Plant Guide to Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail, San Jacinto Mountains

Plant Guide to Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail, San Jacinto Mountains

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

The Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail is a beautiful and very popular trail from the bottom of Humber Park in Idyllwild to a rather unglorious end at the dusty non-scenic dirt road of Tahquitz View Drive just north of the turnoff to the South Ridge Trailhead.
The trail itself is indeed scenic, primarily for the views of the plants and rocks along the trail, but it also has a few views to the west that extend to the ocean. One might expect to see lots of views of the nearby homes all along the trail, but that doesn't happen; one feels surrounded by forest all the time. Most of the human traces along the way are large numbers of piles of twigs, branches, and cut-up dead trees stacked for burning in the wet season.
The trail is completely shaded for perhaps 80% or so of its length, with scattered regular shade in the remaining 20% of the trail. The openings in the forest have their own suite of delightful species; many of these areas must be absolutely beautiful with bloom in years when it rains.
The trail traverses a number of delightful drainages, but there is a bittersweet tinge to many of them that are probably only shadows of what they once were. Nearly every moist side drainage has a pipe carrying the precious water away from the plants and animals.
New species are encountered regularly along the trail, despite the trail staying in a fairly narrow range of elevation, and staying mostly with the same west-facing slope. This is very different from a similar trail at higher elevation, such as the PCT from Devils Slide to the South Ridge Trail, which is very depauperate in the total number of species. This difference is probably mainly due to the elevation, with the sunnier more open spots here having some chaparral species, whereas at higher elevation there is no chance of those chaparral species sneaking in there.
Many of the species found here are those also seen on the lower South Ridge Trail, which makes sense since the lower part of the two trails are only ~0.4 miles and ~900 feet of elevation apart. It is in fact quite interesting to be hiking directly below and almost parallel to that trail.
No permit is required to hike this trail, since it does not enter the San Jacinto Wilderness. An Adventure Pass is required to park within Humber Park, but parking spaces just outside Humber Park are about the same distance away from the upper trailhead, and do not require a Pass.
The trail is 2.3 miles one way, 4.6 miles round-trip, with ~750 feet of elevation gain and loss for the round-trip. (I computed 720 feet of gain and loss from all stretches with noticeable change in elevation, and rounded it up to 750 feet to include the imperceptible ups and downs on the trail.) The trail is nearly flat for the first 0.65 miles below Humber Park with an elevation change of only 100 feet, a rate of just 150 feet per mile. The trail then descends 220 feet to mile 1.06 at the rate of about 500 feet per mile. The trail is then again nearly flat to mile 1.5. The last 0.9 miles of the trail descends 380 feet at the rate of 430 feet per mile.
If you would like a shorter less-strenuous trip, hiking to mile 1.52 and back is 3.0 miles roundtrip, with just 350 feet of elevation gain and loss, and you'll only miss one of the on-trail (numbered) species on the trail, and six of the off-trail species.
Note that the two most popular guidebooks incorrectly state the elevation gain of this trail, which is hard to understand since the trail is clearly shown on the USGS topographic map. Robinson and Harris (2006) give 300 feet as the total gain for the one-way trip from the bottom to the top; the actual gain is a minimum of 700 feet.
Ferranti and Koenig (2000) apparently never give the actual elevation gain and loss along a trail in their guidebook, only the elevation difference between the bottom and top. This is a very unusual and misleading way to report it, especially since they call it the elevation gain. (I.e., if they reported their version of elevation gain for a hike from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon down to the bottom and then up the South Rim, they would report an elevation gain of zero feet, despite there being a true elevation gain of nearly one mile along that route!) They only give 300 feet for the elevation difference between the bottom and top; the actual difference is 6400 - 5720 = 680 feet.
For photographs of some of the plants in bloom on 22 May 2009, see Pictures From Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail, San Jacinto Mountains, 22 May 2009.
Highlights of This Trail

This section not updated since 2009.
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 147 trails in our database when this histogram was made; 11 of those trails, including this one, are in the west side or south side of San Jacinto Mountain, with an additional 12 trails at higher elevation at San Jacinto Mountains. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found on this trail among the trails in our database; numbers of "11" 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
1 0 0%
2 0 0%
3 7 7%
4 5 5%
5 1 1%

