Idyllwild Adventure Tour
- OTG Crew
- 2 hours ago
- 7 min read
Adventure riders have been exploring the backroads and dirt trails in the greater Temecula Valley and San Jacinto Mountains for years, and the Idyllwild Adventure Tour is one of the best routes in the area. This 80% dirt route winds through desert lowlands, chaparral-covered hills, and towering pine forests, climbing over 7,000 feet with ridge-top views for days. Accessible from most Southern California population centers in just a couple of hours, it's a solid option when you don't want to drive half a day deep into the Mojave or up the 395.
Route Overview
Trip Length & Season
Adventure Rating: Epic Trip Length: 169 miles, 2-4 days Season: Typically May thru November, but the shoulder seasons tend to have the best weather. It may be possible to travel this route during winter during years or below average snowfall, but always check available resources for snowfall/snowdepth.
Digital Maps & GPX Files
Download Digital Mapping Files
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Technical Ratings & Terrain
Avg Technical Rating: 2-3
Peak Technical Rating: 4
Typical Terrain:
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Recommended Vehicle: Stock 4x4
Recommended Moto: Given some of the sections of rocky, loose, and rutted terrain, a mid-sized or dual sport bike is recommended for this route.
Adventure Vans: We typically don't recommended Sprinter and Transit Vans (4x4/AWD) on trails rated 4 or higher. However, if you consider yourself an expert off road driver when it comes to undulating and off camber terrain, you may consider taking on this route. There are some tighter sections, so expect pinstriping as well.
Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear
Fuel:
There are numerous fuel stops along the route, and a gas station is typically never more than 30-40 miles away. Provisions: Provisions can be obtained in the same general vicinity as fuel. Gear: n/a
Alternative Routes
Indian Mountain
Distance: 6 miles
Technical Rating: 5-6 This fun section of trail features numerous off camber sections, severe erosional effects, and some fun rock ledges as well. The views are damn impressive as well! If you're looking to spice things up a bit on your trip, consider taking this alternative route back down the mountain (or up!).
Camping Recommendations
Dispersed camping is generally allowed on national forest and BLM lands. One thing to keep in mind, there is a large amount of private property on this route, specially through secitons that parallel rivers. Be sure to check that you're on public lands where dispersed camping is permitted before setting up camp. Some of our favorite places to camp along the Magruder Discovery Tour include:
Western slope of the Bitterroot Range
Jocko River and Twin Lakes vicinity (Tribal permits may need to be obtained to camp here)
Continental Divide DP (just downslope of the discovery point there's a big clearing)
Chessman Reservoir
Boulder River (various campsites along the river)
Rock Creek (varius campgrounds and campsites along the river)
Discovery Points
High Point Lookout (Palomar Mountain)
Palomar Divide
Aguanga Mountain
Thomas Mountain
San Jacinto River (main fork)
Idyllwild
Idyllwild Nature Center
Black Mountain Fire Lookout
San Jacinto Peak
Old Idyllwild Road
Land Managers & Other Resources
Permits & Papers
n/a
Route Details
Adventure riders have been exploring the backroads and dirt trails in the greater Temecula Valley and San Jacinto Mountains for years. Rather than driving half a day deep into the Mojave or up the 395 towards the Eastern Sierra, the Idyllwild Adventure Tour can be easily accessed from most of Southern California's major population centers within a couple of hours, or about an hour from northern San Diego or southern Orange County.
With over 80% of the route featuring dirt, there are some sections of pavement mixed in, with the longest stretch taking place after descending down the mountain from Palomar Divide. And while the track does climb to over 7,000 feet, the entire route is usually accessible for most of the year, save those periods of heavier snowfall. You can expect to travel through a variety of ecosystems, from the desert lowlands, to chaparral and chamise-covered hills, and the mixed pine forests that abound at higher elevations. But one thing is for certain regarding the Idyllwild Adventure Tour—it's got views for days!
