01
Closest backcountry feel
Fobes Trail into the San Jacinto Wilderness
Near Lake Riverside Off Highway 74 • Quiet Forest Approach Into The High Country • Closest True Trailhead To Lake Riverside
A shady, gradually climbing trail that slips from chaparral into tall pines with big views toward the San Jacinto crest.
If you want real mountain scenery without a long drive, Fobes Trail is the go-to from Lake Riverside. The dirt road in is usually passable with care, and the trail quickly trades low desert scrub for cooler pine forest. Hike as far as you like toward the Pacific Crest Trail junction for a flexible out-and-back that feels pleasantly remote.
02
Classic mountain viewpoint
Deer Springs Trail to Suicide Rock
Idyllwild • Pine-Forest Climb To A Granite Overlook • Best Classic Mountain Hike
A steady forested climb from the edge of Idyllwild to a broad granite perch with sweeping views over town and the Hemet valley.
Starting near the edge of Idyllwild, this well-built trail climbs through shady pines and boulders before topping out on the open slab of Suicide Rock. The final viewpoint feels dramatic but still accessible to fit hikers who take their time. It’s a great introduction to San Jacinto’s high-country terrain and an easy one to pair with lunch in town afterward.
03
Big summit objective
San Jacinto Peak via Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Above Palm Springs • High-Elevation Summit Route From The Tram • Big-Day Peak Bagging
Ride the tram from the desert floor to cool forests, then follow signed trails to one of Southern California’s most impressive summits.
For a full-day challenge with serious payoff, use the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to launch a hike to San Jacinto Peak. The route feels alpine compared with Lake Riverside’s rolling hills, with dense forest, granite outcrops, and thin air as you near the summit hut and viewpoint. Clear days bring panoramic views over the Coachella Valley, the San Bernardinos, and far across the Inland Empire.
04
Desert ridge favorite
Art Smith Trail to Hopalong Cassidy Trail
Palm Desert And Highway 74 Corridor • Desert Ridgeline And Wash Trail • Best Winter And Shoulder-Season Hike
A rugged desert route that winds through washes and over low ridges with constant views of the Santa Rosa Mountains and Coachella Valley.
When higher elevations are snowy or cold, this trail system down Highway 74 gives you a sun-soaked alternative. The Art Smith Trail offers classic desert hiking—rocky singletrack, barrel cacti, and wide-open vistas—before connecting with the Hopalong Cassidy Trail for added mileage. Go early or in cooler seasons, bring plenty of water, and you’ll be rewarded with big sky and quiet ridgelines.
05
Gentle nature escape
Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve
Near Murrieta • Rolling Meadow And Oak Woodland Preserve • Best Mellow And Family-Friendly Outing
An easygoing network of trails across grassland, vernal pools, and shady oak groves, ideal for relaxed walks and wildlife spotting.
About an hour from Lake Riverside, the Santa Rosa Plateau feels worlds away from the rocky hills around the lake. Wide, well-signed paths loop through open meadows and scattered oaks, with options short enough for kids and visiting relatives. Come in spring for green hills and wildflowers, or on clear winter days when the air is crisp and the views stretch toward the distant ranges.