1-5 13 14%
6-10 20 21%
11-15 21 22%
16-20 15 16%
21-25 7 7%
26-30 4 4%
31-35 1 1%
36-40 4 4%
41-45 1 1%
46-50 0 0%
51-55 4 4%
56-60 2 2%
60-65 0 0%
66-70 1 1%
71-75 1 1%
Total Taxa 94 100%

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

This section not updated since 2009.
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"
10/4/2007 1 65 4 7 7 6
6/17/2008 2 92 3 4 6 5
5/22/2009 3 99 3 3 1 3

The Plant Guide

See Plant Checklist For Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail for a list of the species in the guide below in traditional family order, including links to the Jepson eFlora and Calphotos.
For photographs of some of the plants in bloom on 22 May 2009, see Pictures From Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail, San Jacinto Mountains, 22 May 2009.
The mileages in the guide come from Topo! and a GPS recording of the trail made on 29 May 2015, and should be differentially accurate to ~0.01-0.02 miles. The total mileage of the trail is probably a bit longer than the 2.29 miles given in the guide, but is probably less than the 2.35 miles from the GPS track, which includes GPS jitter between each point.
See Explanation of Plant Trail Guides for an explanation of the column headers.
This plant guide is in the 2012 Jepson Manual Second Edition system. The abundances given in this guide, in the column with header #Pls, reflect the total abundance of each species in the area around the trail, not just for the number of plants immediately along the trail. It also numbers species that are not immediately along the trail, as long as one can easily access them.
Version for printing, without the other text on this page: html (6 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (2 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)

