Plant Guide to South Ridge Trail, San Jacinto Mountains

Plant Guide to South Ridge 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
The Plant Guide
Comments On Specific Species
Introduction

This guide begins at the base of the trail. See the guide beginning at the top of the trail for the detailed information about this guide.
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

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 ~6540 feet (1995 m)
0.00 r (snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea, 40 feet away)
0.00 r 1 Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch Astragalus douglasii var. parishii 30 / 9 4
0.00 r 2 purple-root cryptantha Cryptantha micrantha 99 / 5 8
0.00 b 3 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum 30 / 9 1
0.00 b 4 California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia 20 / 9 53
0.00 r 5 Sierra Nevada lotus Lotus nevadensis var. nevadensis 20 / 9 6
0.00 r 6 ssp California squirreltail Elymus elymoides ssp. californicus 20 / 5 14
0.00 b 7 pink-bracted manzanita Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea 99 / 9 2
0.00 r 8 confusing fescue Vulpia microstachys var. confusa 20 / 1 2
0.00 r 9 Indian milkweed Asclepias eriocarpa 1 / 1 19
0.00 Trail turns left 90°
0.00 r Sign: "South Ridge Trail ..."
0.00 r 10 canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis 99 / 9 22
0.00 b 11 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 30 / 4 57
0.00 r 12 leafy daisy Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus 1 / 1 45
0.00 r 13 strigose lotus Lotus strigosus 30 / 9 39
0.00 r 14 whisker-brush Linanthus ciliatus 5 / 1 5
0.00 r 15 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 50 / 5 22
0.00 b 16 Coulter pine Pinus coulteri 1 / 1 11
0.00 r 17 pine dwarf-mistletoe Arceuthobium campylopodum 1 / 1 1
0.01 b 18 slender bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum 10 / 5 3
0.01 b 19 California black oak Quercus kelloggii 3 / 1 12
0.01 r 20 perennial rock-cress Arabis perennans⁺ 50 / 9 7
0.01 r 21 oak mistletoe Phoradendron villosum 2 / 2 5
0.01 r 22 rush blue grass Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia⁺ 30 / 5 1
0.01 b 23 goldenrod Solidago californica 10 / 1 37
0.01 l 24 incense-cedar Calocedrus decurrens 5 / 1 13
0.02 r 25 sp catchfly Silene sp. similar to S. laciniata 1 / 1
0.02 r 26 white fir Abies concolor 30 / 9 20
0.02 r 27 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia 1 / 1 44
0.02 r 28 California fuchsia Epilobium canum 10 / 3 14
0.02 r 29 sp short-flowered monardella Monardella nana ssp. tenuiflora 10 / 3 2
0.03 Switchback left at drainage
0.03 r 30 Cleveland's horkelia Horkelia clevelandii 1 / 1 4
0.04 r 31 white-margined oxytheca Oxytheca emarginata 30 / 3 1
0.04 r Sign: Be prepared for hazardous conditions; permit required for wilderness area..."
0.04 r 32 incense-cedar mistletoe Phoradendron libocedri 1 / 1 3
0.06 l 33 interior live oak Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens 4 / 2 8
0.08 Switchback right
0.08 l 34 chaparral whitethorn Ceanothus leucodermis 4 / 2 15
0.08 r 35 Mexican manzanita Arctostaphylos pungens 1 / 1 3
0.08 l 36 Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi 99 / 9 21
0.10 Switchback left
0.10 r 37 bush monkeyflower Mimulus aurantiacus 5 / 1 43
0.12 r 38 ~ Parish's chaenactis Chaenactis parishii 10 / 1 1
0.12 r 39 California coffeeberry Rhamnus californica⁺ 1 / 1 2
0.12 l 40 sugar pine Pinus lambertiana 50 / 9 12
0.12 r 41 ~ popcorn flower Cryptantha intermedia 10 / 1 30
0.13 Trail curves right
0.14 r 42 naked buckwheat Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum 30 / 9 3
0.14 l 43 volcanic gilia Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis 5 / 2 4
0.15 Trail curves right
0.17 l (beautiful hulsea, Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha)
0.20 r Several 6 inch wide yellow-brown mushrooms
0.21 Trail curves right
0.21 r 44 ~ mountain grape-soda lupine Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus 2 / 2 5
