5S09 - San Jacinto Ridge - California Offroad Trail

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Status:	Open
Typically Open:	Year Round
Length:	9.72 miles
Highest Elevation:	5920 feet
Duration:	About 2 hours
Shape of Trail:	Connector
Best Direction to Travel:	N/A
Nearest Town:	Idyllwild-Pine Cove
Nearest Town w/ Services:	Idyllwild-Pine Cove
Official Road Name:	5S09 San Jacinto Ridge
Management Agency:	San Bernardino National Forest
District:	San Jacinto Ranger District

Highlights

5S09 - San Jacinto Ridge is in the San Bernardino National Forest. It is a beautiful 10 mile forestry truck trail on the western slope of the San Jacinto Mountains near Idyllwild. The nearly 3000 foot elevation change provides a wide variety of flora and fauna to enjoy, from the desert scrub to the pine forests, the ground squirrels to the tree squirrels, deer and more! The North Fork of the San Jacinto River crosses this truck trail and is a perfect spot for a picnic. Only in Southern California can one go off-roading in the mountains and surf at the local beaches in the same day.

Video

Route Information

Technical Rating

( EASY )

Waypoints

1. Trailhead (0 mi)

After 4 miles on Bee Canyon you'll come to this fork. Keep to the right for San Jacinto Ridge. A left will put you on Indian Creek truck trail.

Directions to Trailhead

Starting Point: Hemet or Pine Cove

Travel east on Highway 74 (Florida Ave) from Hemet to the Bee Canyon Trailhead. The San Jacinto Ridge trailhead is the right fork where Bee Canyon ends in 4 miles. It is clearly marked. If coming from Highway 243 in Pine Cove, go west on Pine Cove Road for 1 mile to McGovern Road. Turn left on McGovern Road, which becomes San Jacinto Ridge and the east trailhead.

Camping

Dispersed

Designated

Trail Reviews (19)

Questions & Answers (2)

Q: Hi Dennis! Is primitive camping allowed in this region? Thanks, Gary

–Gary (06/04/2018)

–Dennis Clark (06/04/2018)

Q: Am I able to take my quad up there? And where do a get a Forest Adventure Pass?

–Eric (05/29/2018)

–Dennis Clark (05/29/2018)

Writer Information

Dennis Clark

Mapping Crew - California and Idaho

Dennis Clark was born in Los Angeles in 1942 and after 76 years of living in So Cal he moved to Emmett, Idaho with his wife Patricia, has four adult children with many grand and great grandchildren. He has loved the outdoors since his Cub Scout and Boy Scout days while camping with the family. He's an archer, hunter and fisherman but no longer wishes to harm animals. He has been involved with photography since the 1960's. He became more of a serious hiker in 2010 when he started Geocaching and has hiked the three tallest peaks in So Cal, Mt San Jacinto, Mt San Gorgonio and Mt Baldy, along with most of the lesser peaks in search of caches. Geocaching started his love for the USFS Trail system as he used the trails frequently to get to certain trailheads. He had a 2002 Ford Ranger 2wd and its amazing where that little pickup took him. In 5 years of weekly geocaching he was only stuck once in some Palm Springs sand. His 2016 Wrangler Sport Unlimited was purchased in 2015. He has become quite lazy in the hiking department as he can now drive to most locations. He's looking forward to posting some trails and don't hesitate to ask him for any help you might need.

5S09 - San Jacinto Ridge

Idyllwild-Pine Cove, California (Riverside County)