Mile S # id? Common Name Scientific Name #Pls
0.00 r Beginning of trail at Ernie Maxwell sign; 6400 feet (1951 m) elevation.
0.00 l (incense-cedar mistletoe, Phoradendron juniperinum)
0.00 r 1 incense-cedar Calocedrus decurrens 99 / 9
0.00 r 2 ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa var. pacifica 50 / 9
0.00 r (snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea)
0.00 b 3 California black oak Quercus kelloggii 99 / 9
0.00 r 4 Sierra Nevada lotus Acmispon nevadensis var. nevadensis 99 / 9
0.01 l Jct. shortcut use trail from south end of parking area
0.01 r 5 canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis 99 / 9
0.01 l (white fir, Abies concolor)
0.02 r 6 bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setiger 99 / 9
0.02 r Jct. use trail to road
0.02 r 7 broad-leaved lotus Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia 35 / 3
0.02 b 8 white fir Abies concolor 75 / 9
0.02 r 9 fir mistletoe Phoradendron bolleanum 2 / 2
0.03 r (sugar pine, Pinus lambertiana)
0.06 l Jct. another shortcut use trail from south end of parking area
0.08 r 10 western azalea Rhododendron occidentale 75 / 2
0.08 l (pinedrops, Pterospora andromedea)
0.09 r 11 mountain pink currant Ribes nevadense 99 / 5
0.09 b (thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus)
0.09 b 12 white alder Alnus rhombifolia 3 / 2
0.09 Cross moist creek, the drainage from most of the area south of Saddle Junction and north of Lily Rock / Tahquitz Peak
0.09 r 13 thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus 99 / 2
0.09 l 14 sugar pine Pinus lambertiana 50 / 9
0.10 r (bracken, Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens)
0.11 r 15 pinedrops Pterospora andromedea 4 / 1
0.13 Trail turns left 90°
0.14 b 16 Grinnell's beardtongue Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii 35 / 2
0.14 l (mountain whitethorn, Ceanothus cordulatus)
0.15 r (common bedstraw, Galium aparine)
0.15 r 17 mountain whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus^dead 4 / 2
0.18 l Jct. “Climber's Trail” to Lily Rock
0.18 r (*downy brome, Bromus tectorum)
0.18 l 18 forest sedge Carex multicaulis 75 / 9
0.18 l 19 green miner's lettuce Claytonia parviflora ssp. viridis 99 / 2
0.18 r 20 Jones' prickly-nut cryptantha Cryptantha muricata var. jonesii 20 / 9
0.19 b 21 common bedstraw Galium aparine 35 / 3
0.19 b 22 Laguna Mtns. jewel-flower Streptanthus bernardinus 30 / 2
0.19 l 23 beautiful hulsea Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha 27 / 2
0.19 l (western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum)
0.24 l 24 Coulter pine Pinus coulteri 30 / 9
0.24 l Jct. use trail
0.27 l 25 mountain rock-cress Boechera retrofracta X⁺ 20 / 5
0.28 l 26 June grass Koeleria macrantha^dead 99 / 9
0.29 l Jct. use trail
0.29 r (pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea)
0.29 b 27 San Jacinto buckwheat Eriogonum apiculatum 80 / 2
0.29 b 28 naked buckwheat Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum 99 / 9
0.29 b 29 squirreltail Elymus elymoides 50 / 9
0.29 l 30 sp groundsmoke Gayophytum sp. 4 / 2
0.29 l 31 mountain red-root cryptantha Cryptantha micrantha var. lepida 99 / 5
0.29 l 32 splendid gilia Saltugilia splendens ssp. splendens 70 / 3
0.29 l 33 plain mariposa lily Calochortus invenustus 99 / 9
0.30 r 34 Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii 2 / 1
0.33 Cross very small drainage
0.33 35 spotted coralroot Corallorhiza maculata 15 / 3
0.35 Cross very small drainage
0.36 b 36 pink-bracted manzanita Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea 99 / 9
0.36 l 37 oak mistletoe Phoradendron serotinum ssp. tomentosum 99 / 3
0.36 l (southern mountain woolly-star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum)
0.36 r 38 short-flowered monardella Monardella nana 99 / 9
0.36 r ? (plant with two leaves that are 2 ternate like celery, Apium_graveolens, or sweet-cicely, Osmorhiza sp.)
0.36 l 39 wild sweetpea Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus 99 / 9
0.36 l 40 western wallflower Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum 60 / 3
0.36 b 41 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum 99 / 9
0.36 l 42 California-aster Corethrogyne filaginifolia 40 / 9
0.37 b 43 mountain grape-soda lupine Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus 99 / 9
0.37 r 44 Parish's tauschia Tauschia parishii^dead 61 / 9
0.38 b 45 white catch-fly Silene verecunda 80 / 9
0.38 r 46 mountain mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta 10 / 1
0.38 r (golden yarrow, Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum)
0.41 l 47 California brome Bromus carinatus var. carinatus 10 / 3
0.41 l 48 leafy daisy Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus 99 / 9
0.41 r 49 American vetch Vicia americana ssp. americana 30 / 5
0.42 l 50 goldenrod Solidago velutina ssp. californica 99 / 5
0.42 l 51 white hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum 17 / 2
0.44 l 52 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 99 / 9
0.44 l 53 Martin's paintbrush Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 30 / 9
0.45 l 54 slender everlasting Pseudognaphalium thermale^dead 14 / 3
0.47 l 55 strigose lotus Acmispon strigosus 30 / 4
0.49 Cross small drainage
0.49 l 56 narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 70 / 9
0.50 l 57 showy bajada lupine Lupinus concinnus ssp. optatus 99 / 3
0.50 l 58 southern mountain woolly-star Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum 50 / 5
0.50 r 59 snow-plant Sarcodes sanguinea 1 / 1
0.52 l 60 mountain California-fuchsia Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium^dead 99 / 5
0.60 Cross dry drainage from southwest side of Lily Rock
0.65 Trail begins to descend more steeply; elevation ~6300 feet (1920 m)
0.67 l 61 Yosemite rockcress Boechera repanda^dead 36 / 5
0.67 r Jct. trail probably leading to road just below; stay left
0.71 Enter forest of oak mistletoe, Phoradendron serotinum ssp. tomentosum, for 0.01 miles