0.22 r 45 ? Laguna Mtns. jewel-flower? Penstemon? Streptanthus bernardinus? Penstemon rostriflorus? 2 / 2
r Boulders showing old soil line by absence of lichens at base
0.25 l 46 mountain whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus 50 / 9 15
0.27 l 47 little prince's pine Chimaphila menziesii 10 / 3 2
0.27 l (snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea)
0.28 l Rock window formed by two huge boulders
0.28 l 48 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum 50 / 9 14
0.29 l 49 Nevin's bird's beak Cordylanthus nevinii 20 / 2 8
0.29 l 50 small fescue Vulpia microstachys var. microstachys 20 / 2 1
0.30 Trail jogs right, then left
0.30 b 51 southern mountain woolly-star Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum 30 / 2 11
0.31 r 52 San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus 50 / 9 15
0.31 r 53 bajada lupine Lupinus concinnus 10 / 2 13
0.32 l 54 Jepson's blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ssp. jepsonii 10 / 2 14
0.33 Trail turns left 90° at drainage
0.34 r 55 ~ beautiful hulsea Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha 20 / 5 2
0.34 r 56 sp ann buckwheat Eriogonum with kidney-shaped leaf, wider than long /
0.36 Trail curves right
0.37 Trail turns right 90°
0.37 r 57 ~ slender wreathplant Stephanomeria exigua /
0.38 r San Jacinto buckwheat Eriogonum apiculatum 30 / 3 4
0.38 b 58 groundsmoke Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum 10 / 1 9
0.38 l Impressive flat-topped rock outcrop
0.40 r Jct. old road
0.41 r Sign: "San Jacinto Wilderness"
0.42 b 59 bracken Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens 2 / 1 11
0.42 Center of long curve right
0.43 l (woodland spurge, Euphorbia palmeri)
0.43 l 60 Grinnell's beardtongue Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii 30 / 5 16
0.44 r 61 Parish's tauschia Tauschia parishii 10 / 5 5
0.45 l View of Lily Rock and Tahquitz Peak
0.46 Trail curves right
0.48 Switchback left
0.50 b 62 western wallflower Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum 20 / 2 19
0.55 r 63 white catch-fly Silene verecunda ssp. platyota 2 / 1 12
0.60 Trail curves left 90°
0.64 Switchback right, then trail curves left
0.67 Trail curves right at drainage, then curves left again; some honking pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea here
0.72 Switchback left
0.76 Switchback right
0.78 Switchback left
0.81 Switchback right
0.83 r View of desert
0.85 r View of Garner Valley, Lake Hemet, Palomar, Thomas, Cahuilla and Hot Springs Mountains
0.85 r (rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
0.88 Switchback left
0.92 l Rock / tree window; trail curves right at ridge
0.96 Switchback right
1.03 Switchback left
1.07 Switchback right
1.10 Switchback left
1.11 l short-flowered monardella in bloom Monardella nana ssp. tenuiflora /
1.11 l 64 snow-plant Sarcodes sanguinea 2 / 2 9
1.13 l View of Santa Margarita Mountains at 9:00, to left of Santa Ana Mountains
1.16 Switchback right
1.19 Trail curves left at ridge
1.24 Switchback left
1.25 r 65 southern mountain-monardella Monardella australis 10 / 3 8
1.29 Switchback right
1.33 r Good view of Desert Divide and Santa Rosa Mountain peaks; switchback left
1.38 Switchback right
1.40 Switchback left
1.43 l (fir mistletoe, Phoradendron pauciflorum)
1.43 Switchback right and curve left 90°
1.58 Switchback left at rock window with 3 subpanes
1.62 Switchback right
1.65 Switchback left
1.67 Switchback right
1.76 Y-jct; trail splits for 0.02 miles; stay right
1.79 Switchback right and curve left
1.79 l Sign: "Entering San Jacinto Wild Area"
1.79 l 66 ~ spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium⁺ 10 / 1 4
1.82 r View of Tahquitz Lookout; local high point; trail briefly descends
1.88 Local low point at drainage to east; only sandy section of trail; next short stretch is not as steep
1.88 r 67 pinedrops Pterospora andromedea 4 / 2 6