The route can be traveled in either direction, but this guide starts on the pavement of Highway 79, about a 10-minute drive from the outskirts of Temecula. Palomar Divide has long been a favorite scenic off-road drive for folks in places like Orange County, the greater San Diego area, and Temecula Valley. And no wonder—this graded dirt road could be easily driven by any crossover with OEM tires and it's got incredible views for miles on both sides of the ridge. For some of the best views along Palomar Divide, be sure to make the short out-and-back trip up to High Point Lookout that sits atop Palomar Mountain.
Once you finish up the quick side trip to High Point Lookout, continue heading east, which eventually brings you down the mountain and onto the longest stretch of pavement of the route. But don't fret, it's only about 5 miles down the highway and another 5 miles up a single-lane paved road before you'll be back on dirt! And this is where the fun begins. Massive granite boulders poke up from the shrubs that cling to the desert highlands, and the trail is several miles of fun, undulating, and rutted-out terrain with a few rocks thrown in for good measure. If it's springtime, there are often some nice pools of water to cool off in along the San Luis Rey River. Unfortunately, this fun section of trail is a short one, about 4 miles long.
Soon you'll be kicking up dust along the county roads that weave through the old farmsteads and ranches of Chihuahua Valley and making your way onto the Cooper Cienega Truck Trail. This is another relatively mild dirt road, but it does have a few bumps along the way, and of course, more views of the desert scenery. Once you reach the Cahuilla Indian Reservation, you'll need to skirt your way around its eastern border and hop back onto the pavement for a few miles.
To the north, the ridgeline that Thomas Mountain sits atop marks your next destination. Like Palomar Divide to the south, the views along this stretch of trail are absolutely incredible. And as you climb out of the desert lowlands, chaparral woodlands begin to take over, and at the higher elevations mixed pine forests shroud the mountaintops. The area around Thomas Mountain features a number of fantastic yellow post sites, and those closest to the summit feature some impressive views!
As you continue northwest along the ridgeline, see if you can catch a view of Lake Hemet below and Idyllwild in the distance. You'll be making your way towards this quaint mountain town soon, but you'll need to endure a couple of miles along the pavement of Highway 74 before jumping back onto dirt. You'll head back into the mountains by way of the historic Idyllwild Control Road. And while the GPX track may not take you into Idyllwild, the drive into town is only a few miles off the main route and one that we think is well worth it.
Sitting at around 5,500 feet in the San Jacinto Mountains, Idyllwild is a charming artist's hamlet surrounded by towering pines and granite peaks. The town offers a welcome respite with its eclectic mix of galleries, cafes, and lodges—a perfect spot to grab a bite, stretch your legs, and soak in that mountain town atmosphere before continuing your adventure.
Once you leave Idyllwild, make your way up to the high point along the Idyllwild Adventure Tour, Black Mountain Fire Lookout. Sitting at over 7,500 feet, the views from atop Black Mountain and the fire lookout are easily some of the best along the entire route, and provide the perfect vantage point of the crown jewel of these parts—San Jacinto Peak, which sits at 10,787 feet elevation and is typically covered in snow during winter and early spring.
Heading back down the mountain, you've got options. For those looking to kick things up a few notches, consider the technical alternative route that is Indian Mountain (see more info under alternative routes), while the main trail provides a less white-knuckle experience winding through the chaparral woodlands and mixed pine forest, which includes a nice creek crossing through the north fork of the San Jacinto River.
Eventually you'll find yourself back on pavement and doing a small semi-loop through Vista Grande and Hurley Flats Roads. This is another fun section with a bunch of undulating terrain, but also features some tighter sections of trail due to encroaching brush and undergrowth, so prepare to take home a few more pinstripes as souvenirs!
At this point, you're on the final leg of the route, which includes a few more miles of pavement before hopping onto the historic Old Idyllwild Road. This road connecting Banning to Idyllwild was completed back in September 1910, a 31-mile route built by hand crews, mules, and wagons that opened up the mountain town to tourists and helped transport lumber down from the high country. The federal government even kicked in $2,000 for construction, recognizing the road's importance for fire suppression and timber hauling. Prepare for more vehicle-sized granite boulders and views as you descend down the mountain, completing the route in Banning.
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