South Fork Of The San Jacinto River

The California Desert and Mountain Wilderness Campaign is an organization working to designate several areas as federal wilderness, thus protecting them from most forces of humanity. One of those areas is the South Fork of the San Jacinto River. Here's a map the organization provides that nicely summarizes land designations (national park, wilderness, military, etc.) in the eastern three-quarters of Riverside County. I slapped on that arrow to make it easier for you to find the proposed wilderness area that we visited. To see a bigger version of this map, click here.

If you'd like to see the map unsullied by my red arrow, just click here.

Google map pointing to the trailhead for our hike.

Here's more info about the South Fork of the San Jacinto.

Photos from the trip:

We came across a hillside of blooming poppies.

The complete set of photos can be seen here.

As I was browsing through the website of the California Desert and Mountain Wilderness Campaign I noticed on this page about Tahquitz Peak that one of its native residents is the southern rubber boa which sounds like something you might wear to a really good party in New Orleans. But no! It's a snake!

(Not my photo).

More photos of southern rubber boas and a map showing their very limited range can be seen here. And, in this page about rubber boas we learn this interesting info:

Rubber boas are incredibly docile snakes and are ideal for handling by children and those trying to overcome a fear of snakes. Unlike many other snakes, they never use striking as a defense mechanism, although if handled too roughly, they will musk the holder (excrete very smelly substance from their vent), but absolutely will not strike in defense. Upon being picked up, a Rubber boa will gently wrap around the holder's wrist for upwards of an hour or more before seeking to crawl around. Even when warm and active, Rubber Boas rarely move swiftly.