Check mileage from here to Ivesia gully; uphill and downhill differ by 0.10 miles
1.94 l 68 bush chinquapin Chrysolepis sempervirens 50 / 9 9
2.04 Trail curves right at ridge
2.17 b 69 green-leaf manzanita Arctostaphylos patula 50 / 9 12
2.26 l 70 curl-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intermontanus 10 / 9 10
2.30 Trail curves left 90° at gully leading uphill to steep cliffs with Tahquitz ivesia, Ivesia callida
Look for Potentilla rimicola
2.38 Switchback right
2.44 Switchback left just short of ridge with many footprints giving access to the steep cliffs with Tahquitz ivesia, Ivesia callida
2.52 Switchback right just below saddle
2.64 Switchback left at huge split boulder
2.70 r 71 California groundcone Boschniakia strobilacea 99 / 9 3
2.74 Switchback right
2.80 Switchback left
2.88 Switchback right
3.01 Switchback left
3.10 r 72 granite prickly phlox Leptodactylon pungens / 7
3.15 Switchback right
3.17 Switchback left
3.21 Switchback right
3.24 r (limber pine, Pinus flexilis)
3.24 r 73 ~ San Jacinto Mtns. daisy Erigeron breweri var. jacinteus 1 / 1 1
3.27 Switchback left
3.30 r southern mountain-monardella Monardella australis /
3.31 r 74 Parish's bedstraw Galium parishii 3 / 2 7
3.31 r 75 Martin's paintbrush Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 2 / 2 15
3.31 r (Check for different grass)
3.31 r 76 rock buckwheat Eriogonum saxatile 3 / 1 11
3.34 Switchback right at saddle
3.38 r Check if this is a limber or lodgepole pine
3.38 l (beaked penstemon, Penstemon rostriflorus)
3.39 l 77 Parish's needlegrass Achnatherum parishii 1 / 1 7
3.40 l (San Jacinto prickly phlox, Leptodactylon jaegeri)
3.45 Switchback left
3.48 Switchback right
3.50 Switchback left
3.52 Switchback right
3.55 Switchback left
3.55 Switchback right
3.56 l 78 limber pine Pinus flexilis 40 / 9 7
3.56 Jct. to Tahquitz Lookout; go right on it.
3.58 Trail begins a series of zig-zags.
3.59 l 79 mountain spray Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus 2 / 2 7
3.60 Tahquitz Lookout base.
3.61 Catwalk of Tahquitz Lookout; elevation 8846 feet (2696 m); return to trail jct.
3.68 Jct. main South Ridge Trail; go right on it
Species below are directly from guide going downhill; some have earlier locations
3.71 r 80 ? baby rosette - Arabis?
3.71 r 81 mountain holly fern Polystichum scopulinum 3 / 1 1
3.71 r (spike trisetum, Trisetum spicatum)
3.74 Trail curves right 90°.
3.76 Switchback left
3.77 Switchback right
3.77 b 82 white-veined wintergreen Pyrola picta 10 / 4 3
3.81 Trail curves right
3.83 r 83 Watson's spike-moss Selaginella watsonii 1 / 1 4
3.83 r Alpine form of rush blue grass, Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia, formerly called Poa nevadensis.
3.83 r 84 shaggy-haired alumroot Heuchera hirsutissima 6 / 2 1
3.90 Trail curves right
3.90 l (limber-pine dwarf-mistletoe, Arceuthobium cyanocarpum)
3.94 r 85 Parish's campion Silene parishii 10 / 2 6
3.98 r 86 lodgepole pine Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana 20 / 9 7
4.05 b 87 Parish's snowberry Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii 2 / 1 10
4.06 r 88 western needlegrass Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale 2 / 2 1
4.06 r 89 ? mystery rush / sedge ? 2 / 2
4.06 r 90 San Jacinto Mts. Keckiella (in chinquapin) Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis 1 / 1 4
4.08 r 91 pussy paws Calyptridium monospermum 5 / 1 6
4.08 End South Ridge Trail at Chinquapin Jct with the PCT, elevation 8570 feet (2610 m)

Comments On Specific Species

Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia. Plants at mile 0.25 are very different-looking, 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.
Rhamnus californica. See note in Devils Slide Trail Guide.
Apocynum androsaemifolium. We've never found blooms on these specimens so far. Interestingly, Hall found these same short plants in this location in 1901, and also never observed blooms on them. He did find blooms on specimens in Round Valley on August 13, 1897.

