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 Reporter |
Summary: This is a perfect setting for a leasurly family hike. The trail acends very gently from the south end of Idyllwild to Humber Park, passing through a wonderful dense forest of pines. As you approach Humber Park, spectacular views of Suicide and Tahquitz rocks come in to view. Once you reach Humber Park, walk up the road a few hundred yards to the Devil's Slide Trail head and find a peaceful spot for a picnic lunch. If you still have some energy left, hike a half mile or so up the Devil's Slide trail for unbelievable views of both Tahquitz and Suicide rock. Return the way you came. Trailhead: From the 10 near Banning, take highway 243 to the town of Idyllwild. On the south edge of Idyllwild, take Saunders Meadow Road past Desert Sun School, turning left on Pine Avenue, then right on Tahquitz View Drive. Drive past the South Fork Trail junction to the start of the Ernie Maxwell trail. There will be a trailhead marker on the right side of the dirt road. Note that you can also start the hike from the opposite end just below Humber park, but you wind up walking uphill on the way back (not my preference!) (Lat:33.74022 Lon:-116.7024) Trail Guides for Ernie Maxwell Trail: 100 Great hikes in and near Palm Springs by Philip Ferranti (Westcliffe Publishers) California Hiking by Tom Stienstra & Ann Marie Brown (Foghorn Press) San Bernardino Mountain Trails by John W. Robinson (Wilderness Press) Best Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall User Groups: Hikers, Dogs Ranger Contact: USDA Forest Service (909) 659-2177 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Jim Zuber, who has posted 105 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Marlon on 4/22/2008 We hiked this trail on 4/20/08. We started hiking at 8:00am and the weather was cold but with clear skies. We cleared the cloud cover as we drove up the mountain towards the trail. The kids (4 and 10 year olds) loved the creek and had fun running downhill on the way back. The trail is easy for adults but tired our 4yr old and we needed to carry him through some spots. We saw a few squirrels and a patch of beautiful yellow flowers planted along the trail. After the hike we visited Lake Fulmor off of the 243 Hwy.See Photos Here
Reviewed by BL on 3/30/2008 We just hiked this trail this morning with two of our kids (13 & 8). There was still some snow on the ground in a few places. The creeks were all running with water, especially Strawberry Creek. We saw grey squirrels, blue birds and chipmunks. We started at the back end and hiked to Humber Park. It was nice to have the downhill walk back to our car. By the way, for those who want to start at the back end, there is extremely limited parking along the dirt road. Be prepared to park down the road from the trailhead.
Reviewed by FW on 10/1/2007 We did the hike yesterday (9-30-07) and the weather was beautiful. The hike itself was great. We took our 2 young boys (3 and 5) with us and they did well considering the first half is uphill. We were able to see squirrels, birds, lots of lizards and we even managed to see a baby snake. As for the horse droppings mentioned in the previous post, we never saw any. Time wise, it took us longer due to the boys, but they really enjoyed seeing the animals and collecting acorns. When were done, we drove into Idyllwild and had a great lunch. We would hike it again!
Reviewed by Donald on 9/9/2007 Relaxing and scenic, but disappointed to see stream beds dry as a bone. Missed a lot of the scenery as I tried to dodge the horse droppings on the trail.
Reviewed by Gayle on 5/30/2006 Just hiked on 5/28. The weather was great and Strawberry Creek was beautiful! We started on the backside and were glad to be doing downhill on the return trip. We saw squirrels and lots of birds. Great for beginners and families! 
Reviewed by RJS on 4/30/2005 Just hiked 4/26/05 and Strawbeery creek was full, sparkling, and a joy to sit by. great family trail. My 4 yr old made it along with my wife, 10,& 7 yr olds. If you start at Humber park there is plenty of parking and a bathroom. See ya' around the bend! 
Reviewed by Anita on 9/29/2004 Although this is a good beginning hike - to warm you up for The Devil's Slide - it was nothing more than a slight uphill walk. It is definitely not for the more aggressive hiker/s. But f you are simply looking for an enjoyable, liesurely walk/hike than this is the one for you! It's peaceful and quite beautiful. Very easy to find!
Reviewed by Jen on 10/3/2003 The hike was great!!! We started on the back side, so we did the up hill part first and mostly down hill back. We saw a lot of families with dogs and the scenery was awsome. Bring lots of water and bug spray. And don't forget the wilderness path!!! Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: California Hiking, California Trails, California Hikes, Riverside County Hiking, Riverside County Trails, Riverside County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||