0.72 l (San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush, Ericameria nauseosa var. bernardina)
0.73 Leave dense continuous forest; forest now interspersed with sunny open areas
0.77 b 62 interior live oak Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens 30 / 5
0.79 l 63 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 99 / 9
0.80 l (oracle oak, Quercus Xmorehus)
0.82 b 64 small fescue Festuca microstachys 40 / 3
0.82 l 65 pine dwarf-mistletoe Arceuthobium campylopodum 2 / 2
0.82 l 66 white-margined oxytheca Sidotheca emarginata 99 / 2
0.83 l (southern honeysuckle, Lonicera subspicata var. denudata)
0.84 b 67 California elegant rock-cress Boechera californica 20 / 5
0.84 r 68 southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata 2 / 2
0.85 l 69 whisker-brush Leptosiphon ciliatus 99 / 9
The following species was found farther along the trail, but without a precise location
? 70 sticky lessingia Lessingia glandulifera var. glandulifera 1 / 1
0.87 l (California cliff-brake, Pellaea mucronata var. californica)
0.90 71 silky lotus Acmispon heermannii var. heermannii 2 / 1
0.91 l 72 Davidson's buckwheat Eriogonum davidsonii 99 / 1
0.92 l 73 hybrid manzanita Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea 1 / 1
0.92 Cross drainage
0.93 l 74 little prince's pine Chimaphila menziesii 19 / 2
0.97 Switchback left at ridge; elevation ~6100 feet (1859 m)
0.99 Cross moist drainage from Tahquitz Peak which was scoured nearly clean of vegetation and covered in white sand/gravel in summer 2008 from a thunderstorm. Three lemon lilies, Lilium parryi, are up that drainage, not visible from the trail, along with subarctic lady-fern, Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum
0.99 l (western columbine, Aquilegia formosa^dead )
1.03 b 75 spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium 99 / 2
1.06 Trail levels off; elevation ~6080 feet (1853 m)
1.15 r 76 pine cryptantha Cryptantha simulans 50 / 9
1.18 l 77 blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 20 / 4
1.18 Cross dry drainage
1.18 l 78 volcanic gilia Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis 99 / 9
1.18 l 79 annual phlox Microsteris gracilis 99 / 4
1.18 l 80 diamond-petaled clarkia Clarkia rhomboidea 99 / 9
1.20 l 81 red-stemmed miner's lettuce Claytonia rubra ssp. rubra 99 / 5
1.21 r (woodland star, Lithophragma affine)
1.21 r 82 California thistle Cirsium occidentale var. californicum 3 / 1
1.22 83 oracle oak Quercus Xmorehus 2 / 2
1.22 l field of plain mariposa lily, Calochortus invenustus
1.22 l 84 spear-leaved mountain dandelion Agoseris retrorsa 50 / 9
1.22 b 85 *garden trumpet daffodil Narcissus hybrid 99 / 1
1.23 r (Large water tank)
1.23 l 86 incense-cedar mistletoe Phoradendron juniperinum 1 / 1
1.23 r 87 imbricate phacelia Phacelia imbricata var. patula 75 / 1
1.31 b 88 bracken Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens 20 / 2
1.31 Cross moist drainage coming from base of upper switchbacks on South Ridge Trail; minor local low point; elevation ~6080 feet (1853 m)
1.31 b 89 Parish's burning bush Euonymus occidentalis var. parishii 16 / 1
1.31 b 90 sticky cinquefoil Drymocallis glandulosa var. viscida 99 / 4
1.31 l 91 Parish's lupine Lupinus latifolius var. parishii 40 / 3
1.31 r 92 western columbine Aquilegia formosa 3 / 3
1.31 r (California wild rose, Rosa californica)
1.35 r 93 musk monkeyflower Mimulus moschatus 20 / 1
1.35 l (Durango root, Datisca glomerata in distance)
1.35 l 94 California coffeeberry Frangula californica 1 / 1
1.35 Cross moist drainage coming from small saddle / level section of South Ridge Trail at 7600 feet elevation on that trail.
1.35 r 95 ~ common monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus 1 / 1
1.35 r 96 floriferous monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus 20 / 1
1.35 r (fragile sheath sedge, Carex fracta)
1.39 97 woodland star Lithophragma affine 75 / 5
1.41 b 98 spreading larkspur Delphinium patens ssp. montanum 10 / 1
1.42 Minor local high point; elevation ~6100 feet (1859 m)
1.42 r 99 clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata^dead 1 / 1
1.46 l 100 Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch Astragalus douglasii var. parishii 10 / 4
1.46 l 101 scattered blazing star Mentzelia dispersa 10 / 1
1.48 l 102 *prickly sow thistle Sonchus asper ssp. asper 1 / 1
1.50 Cross small dry drainage; elevation 6000 feet (1829 m)
1.62 l 103 birch-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides 1 / 1
1.66 r Jct. steep path down to road below with deep roadcut
1.66 l (rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata in distance)
1.67 l 104 rock goldenbush Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata 2 / 1
1.73 Cross drainage
1.73 l 105 Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana 1 / 1
1.82 l 106 goldenstar Bloomeria crocea 10 / 2
1.88 l (mountain piperia, Piperia transversa)
1.89 l 107 California chicory Rafinesquia californica 2 / 2
1.91 l 108 mountain piperia Piperia transversa 20 / 2
1.94 l 109 fragile sheath sedge Carex fracta 2 / 2
1.94 r 110 California wild rose Rosa californica 12 / 1
1.94 Cross moist drainage; elevation 5800 feet (1768 m). There are lemon lilies, Lilium parryi, downstream in this drainage, not visible from the trail
2.00 l (way off-trail: Mexican manzanita, Arctostaphylos pungens)
2.07 l 111 southern Chinese houses Collinsia concolor 99 / 1
2.08 r 112 blue wildrye Elymus glaucus 2 / 1
2.10 r (stream orchid, Epipactis gigantea, not visible from the trail, at seep halfway down to Tahquitz View Drive, the road below the trail)
2.11 r 113 curve-flowered skullcap Scutellaria siphocampyloides 50 / 1
2.17 Cross dry drainage below spring just north of South Ridge Spring
2.17 r 114 *garden pyracantha Pyracantha coccinea 1 / 1
2.17 b 115 Durango root Datisca glomerata 10 / 2
2.25 l 116 leafless wintergreen Pyrola aphylla 1 / 1
2.29 End trail at Tahquitz View Drive 0.9 miles north of the turnoff to the South Ridge Trailhead; elevation 5720 feet (1743 m); return the way you came