#	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 ~6540 feet (1995 m)
0.00	r			(snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea, 40 feet away)
0.00	r	1		Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch	Astragalus douglasii var. parishii	30 / 9	4
0.00	r	2		purple-root cryptantha	Cryptantha micrantha	99 / 5	8
0.00	b	3		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum	30 / 9	1
0.00	b	4		California-aster	Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia	20 / 9	53
0.00	r	5		Sierra Nevada lotus	Lotus nevadensis var. nevadensis	20 / 9	6
0.00	r	6	ssp	California squirreltail	Elymus elymoides ssp. californicus	20 / 5	14
0.00	b	7		pink-bracted manzanita	Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea	99 / 9	2
0.00	r	8		confusing fescue	Vulpia microstachys var. confusa	20 / 1	2
0.00	r	9		Indian milkweed	Asclepias eriocarpa	1 / 1	19
0.00				Trail turns left 90°
0.00	r			Sign: "South Ridge Trail ..."
0.00	r	10		canyon live oak	Quercus chrysolepis	99 / 9	22
0.00	b	11		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	30 / 4	57
0.00	r	12		leafy daisy	Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus	1 / 1	45
0.00	r	13		strigose lotus	Lotus strigosus	30 / 9	39
0.00	r	14		whisker-brush	Linanthus ciliatus	5 / 1	5
0.00	r	15		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	50 / 5	22
0.00	b	16		Coulter pine	Pinus coulteri	1 / 1	11
0.00	r	17		pine dwarf-mistletoe	Arceuthobium campylopodum	1 / 1	1
0.01	b	18		slender bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum	10 / 5	3
0.01	b	19		California black oak	Quercus kelloggii	3 / 1	12
0.01	r	20		perennial rock-cress	Arabis perennans⁺	50 / 9	7
0.01	r	21		oak mistletoe	Phoradendron villosum	2 / 2	5
0.01	r	22		rush blue grass	Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia⁺	30 / 5	1
0.01	b	23		goldenrod	Solidago californica	10 / 1	37
0.01	l	24		incense-cedar	Calocedrus decurrens	5 / 1	13
0.02	r	25	sp	catchfly	Silene sp. similar to S. laciniata	1 / 1
0.02	r	26		white fir	Abies concolor	30 / 9	20
0.02	r	27		hollyleaf redberry	Rhamnus ilicifolia	1 / 1	44
0.02	r	28		California fuchsia	Epilobium canum	10 / 3	14
0.02	r	29	sp	short-flowered monardella	Monardella nana ssp. tenuiflora	10 / 3	2
0.03				Switchback left at drainage
0.03	r	30		Cleveland's horkelia	Horkelia clevelandii	1 / 1	4
0.04	r	31		white-margined oxytheca	Oxytheca emarginata	30 / 3	1
0.04	r			Sign: Be prepared for hazardous conditions; permit required for wilderness area..."
0.04	r	32		incense-cedar mistletoe	Phoradendron libocedri	1 / 1	3
0.06	l	33		interior live oak	Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens	4 / 2	8
0.08				Switchback right
0.08	l	34		chaparral whitethorn	Ceanothus leucodermis	4 / 2	15
0.08	r	35		Mexican manzanita	Arctostaphylos pungens	1 / 1	3
0.08	l	36		Jeffrey pine	Pinus jeffreyi	99 / 9	21
0.10				Switchback left
0.10	r	37		bush monkeyflower	Mimulus aurantiacus	5 / 1	43
0.12	r	38	~	Parish's chaenactis	Chaenactis parishii	10 / 1	1
0.12	r	39		California coffeeberry	Rhamnus californica⁺	1 / 1	2
0.12	l	40		sugar pine	Pinus lambertiana	50 / 9	12
0.12	r	41	~	popcorn flower	Cryptantha intermedia	10 / 1	30
0.13				Trail curves right
0.14	r	42		naked buckwheat	Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum	30 / 9	3
0.14	l	43		volcanic gilia	Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis	5 / 2	4
0.15				Trail curves right
0.17	l			(beautiful hulsea, Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha)
0.20	r			Several 6 inch wide yellow-brown mushrooms
0.21				Trail curves right
0.21	r	44	~	mountain grape-soda lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus	2 / 2	5
0.22	r	45	?	Laguna Mtns. jewel-flower? Penstemon?	Streptanthus bernardinus? Penstemon rostriflorus?	2 / 2
	r			Boulders showing old soil line by absence of lichens at base
0.25	l	46		mountain whitethorn	Ceanothus cordulatus	50 / 9	15
