might be slightly underestimated due to switchbacks not accurately recorded by the GPS track. The mileage given on the Tom Harrison map is 0.2 mile greater. The elevations come from the topo map, and should be fairly precise.

Mile S # id? Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 Begin guide at Willow Creek Trail jct. with Round Valley Trail 0.12 miles west of Ranger Station; elevation 8400 feet (2560 m); go left on Willow Creek Trail. Sign: "[left] Willow Creek 3.7 mi; Skunk Cabbage Meadow 5 mi; Idyllwild 10.5 mi; [ahead] Long Valley; Round Valley 2 mi; Saddle Junction 5.5 mi; [back] Tramway 0.3 mi"
0.00 r (sugar pine, Pinus lambertiana)
0.00 r 1 Parish's snowberry Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii 99 / 9 18
0.00 l (white fir, Abies concolor; Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi; San Jacinto Mts. Keckiella, Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis)
0.00 r (San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus)
0.01 r 2 ? needlegrass? Achnatherum sp.? 20 / 2
0.01 b 3 white fir Abies concolor 99 / 9 32
0.01 l (mountain spray, Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus)
0.01 r 4 Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi 50 / 9 34
0.02 l 5 granite prickly phlox Leptodactylon pungens 2 / 2 15
0.02 l 6 mountain California-fuchsia Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium 10 / 1 13
0.03 r 7 mountain spray Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus 2 / 1 13
0.03 l 8 wax currant Ribes cereum var. cereum 1 / 1 21
0.04 l 9 San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus 20 / 5 28
0.04 r 10 Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana 2 / 1 11
0.04 Cross small drainage
0.07 r 11 San Jacinto Mts. keckiella Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis 99 / 9 12
0.08 b 12 sp sedge Carex like fracta 20 / 3
0.08 Cross north fork of Long Valley Creek, coming from Round and Tamarack Valleys
0.08 b 13 Idaho bentgrass Agrostis idahoensis 10 / 1 11
0.08 b 14 Nevada cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa ssp. nevadensis 2 / 1 4
0.08 l (Fendler's meadow-rue, Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri)
0.09 l 15 wild tarragon Artemisia dracunculus 40 / 9 32
0.14 r 16 Parish's bedstraw Galium parishii 1 / 1 14
0.14 r Sign: "Permit required"
0.15 Switchback right; no further switchbacks recorded
0.17 b 17 San Jacinto lupine Lupinus hyacinthinus 50 / 9 13
0.22 b 18 lodgepole pine Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana 99 / 9 15
0.22 b 19 sugar pine Pinus lambertiana 20 / 9 22
0.28 r 20 bush chinquapin Chrysolepis sempervirens 10 / 4 17
0.48 Trail enters large flattish area extending for 1/4 mile
0.53 l (green-leaf manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula)
0.53 l 21 ? unk per like paintbrush or catchfly Castilleja or Silene? 1 / 1
0.53 l 22 sp mystery sedge Carex sp. 10 / 5
0.53 l (mountain whitethorn, Ceanothus cordulatus)
0.61 Cross small drainage
0.65 r 23 western wallflower Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum 10 / 2 29
0.66 (CHECK!) Cross western branch of south branch of Long Valley Creek
0.83 r Jct. high Round Valley Trail; go right (see end of guide for option to go to Hidden Divide first). Sign: "[ahead] Willow Creek 2.7 mi; Saddle Junction 4.8 mi; Humber Park 6.8 mi; [back] Long Valley 1 mi; Tram 1.3 mi; [right] Round Valley 2 mi; San Jacinto Peak 5.5 mi"
1.13 (CHECK!) Cross same western branch of south branch of Long Valley Creek at higher elevation
1.40 r 24 sp pinegrove groundsmoke or groundsmoke Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum or G. oligospermum 20 / 2
1.45 l 25 pine lousewort Pedicularis semibarbata 1 / 1 16
1.52 Now in another flattish area, the higher elevation extension of the previous flattish area
1.78 l Check for different annual
1.81 High point on route, elevation ~8980 feet (2737 m)
1.96 Jct. low Round Valley Trail; end guide; go right to return to Tram Station
3.47 Ranger Station

Option to continue to Hidden Divide from mile 0.83:
0.83 r Jct. high Round Valley Trail; continue ahead to go to Hidden Divide; local high point, elevation ~8760 feet (2670 m)
0.90 l 26 mountain whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus 1 / 1 24
0.94 l (curl-leaf mountain-mahogany, Cercocarpus ledifolius)
1.02 Local low point, elevation ~8700 feet (2652 m)
1.12 Hidden Divide. No views from here, but can see Red Tahquitz Peak just past the saddle; return to high Round Valley Trail to follow rest of guide
1.41 Jct. high Round Valley Trail; go left to follow rest of guide from mile 0.83 above

Mile: 0.00 includes all mileages from 0.000 to 0.009; etc.
S: Side of trail on which the first occurrence is found: left, right, both, or center
#: On-Trail species are numbered in order of first occurrence on trail (touchable without leaving the trail). Off-trail species are in parentheses.
id?: Species without an entry in this column are positively identified. "?" means we are just guessing the identification; "sp" means the genera is probably known, but the species name is uncertain; "~" means we have 95% confidence that this is the determination, but have not yet positively identified it; "ssp" means the subspecies or variety needs to be determined.
#here gives the minimum number of on-trail plants of this species on this trail, with the number of locations on this trail following the /, using maximum values of 99/9. 1/1 means a single plant in a single location; 10/9 means 10 plants occurring in at least 9 locations, etc.
#all gives the number of plant trail guides, from all over southern California, that contain this taxon.
Comments On Specific Species

We thank Nick Nixon for the names of the trails used by the Rangers.