Species only found off-trail

0.72 117 San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa var. bernardina 1 / 1
0.87 118 California cliff-brake Pellaea mucronata var. californica 1 / 1
0.99 119 lemon lily Lilium parryi 3 / 1
0.99 120 subarctic lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum 2 / 1
2.00 121 Mexican manzanita Arctostaphylos pungens 1 / 1
2.10 122 stream orchid Epipactis gigantea 99 / 1

Comments On Specific Species

Arabis holboellii. Unfortunately, this isn't the appropriate name for these plants, but there is no binomial name currently available for these plants. See Recent Changes in Delineation of These Species for more information.
Dead. The first plant seen of each of these species in 2007 through 2009 was dead in 2015. The first live plant of those species in 2015 is not noted in the guide. All the species are found later on the trail except for the Orobanche fasciculata, which was previously found as only a single plant.
We thank Adrienne Ballwey, Kate Harper, Jim Roberts, and Elize Van Zandt for help with the 29 May 2015 survey. Adrienne found the only plants of California cliff-brake, Pellaea mucronata var. californica. We thank Harry Spilman for help with the 5 June 2018 survey.

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	0	0%
2	0	0%
3	7	7%
4	5	5%
5	1	1%

1-5	13	14%
6-10	20	21%
11-15	21	22%
16-20	15	16%
21-25	7	7%
26-30	4	4%
31-35	1	1%
36-40	4	4%
41-45	1	1%
46-50	0	0%
51-55	4	4%
56-60	2	2%
60-65	0	0%
66-70	1	1%
71-75	1	1%
Total Taxa	94	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
10/4/2007	1	65	4	7	7	6
6/17/2008	2	92	3	4	6	5
5/22/2009	3	99	3	3	1	3