0.27	l	47		little prince's pine	Chimaphila menziesii	10 / 3	2
0.27	l			(snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea)
0.28	l			Rock window formed by two huge boulders
0.28	l	48		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum	50 / 9	14
0.29	l	49		Nevin's bird's beak	Cordylanthus nevinii	20 / 2	8
0.29	l	50		small fescue	Vulpia microstachys var. microstachys	20 / 2	1
0.30				Trail jogs right, then left
0.30	b	51		southern mountain woolly-star	Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum	30 / 2	11
0.31	r	52		San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush	Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus	50 / 9	15
0.31	r	53		bajada lupine	Lupinus concinnus	10 / 2	13
0.32	l	54		Jepson's blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus ssp. jepsonii	10 / 2	14
0.33				Trail turns left 90° at drainage
0.34	r	55	~	beautiful hulsea	Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha	20 / 5	2
0.34	r	56	sp	ann buckwheat	Eriogonum with kidney-shaped leaf, wider than long	/
0.36				Trail curves right
0.37				Trail turns right 90°
0.37	r	57	~	slender wreathplant	Stephanomeria exigua	/
0.38	r			San Jacinto buckwheat	Eriogonum apiculatum	30 / 3	4
0.38	b	58		groundsmoke	Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum	10 / 1	9
0.38	l			Impressive flat-topped rock outcrop
0.40	r			Jct. old road
0.41	r			Sign: "San Jacinto Wilderness"
0.42	b	59		bracken	Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens	2 / 1	11
0.42				Center of long curve right
0.43	l			(woodland spurge, Euphorbia palmeri)
0.43	l	60		Grinnell's beardtongue	Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii	30 / 5	16
0.44	r	61		Parish's tauschia	Tauschia parishii	10 / 5	5
0.45	l			View of Lily Rock and Tahquitz Peak
0.46				Trail curves right
0.48				Switchback left
0.50	b	62		western wallflower	Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum	20 / 2	19
0.55	r	63		white catch-fly	Silene verecunda ssp. platyota	2 / 1	12
0.60				Trail curves left 90°
0.64				Switchback right, then trail curves left
0.67				Trail curves right at drainage, then curves left again; some honking pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea here
0.72				Switchback left
0.76				Switchback right
0.78				Switchback left
0.81				Switchback right
0.83	r			View of desert
0.85	r			View of Garner Valley, Lake Hemet, Palomar, Thomas, Cahuilla and Hot Springs Mountains
0.85	r			(rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata)
0.88				Switchback left
0.92	l			Rock / tree window; trail curves right at ridge
0.96				Switchback right
1.03				Switchback left
1.07				Switchback right
1.10				Switchback left
1.11	l			short-flowered monardella in bloom	Monardella nana ssp. tenuiflora	/
1.11	l	64		snow-plant	Sarcodes sanguinea	2 / 2	9
1.13	l			View of Santa Margarita Mountains at 9:00, to left of Santa Ana Mountains
1.16				Switchback right
1.19				Trail curves left at ridge
1.24				Switchback left
1.25	r	65		southern mountain-monardella	Monardella australis	10 / 3	8
1.29				Switchback right
1.33	r			Good view of Desert Divide and Santa Rosa Mountain peaks; switchback left
1.38				Switchback right
1.40				Switchback left
1.43	l			(fir mistletoe, Phoradendron pauciflorum)
1.43				Switchback right and curve left 90°
1.58				Switchback left at rock window with 3 subpanes
1.62				Switchback right
1.65				Switchback left
1.67				Switchback right
1.76				Y-jct; trail splits for 0.02 miles; stay right
1.79				Switchback right and curve left
1.79	l			Sign: "Entering San Jacinto Wild Area"
1.79	l	66	~	spreading dogbane	Apocynum androsaemifolium⁺	10 / 1	4
1.82	r			View of Tahquitz Lookout; local high point; trail briefly descends
1.88				Local low point at drainage to east; only sandy section of trail; next short stretch is not as steep
1.88	r	67		pinedrops	Pterospora andromedea	4 / 2	6