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
4	1	5%

1-5	1	5%
6-10	0	0%
11-15	9	43%
16-20	3	14%
21-25	3	14%
26-30	2	10%
31-35	3	14%
Total Taxa	21	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
8/16/2007	1	26	2	3	0	0

Mile	S	#	id?	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Begin guide at Willow Creek Trail jct. with Round Valley Trail 0.12 miles west of Ranger Station; elevation 8400 feet (2560 m); go left on Willow Creek Trail. Sign: "[left] Willow Creek 3.7 mi; Skunk Cabbage Meadow 5 mi; Idyllwild 10.5 mi; [ahead] Long Valley; Round Valley 2 mi; Saddle Junction 5.5 mi; [back] Tramway 0.3 mi"
0.00	r			(sugar pine, Pinus lambertiana)
0.00	r	1		Parish's snowberry	Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii	99 / 9	18
0.00	l			(white fir, Abies concolor; Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi; San Jacinto Mts. Keckiella, Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis)
0.00	r			(San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus)
0.01	r	2	?	needlegrass?	Achnatherum sp.?	20 / 2
0.01	b	3		white fir	Abies concolor	99 / 9	32
0.01	l			(mountain spray, Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus)
0.01	r	4		Jeffrey pine	Pinus jeffreyi	50 / 9	34
0.02	l	5		granite prickly phlox	Leptodactylon pungens	2 / 2	15
0.02	l	6		mountain California-fuchsia	Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium	10 / 1	13
0.03	r	7		mountain spray	Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus	2 / 1	13
0.03	l	8		wax currant	Ribes cereum var. cereum	1 / 1	21
0.04	l	9		San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush	Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus	20 / 5	28
0.04	r	10		Scouler's willow	Salix scouleriana	2 / 1	11
0.04				Cross small drainage
0.07	r	11		San Jacinto Mts. keckiella	Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis	99 / 9	12
0.08	b	12	sp	sedge	Carex like fracta	20 / 3
0.08				Cross north fork of Long Valley Creek, coming from Round and Tamarack Valleys
0.08	b	13		Idaho bentgrass	Agrostis idahoensis	10 / 1	11
0.08	b	14		Nevada cinquefoil	Potentilla glandulosa ssp. nevadensis	2 / 1	4
0.08	l			(Fendler's meadow-rue, Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri)
0.09	l	15		wild tarragon	Artemisia dracunculus	40 / 9	32
0.14	r	16		Parish's bedstraw	Galium parishii	1 / 1	14
0.14	r			Sign: "Permit required"
0.15				Switchback right; no further switchbacks recorded
0.17	b	17		San Jacinto lupine	Lupinus hyacinthinus	50 / 9	13
0.22	b	18		lodgepole pine	Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana	99 / 9	15
0.22	b	19		sugar pine	Pinus lambertiana	20 / 9	22
0.28	r	20		bush chinquapin	Chrysolepis sempervirens	10 / 4	17
0.48				Trail enters large flattish area extending for 1/4 mile
0.53	l			(green-leaf manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula)
0.53	l	21	?	unk per like paintbrush or catchfly	Castilleja or Silene?	1 / 1
0.53	l	22	sp	mystery sedge	Carex sp.	10 / 5
0.53	l			(mountain whitethorn, Ceanothus cordulatus)
0.61				Cross small drainage
0.65	r	23		western wallflower	Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum	10 / 2	29
0.66				(CHECK!) Cross western branch of south branch of Long Valley Creek
0.83	r			Jct. high Round Valley Trail; go right (see end of guide for option to go to Hidden Divide first). Sign: "[ahead] Willow Creek 2.7 mi; Saddle Junction 4.8 mi; Humber Park 6.8 mi; [back] Long Valley 1 mi; Tram 1.3 mi; [right] Round Valley 2 mi; San Jacinto Peak 5.5 mi"
1.13				(CHECK!) Cross same western branch of south branch of Long Valley Creek at higher elevation
1.40	r	24	sp	pinegrove groundsmoke or groundsmoke	Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum or G. oligospermum	20 / 2
1.45	l	25		pine lousewort	Pedicularis semibarbata	1 / 1	16
1.52				Now in another flattish area, the higher elevation extension of the previous flattish area
1.78	l			Check for different annual
1.81				High point on route, elevation ~8980 feet (2737 m)
1.96				Jct. low Round Valley Trail; end guide; go right to return to Tram Station
3.47				Ranger Station

				Option to continue to Hidden Divide from mile 0.83:
0.83	r			Jct. high Round Valley Trail; continue ahead to go to Hidden Divide; local high point, elevation ~8760 feet (2670 m)
0.90	l	26		mountain whitethorn	Ceanothus cordulatus	1 / 1	24
0.94	l			(curl-leaf mountain-mahogany, Cercocarpus ledifolius)
1.02				Local low point, elevation ~8700 feet (2652 m)
1.12				Hidden Divide. No views from here, but can see Red Tahquitz Peak just past the saddle; return to high Round Valley Trail to follow rest of guide
1.41				Jct. high Round Valley Trail; go left to follow rest of guide from mile 0.83 above

Go to:

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

Copyright © 2007 by Tom Chester and Eric Baecht.
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/round_valley_loop.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 29 August 2007.