Mile	S	#	id?	Common Name	Scientific Name	#Pls
0.00	r			Beginning of trail at Ernie Maxwell sign; 6400 feet (1951 m) elevation.
0.00	l			(incense-cedar mistletoe, Phoradendron juniperinum)
0.00	r	1		incense-cedar	Calocedrus decurrens	99 / 9
0.00	r	2		ponderosa pine	Pinus ponderosa var. pacifica	50 / 9
0.00	r			(snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea)
0.00	b	3		California black oak	Quercus kelloggii	99 / 9
0.00	r	4		Sierra Nevada lotus	Acmispon nevadensis var. nevadensis	99 / 9
0.01	l			Jct. shortcut use trail from south end of parking area
0.01	r	5		canyon live oak	Quercus chrysolepis	99 / 9
0.01	l			(white fir, Abies concolor)
0.02	r	6		bristly bird's beak	Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setiger	99 / 9
0.02	r			Jct. use trail to road
0.02	r	7		broad-leaved lotus	Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia	35 / 3
0.02	b	8		white fir	Abies concolor	75 / 9
0.02	r	9		fir mistletoe	Phoradendron bolleanum	2 / 2
0.03	r			(sugar pine, Pinus lambertiana)
0.06	l			Jct. another shortcut use trail from south end of parking area
0.08	r	10		western azalea	Rhododendron occidentale	75 / 2
0.08	l			(pinedrops, Pterospora andromedea)
0.09	r	11		mountain pink currant	Ribes nevadense	99 / 5
0.09	b			(thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus)
0.09	b	12		white alder	Alnus rhombifolia	3 / 2
0.09				Cross moist creek, the drainage from most of the area south of Saddle Junction and north of Lily Rock / Tahquitz Peak
0.09	r	13		thimbleberry	Rubus parviflorus	99 / 2
0.09	l	14		sugar pine	Pinus lambertiana	50 / 9
0.10	r			(bracken, Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens)
0.11	r	15		pinedrops	Pterospora andromedea	4 / 1
0.13				Trail turns left 90°
0.14	b	16		Grinnell's beardtongue	Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii	35 / 2
0.14	l			(mountain whitethorn, Ceanothus cordulatus)
0.15	r			(common bedstraw, Galium aparine)
0.15	r	17		mountain whitethorn	Ceanothus cordulatus^dead	4 / 2
0.18	l			Jct. “Climber's Trail” to Lily Rock
0.18	r			(downy brome, Bromus tectorum*)
0.18	l	18		forest sedge	Carex multicaulis	75 / 9
0.18	l	19		green miner's lettuce	Claytonia parviflora ssp. viridis	99 / 2
0.18	r	20		Jones' prickly-nut cryptantha	Cryptantha muricata var. jonesii	20 / 9
0.19	b	21		common bedstraw	Galium aparine	35 / 3
0.19	b	22		Laguna Mtns. jewel-flower	Streptanthus bernardinus	30 / 2
0.19	l	23		beautiful hulsea	Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha	27 / 2
0.19	l			(western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum)
0.24	l	24		Coulter pine	Pinus coulteri	30 / 9
0.24	l			Jct. use trail
0.27	l	25		mountain rock-cress	Boechera retrofracta X⁺	20 / 5
0.28	l	26		June grass	Koeleria macrantha^dead	99 / 9
0.29	l			Jct. use trail
0.29	r			(pink-bracted manzanita, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea)
0.29	b	27		San Jacinto buckwheat	Eriogonum apiculatum	80 / 2
0.29	b	28		naked buckwheat	Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum	99 / 9
0.29	b	29		squirreltail	Elymus elymoides	50 / 9
0.29	l	30	sp	groundsmoke	Gayophytum sp.	4 / 2
0.29	l	31		mountain red-root cryptantha	Cryptantha micrantha var. lepida	99 / 5
0.29	l	32		splendid gilia	Saltugilia splendens ssp. splendens	70 / 3
0.29	l	33		plain mariposa lily	Calochortus invenustus	99 / 9
0.30	r	34		Fremont's goosefoot	Chenopodium fremontii	2 / 1
0.33				Cross very small drainage
0.33		35		spotted coralroot	Corallorhiza maculata	15 / 3
0.35				Cross very small drainage
0.36	b	36		pink-bracted manzanita	Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea	99 / 9
0.36	l	37		oak mistletoe	Phoradendron serotinum ssp. tomentosum	99 / 3
0.36	l			(southern mountain woolly-star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum)
0.36	r	38		short-flowered monardella	Monardella nana	99 / 9
0.36	r		?	(plant with two leaves that are 2 ternate like celery, Apium_graveolens, or sweet-cicely, Osmorhiza sp.)
0.36	l	39		wild sweetpea	Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus	99 / 9
0.36	l	40		western wallflower	Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum	60 / 3
0.36	b	41		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum	99 / 9
0.36	l	42		California-aster	Corethrogyne filaginifolia	40 / 9
0.37	b	43		mountain grape-soda lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus	99 / 9
