Plant Guide to Round Valley 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
Botanical Trip Reports
The Plant Guide
Comments On Specific Species
Introduction The guide was updated on 9 July 2017, but the rest of this page has not yet been updated.
This guide is from the Long Valley Ranger Station, elevation ~8390 feet, in Long Valley to Wellman Divide, elevation ~9720 feet, going through Round Valley. It begins 0.2 miles west of the upper Palm Springs Tramway Station. The part of this trail from the Ranger Station to Round Valley is called the Low Trail by the rangers at the State Park, with the rest of this trail called the Wellmans Divide Trail.
The trail is somewhere between 2.7 and 3.3 miles long (see below), with about 1400 total feet of elevation gain.
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
Histogram not updated to include the field work after 2007.
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 109 trails in our database when this histogram was made; 10 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 "10" or smaller may indicate taxa found only in this area of San Jacinto Mountain.
Number of Trails
Containing A TaxonNumber Of Taxa
On This Trail% of Taxa
On This Trail1 1 3% 2 3 8% 3 3 8% 4 0 0% 5 0 0% 1-5 7 18% 6-10 9 24% 11-15 12 32% 16-20 4 11% 21-25 1 3% 26-30 4 11% 31-35 0 0% 36-40 0 0% 41-45 0 0% 46-50 1 3% Total Taxa 38 100% We found 4 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 Table not updated with results after 2007.
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" 8/7/2007 1 40 2 4 6 1 8/12/2007 2 42 2 5 6 0
Botanical Trip Reports
The Plant Guide The family order flora of this loop is given in the last column of the Flora of Long Valley, in the column with header "Lo" (for the Low trail). The linked flora is not yet updated from the 7/5/17 field work.
This version of the guide has names updated to the 2012 Jepson Manual Second Edition system; see Notes on the Scientific Names Used At This Site.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (4 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (1 double-sided page without the column explanations). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)
The mileages in the guide come from Topo!. The total mileage is almost surely slightly underestimated, probably by no more than 10%, due to some tight switchbacks on the trail that are not accurately measured by that program. The elevations come from the topo map, and should be fairly precise.
The mileage of this trail according to Tom Harrison maps is about a half mile more than given in this guide. Further work needs to be done to see which mileage is more accurate.
Mile S # id? Common Name Latin Name #here 0.00 l Begin guide at sign just southwest of Ranger Station: "Round Valley Trail; Wilderness Permit Required", 0.22 miles from Tram Station; elevation ~8390 feet (2557 m). 0.00 b 1 Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi 50 / 9 0.00 b 2 wild tarragon Artemisia dracunculus 50 / 9 0.00 r 3 San Jacinto buckwheat Eriogonum apiculatum 5 / 1 0.01 l 4 San Gabriel beardtongue Penstemon labrosus 50 / 5 0.02 r 5 San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa var. bernardina+ 99 / 9 0.02 b 6 white fir Abies concolor 99 / 9 0.05 r 7 sugar pine Pinus lambertiana 50 / 9 0.06 l 8 San Jacinto Mts. keckiella Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis 99 / 9 0.06 l 9 Parish's snowberry Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii 99 / 9 0.06 l 10 western wallflower Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum 10 / 2 0.06 r 11 green-leaf manzanita Arctostaphylos patula 5 / 2 0.07 r 12 granite prickly phlox Linanthus pungens / 0.09 l 13 Nevin's bird's beak Cordylanthus nevinii 10 / 1 0.09 l 14 little-leaf mock orange Philadelphus microphyllus / 0.12 l Jct. Long Valley to 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" 0.12 l 15 Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii 10 / 2 0.13 l 16 western needlegrass Stipa occidentalis var. occidentalis 10 / 1 0.14 l 17 mountain California-fuchsia Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium / 0.14 r 18 curl-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius / 0.14 l 19 goldenrod Solidago velutina ssp. californica 30 / 1 0.14 b 20 Fendler's blue grass Poa fendleriana ssp. longiligula 5 / 1 0.14 l 21 Parish's bedstraw Galium parishii 8 / 2 The following 6 species are near the trail in the small drainage, given