				Check mileage from here to Ivesia gully; uphill and downhill differ by 0.10 miles
1.94	l	68		bush chinquapin	Chrysolepis sempervirens	50 / 9	9
2.04				Trail curves right at ridge
2.17	b	69		green-leaf manzanita	Arctostaphylos patula	50 / 9	12
2.26	l	70		curl-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intermontanus	10 / 9	10
2.30				Trail curves left 90° at gully leading uphill to steep cliffs with Tahquitz ivesia, Ivesia callida
				Look for Potentilla rimicola
2.38				Switchback right
2.44				Switchback left just short of ridge with many footprints giving access to the steep cliffs with Tahquitz ivesia, Ivesia callida
2.52				Switchback right just below saddle
2.64				Switchback left at huge split boulder
2.70	r	71		California groundcone	Boschniakia strobilacea	99 / 9	3
2.74				Switchback right
2.80				Switchback left
2.88				Switchback right
3.01				Switchback left
3.10	r	72		granite prickly phlox	Leptodactylon pungens	/	7
3.15				Switchback right
3.17				Switchback left
3.21				Switchback right
3.24	r			(limber pine, Pinus flexilis)
3.24	r	73	~	San Jacinto Mtns. daisy	Erigeron breweri var. jacinteus	1 / 1	1
3.27				Switchback left
3.30	r			southern mountain-monardella	Monardella australis	/
3.31	r	74		Parish's bedstraw	Galium parishii	3 / 2	7
3.31	r	75		Martin's paintbrush	Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii	2 / 2	15
3.31	r			(Check for different grass)
3.31	r	76		rock buckwheat	Eriogonum saxatile	3 / 1	11
3.34				Switchback right at saddle
3.38	r			Check if this is a limber or lodgepole pine
3.38	l			(beaked penstemon, Penstemon rostriflorus)
3.39	l	77		Parish's needlegrass	Achnatherum parishii	1 / 1	7
3.40	l			(San Jacinto prickly phlox, Leptodactylon jaegeri)
3.45				Switchback left
3.48				Switchback right
3.50				Switchback left
3.52				Switchback right
3.55				Switchback left
3.55				Switchback right
3.56	l	78		limber pine	Pinus flexilis	40 / 9	7
3.56				Jct. to Tahquitz Lookout; go right on it.
3.58				Trail begins a series of zig-zags.
3.59	l	79		mountain spray	Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus	2 / 2	7
3.60				Tahquitz Lookout base.
3.61				Catwalk of Tahquitz Lookout; elevation 8846 feet (2696 m); return to trail jct.
3.68				Jct. main South Ridge Trail; go right on it
				Species below are directly from guide going downhill; some have earlier locations
3.71	r	80	?	baby rosette - Arabis?
3.71	r	81		mountain holly fern	Polystichum scopulinum	3 / 1	1
3.71	r			(spike trisetum, Trisetum spicatum)
3.74				Trail curves right 90°.
3.76				Switchback left
3.77				Switchback right
3.77	b	82		white-veined wintergreen	Pyrola picta	10 / 4	3
3.81				Trail curves right
3.83	r	83		Watson's spike-moss	Selaginella watsonii	1 / 1	4
3.83	r			Alpine form of rush blue grass, Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia, formerly called Poa nevadensis.
3.83	r	84		shaggy-haired alumroot	Heuchera hirsutissima	6 / 2	1
3.90				Trail curves right
3.90	l			(limber-pine dwarf-mistletoe, Arceuthobium cyanocarpum)
3.94	r	85		Parish's campion	Silene parishii	10 / 2	6
3.98	r	86		lodgepole pine	Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana	20 / 9	7
4.05	b	87		Parish's snowberry	Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii	2 / 1	10
4.06	r	88		western needlegrass	Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale	2 / 2	1
4.06	r	89	?	mystery rush / sedge	?	2 / 2
4.06	r	90		San Jacinto Mts. Keckiella (in chinquapin)	Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis	1 / 1	4
4.08	r	91		pussy paws	Calyptridium monospermum	5 / 1	6
4.08				End South Ridge Trail at Chinquapin Jct with the PCT, elevation 8570 feet (2610 m)

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

Copyright © 2006-2007 by Tom Chester, James Dillane and Dave Stith.
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 24 June 2007.