0.37	r	44		Parish's tauschia	Tauschia parishii^dead	61 / 9
0.38	b	45		white catch-fly	Silene verecunda	80 / 9
0.38	r	46		mountain mugwort	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta	10 / 1
0.38	r			(golden yarrow, Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum)
0.41	l	47		California brome	Bromus carinatus var. carinatus	10 / 3
0.41	l	48		leafy daisy	Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus	99 / 9
0.41	r	49		American vetch	Vicia americana ssp. americana	30 / 5
0.42	l	50		goldenrod	Solidago velutina ssp. californica	99 / 5
0.42	l	51		white hawkweed	Hieracium albiflorum	17 / 2
0.44	l	52		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	99 / 9
0.44	l	53		Martin's paintbrush	Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii	30 / 9
0.45	l	54		slender everlasting	Pseudognaphalium thermale^dead	14 / 3
0.47	l	55		strigose lotus	Acmispon strigosus	30 / 4
0.49				Cross small drainage
0.49	l	56		narrowleaf bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium	70 / 9
0.50	l	57		showy bajada lupine	Lupinus concinnus ssp. optatus	99 / 3
0.50	l	58		southern mountain woolly-star	Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum	50 / 5
0.50	r	59		snow-plant	Sarcodes sanguinea	1 / 1
0.52	l	60		mountain California-fuchsia	Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium^dead	99 / 5
0.60				Cross dry drainage from southwest side of Lily Rock
0.65				Trail begins to descend more steeply; elevation ~6300 feet (1920 m)
0.67	l	61		Yosemite rockcress	Boechera repanda^dead	36 / 5
0.67	r			Jct. trail probably leading to road just below; stay left
0.71				Enter forest of oak mistletoe, Phoradendron serotinum ssp. tomentosum, for 0.01 miles
0.72	l			(San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush, Ericameria nauseosa var. bernardina)
0.73				Leave dense continuous forest; forest now interspersed with sunny open areas
0.77	b	62		interior live oak	Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens	30 / 5
0.79	l	63		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	99 / 9
0.80	l			(oracle oak, Quercus Xmorehus)
0.82	b	64		small fescue	Festuca microstachys	40 / 3
0.82	l	65		pine dwarf-mistletoe	Arceuthobium campylopodum	2 / 2
0.82	l	66		white-margined oxytheca	Sidotheca emarginata	99 / 2
0.83	l			(southern honeysuckle, Lonicera subspicata var. denudata)
0.84	b	67		California elegant rock-cress	Boechera californica	20 / 5
0.84	r	68		southern honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata var. denudata	2 / 2
0.85	l	69		whisker-brush	Leptosiphon ciliatus	99 / 9
				The following species was found farther along the trail, but without a precise location
?		70		sticky lessingia	Lessingia glandulifera var. glandulifera	1 / 1
0.87	l			(California cliff-brake, Pellaea mucronata var. californica)
0.90		71		silky lotus	Acmispon heermannii var. heermannii	2 / 1
0.91	l	72		Davidson's buckwheat	Eriogonum davidsonii	99 / 1
0.92	l	73		hybrid manzanita	Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea	1 / 1
0.92				Cross drainage
0.93	l	74		little prince's pine	Chimaphila menziesii	19 / 2
0.97				Switchback left at ridge; elevation ~6100 feet (1859 m)
0.99				Cross moist drainage from Tahquitz Peak which was scoured nearly clean of vegetation and covered in white sand/gravel in summer 2008 from a thunderstorm. Three lemon lilies, Lilium parryi, are up that drainage, not visible from the trail, along with subarctic lady-fern, Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum
0.99	l			(western columbine, Aquilegia formosa^dead )
1.03	b	75		spreading dogbane	Apocynum androsaemifolium	99 / 2
1.06				Trail levels off; elevation ~6080 feet (1853 m)
1.15	r	76		pine cryptantha	Cryptantha simulans	50 / 9
1.18	l	77		blue dicks	Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum	20 / 4
1.18				Cross dry drainage
1.18	l	78		volcanic gilia	Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis	99 / 9
1.18	l	79		annual phlox	Microsteris gracilis	99 / 4
1.18	l	80		diamond-petaled clarkia	Clarkia rhomboidea	99 / 9
1.20	l	81		red-stemmed miner's lettuce	Claytonia rubra ssp. rubra	99 / 5
1.21	r			(woodland star, Lithophragma affine)
1.21	r	82		California thistle	Cirsium occidentale var. californicum	3 / 1
1.22		83		oracle oak	Quercus Xmorehus	2 / 2
1.22	l			field of plain mariposa lily, Calochortus invenustus