in alphabetical order 0.14 r 22 mountain rock-cress Boechera retrofracta X 1 / 1 0.14 l 23 groundsmoke Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum 20 / 4 0.14 l 24 Cleveland's horkelia Horkelia clevelandii var. clevelandii 50 / 1 0.14 l 25 Brewer's monkeyflower Mimulus breweri 99 / 4 0.14 l 26 false monkeyflower Mimulus pilosus 99 / 4 0.14 l 27 Suksdorf's monkeyflower Mimulus suksdorfii 10 / 2 Back in trail order 0.15 Trail begins series of minor high and low points, staying close to 8400 feet (2560 m) 0.21 r 28 bush chinquapin Chrysolepis sempervirens 50 / 9 The following 25 species are in a span of ~150 feet of the Long Valley Creek drainage, given in alphabetical order 0.25 l 29 yarrow Achillea millefolium 99 / 1 0.25 l 30 Idaho bentgrass Agrostis idahoensis 40 / 2 0.25 l 31 western columbine Aquilegia formosa 10 / 4 0.25 l 32 abrupt-beak sedge Carex abrupta 10 / 1 0.25 l 33 fragile sheath sedge Carex fracta 99 / 5 0.25 l 34 brown sedge Carex subfusca 99 / 9 0.25 l 35 giant red paintbrush Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata 1 / 1 0.25 l 36 slender hairgrass Deschampsia elongata 10 / 1 0.25 l 37 Nevada cinquefoil Drymocallis lactea var. lactea 20 / 3 0.25 l 38 willowherb Epilobium ciliatum 5 / 1 0.25 l 39 western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre 20 / 2 0.25 l 40 long-anthered rush Juncus macrandrus 5 / 1 0.25 l 41 floriferous monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus 50 / 3 0.25 l 42 primrose monkeyflower Mimulus primuloides var. primuloides 20 / 1 0.25 l 43 larger mountain monkeyflower Mimulus tilingii 30 / 2 0.25 l 44 southern mountain-monardella Monardella australis ssp. australis 20 / 4 0.25 l 45 mat muhly Muhlenbergia richardsonis 20 / 2 0.25 l 46 pine lousewort Pedicularis semibarbata 40 / 5 0.25 l 47 mountain pink currant Ribes nevadense 30 / 9 0.25 l 48 thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus 30 / 3 0.25 l 49 willow-leaved dock Rumex salicifolius 20 / 2 0.25 l 50 pearlwort Sagina saginoides 1 / 1 0.25 l 51 Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana 40 / 5 0.25 l 52 ranger's buttons Sphenosciadium capitellatum 99 / 9 0.25 l 53 mountain carpet clover Trifolium monanthum ssp. grantianum 99 / 5 Back in trail order; the following two species are in the drainage 0.28 l 54 brittle bladder fern Cystopteris fragilis 20 / 3 0.28 l 55 snow-plant Sarcodes sanguinea 5 / 3 0.29 l 56 bitter cherry Prunus emarginata 10 / 2 0.33 r Jct. use trail to "Beach / Shangri-La" 0.33 Trail turns left 90°, then right 0.33 l yellow form of San Gabriel beardtongue, Penstemon labrosus The following two species are in the drainage 0.35 l 57 swamp sedge Carex senta 99 / 9 0.35 l 58 tall mannagrass Glyceria elata 99 / 9 0.39 r 59 canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis 1 / 1 0.39 l 60 western polypody Polypodium hesperium 5 / 1 0.41 b 61 lodgepole pine Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana 99 / 9 0.41 Cross small drainage on sturdy wooden bridge 0.41 l 62 musk monkeyflower Mimulus moschatus 99 / 9 0.47 The former tight squeeze through rock walls and tree trunk here has been opened up by building up the trail surface! 0.48 r 63 mountain whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus 1 / 1 0.49 r 64 San Jacinto lupine Lupinus hyacinthinus 99 / 9 0.48 l 65 wax currant Ribes cereum var. cereum 2 / 2 0.49 l 66 *common cudweed Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum 40 / 1 0.49 l 67 white catch-fly Silene verecunda 5 / 2 0.49 r 68 mountain spray Holodiscus discolor var. microphyllus 1 / 1 0.49 r 69 Parish's campion Silene parishii 15 / 5 0.49 r 70 western azalea Rhododendron occidentale 5 / 2 0.54 r 71 beautiful hulsea Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha 1 / 1 0.54 r Jct. use trail to Tamarack Campground 0.55 Trail turns left to cross Long Valley Creek 0.55 r Sign: "Round Valley (ahead)" 0.55 Cross Long Valley Creek in middle of a switchback left; elevation ~8475 feet (2583 m) 0.55 l 72 forest goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens 10 / 2 0.55 l 73 changeable phacelia Phacelia mutabilis 10 / 5 0.56 First of a number of tight switchbacks; trail now climbs significantly 0.58 b 74 Martin's paintbrush Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 1 / 1 0.60 l 75 pinedrops Pterospora andromedea 1 / 1 0.68 Minor local high point 0.77 r 76 mountain gooseberry Ribes montigenum 99 / 9 0.78 r 77 limber pine Pinus flexilis 