The Devils Slide Trail is a wonderful and well-maintained trail to hike near Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains. It ascends 2.5 miles through a pine forest from a parking area at 6,480' in Humber Park only about ten minutes from Idyllwild, and meets the Pacific Crest Trail at Saddle Junction, where you have a variety of other trails to explore to places like Tahquitz Valley, Wellman Cienega and Skunk Meadows. The Pacific Crest Trail passes through Saddle Junction and from there one can also access San Jacnto Peak and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. It is considered challenging with 1,600' of elevation gain, an average gradient of 640 feet per mile, and the somewhat lower oxygen content of the air may require a slower ascent. (Information from Tom Chester who has explored this area many times.) A free wilderness permit and an Adventure Pass is required and should be obtained since forest service personnel are often checking for these documents. The photos displayed here are from several visits at the end of June and in July. Some of the adjacent areas include the James Reserve area and along Rt.243 to Idyllwild.

Brittle fern
Cystopteris fragilis
Cystopteridaceae

California cliffbrake
Pellaea mucronata var. californica
Pteridaceae

California figwort
Scrophularia californica
Scrophulariaceae

Great red paintbrush
Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata
Orobanchaceae
[Named for Domingo Castillejo Muñoz, 1744?-1793]

Fremont's silktassel
Garrya fremontii
Garryaceae
[Named for Nicholas Garry, c.1782-1856, and John Charles Frémont, 1813-1890]

Long-leaved rush
Juncus macrophyllus
Juncaceae