1.22	l	84		spear-leaved mountain dandelion	Agoseris retrorsa	50 / 9
1.22	b	85		*garden trumpet daffodil	Narcissus hybrid	99 / 1
1.23	r			(Large water tank)
1.23	l	86		incense-cedar mistletoe	Phoradendron juniperinum	1 / 1
1.23	r	87		imbricate phacelia	Phacelia imbricata var. patula	75 / 1
1.31	b	88		bracken	Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens	20 / 2
1.31				Cross moist drainage coming from base of upper switchbacks on South Ridge Trail; minor local low point; elevation ~6080 feet (1853 m)
1.31	b	89		Parish's burning bush	Euonymus occidentalis var. parishii	16 / 1
1.31	b	90		sticky cinquefoil	Drymocallis glandulosa var. viscida	99 / 4
1.31	l	91		Parish's lupine	Lupinus latifolius var. parishii	40 / 3
1.31	r	92		western columbine	Aquilegia formosa	3 / 3
1.31	r			(California wild rose, Rosa californica)
1.35	r	93		musk monkeyflower	Mimulus moschatus	20 / 1
1.35	l			(Durango root, Datisca glomerata in distance)
1.35	l	94		California coffeeberry	Frangula californica	1 / 1
1.35				Cross moist drainage coming from small saddle / level section of South Ridge Trail at 7600 feet elevation on that trail.
1.35	r	95	~	common monkeyflower	Mimulus guttatus	1 / 1
1.35	r	96		floriferous monkeyflower	Mimulus floribundus	20 / 1
1.35	r			(fragile sheath sedge, Carex fracta)
1.39		97		woodland star	Lithophragma affine	75 / 5
1.41	b	98		spreading larkspur	Delphinium patens ssp. montanum	10 / 1
1.42				Minor local high point; elevation ~6100 feet (1859 m)
1.42	r	99		clustered broomrape	Orobanche fasciculata^dead	1 / 1
1.46	l	100		Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch	Astragalus douglasii var. parishii	10 / 4
1.46	l	101		scattered blazing star	Mentzelia dispersa	10 / 1
1.48	l	102		*prickly sow thistle	Sonchus asper ssp. asper	1 / 1
1.50				Cross small dry drainage; elevation 6000 feet (1829 m)
1.62	l	103		birch-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides	1 / 1
1.66	r			Jct. steep path down to road below with deep roadcut
1.66	l			(rock goldenbush, Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata in distance)
1.67	l	104		rock goldenbush	Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata	2 / 1
1.73				Cross drainage
1.73	l	105		Scouler's willow	Salix scouleriana	1 / 1
1.82	l	106		goldenstar	Bloomeria crocea	10 / 2
1.88	l			(mountain piperia, Piperia transversa)
1.89	l	107		California chicory	Rafinesquia californica	2 / 2
1.91	l	108		mountain piperia	Piperia transversa	20 / 2
1.94	l	109		fragile sheath sedge	Carex fracta	2 / 2
1.94	r	110		California wild rose	Rosa californica	12 / 1
1.94				Cross moist drainage; elevation 5800 feet (1768 m). There are lemon lilies, Lilium parryi, downstream in this drainage, not visible from the trail
2.00	l			(way off-trail: Mexican manzanita, Arctostaphylos pungens)
2.07	l	111		southern Chinese houses	Collinsia concolor	99 / 1
2.08	r	112		blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus	2 / 1
2.10	r			(stream orchid, Epipactis gigantea, not visible from the trail, at seep halfway down to Tahquitz View Drive, the road below the trail)
2.11	r	113		curve-flowered skullcap	Scutellaria siphocampyloides	50 / 1
2.17				Cross dry drainage below spring just north of South Ridge Spring
2.17	r	114		*garden pyracantha	Pyracantha coccinea	1 / 1
2.17	b	115		Durango root	Datisca glomerata	10 / 2
2.25	l	116		leafless wintergreen	Pyrola aphylla	1 / 1
2.29				End trail at Tahquitz View Drive 0.9 miles north of the turnoff to the South Ridge Trailhead; elevation 5720 feet (1743 m); return the way you came


				Species only found off-trail

0.72		117		San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush	Ericameria nauseosa var. bernardina	1 / 1
0.87		118		California cliff-brake	Pellaea mucronata var. californica	1 / 1
0.99		119		lemon lily	Lilium parryi	3 / 1
0.99		120		subarctic lady-fern	Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum	2 / 1
2.00		121		Mexican manzanita	Arctostaphylos pungens	1 / 1
2.10		122		stream orchid	Epipactis gigantea	99 / 1

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Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2007-2018 by Tom Chester, Dave Stith, Nancy Accola, and Bruce Watts.
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/ernie_maxwell.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 20 June 2018