20 / 9 0.88 Begin switchbacks on slope separating Long Valley from Round and Tamarack Valleys 0.90 r (Two waterfalls) 0.90 r (California corn lily, Veratrum californicum var. californicum) 0.92 l 78 bracken Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens 30 / 3 0.97 l 79 Ross' sedge Carex rossii 20 / 5 1.01 Trail is less steep for a while now 1.01 r Begin small meadowy area at Round Valley Creek. The following 9 species are in a span of ~150 feet along that creek, given in alphabetical order 1.01 r 80 purple false-gilia Allophyllum divaricatum 99 / 1 1.01 r 81 dense false-gilia Allophyllum gilioides ssp. violaceum 10 / 1 1.01 r 82 rosy everlasting, pussytoes Antennaria rosea / 1 1.01 r 83 plain mariposa lily Calochortus invenustus 30 / 1 1.01 r 84 toad lily Montia chamissoi 20 / 4 1.01 r 85 Sierra nemophila Nemophila spatulata / 1.01 r 86 Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii 50 / 1 1.01 r 87 California corn lily Veratrum californicum var. californicum 99 / 9 1.01 r 88 thyme-leaved speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia ssp. humifusa 25 / 2 Back in trail order 1.05 l 89 pussy paws Calyptridium monospermum 10 / 2 1.12 r 90 few-flowering meadow-rue Thalictrum sparsiflorum 10 / 2 white bog orchid Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys 5 / 2 1.17 r 91 spotted coralroot Corallorhiza maculata 1 / 1 1.42 l Jct. Round Valley to Willow Creek trail; elevation 8960 feet (2731 m); Sign: "[left] Willow Creek Trail 3.8 mi; [back] Long Valley 1.7 mi; [ahead] Round Valley 0.3 mi" 1.44 r 92 mountain sweet-cicely Osmorhiza berteroi 10 / 2 1.52 r (Begin Round Valley Meadow) 1.63 b 93 California geranium Geranium californicum 10 / 1 1.63 l 94 western bistort Bistorta bistortoides 5 / 1 1.63 l 95 Kentucky blue grass Poa pratensis ssp. agassizensis 20 / 1 1.63 l 96 vari-nerved sedge Carex heteroneura 2 / 1 1.63 l 97 slender buttercup Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismellus 10 / 1 1.64 The following three species were previously found in the formerly wet drainage to the left, which was totally dry in 2017 1.64 l 98 hairy wood rush Luzula comosa 1 / 1 1.64 l 99 small white violet Viola macloskeyi 5 / 1 l Trail to his and her outhouses (toilets) 1.87 r Nice long log for a rest stop 1.89 Jct. trails to Wellman Divide (l) and Tamarack Valley (r); go left; elevation 9040 feet (2755 m). Sign: "[left] Wellman Divide 1 mi; San Jacinto Peak 3.3 mi; Saddle Junction 4.3 mi; Humber Park 6.8 mi; [right] Tamarack Valley 0.5 mi; [back] Long Valley 2.0 mi; Willow Creek 4.0 mi; Saddle Junction 5.5 mi" 1.89 r Tapped spring with available water (needs treatment) 2.67 Wellman Divide; elevation ~9720 feet (2963 m); Sign: "[right] San Jacinto Peak 2.3 mi; [back] Round Valley 1.0 mi; Long Valley 3.0 mi" 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
#: Species are numbered in order of first occurrence on or near the trail. This plant trail guide does not distinguish between on-trail and off-trail species, as long as one can easily get to the plants mentioned.
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 plants of this species on and in the vicinity of 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. Some species do not yet have abundance estimates, and other species may have much-too-low abundances, due to the guide formerly only counting plants within an arm's length of the trail.
Comments On Specific Species Penstemon labrosus. The first specimens on the trail have the normal red flowers; there is one patch of yellow-flowered penstemons later on the trail, which are just color variants of this species. The Jepson Manual reports that this species does rarely produce yellow flowers, and we have infrequently seen such variation elsewhere at San Jacinto Mountain.
Red flowers often produce yellow variants; see Species With Color Variants.
We thank Nick Nixon for the names of the trails used by the Rangers.
We thank the following people for help with fieldwork: Eric Baecht and Pete Dodge on 8/7/07; Gabi and Cliff Mclean, and Linda and Ted St. John, on 8/12/07; Nancy Accola on 6/30/17; and Bruce Watts and Joseph Migliori on 7/5/17.
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Copyright © 2007-2017 by Tom Chester, Dave Stith, James Dillane, .
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to us at this source:
http://tchester.org/sb/plants/guides/round_valley.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 9 July 2017.