Idyllwild with Kids!
Idyllwild is a mountain community full of nature, exploration, and small-town charm that kids will love. Located in the San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County, it sits at an elevation of over 5,000 feet (highest peak is over 10,000 feet). It’s a popular place for hiking, snow play, mountain biking, horseback riding, and rock climbing. Two large rock formations, Tahquitz Rock and Suicide Rock, loom over Idyllwild and are especially popular within the rock climbing community.
Location: west of Palm Desert and east of Murrieta and Hemet, along Highway 243. (33°44’40″N, 116°43’33’W)
Hiking!
Hiking is a popular activity in Idyllwild and you can find tons of trails with a quick internet search. Most trails are lengthy and difficult, but we found a few super child-friendly trails while there.
Nature Center Loop is a great little trail that encircles the Idyllwild Nature Center and is perfect for the smallest of hikers. There are a bunch of interactive elements, including a labyrinth, puppet theater, and bedrock mortars. More about the Nature Center below.
Location: at Idyllwild Nature Center, 25225 Highway 243, Idyllwild 92549.
Ernie Maxwell Trail is located within Humber Park (along with the 15.5-mile Devils Slide Trail) and requires an Adventure Pass to park. This popular hike consists of a leisurely incline up a shady forest path with great views of Taquitz and Suicide Rocks. It is less than 3 miles roundtrip.
Location: trailhead at Humber Park, 24559 Fern Valley Road, Idyllwild 92549.
Perimeter, Hillside, and Yellow Pine Trails are great for meandering. Kids may love balancing across makeshift wooden bridges and rock scrambling. The Perimeter and Yellow Pine Trails are about 4.4 miles combined and Hillside Trail is 0.6 miles.
We honestly weren’t sure which trail we were on half the time (there’s a lot of intertwining), but we had a great time exploring and trying to figure out the lay of the land. In addition, we made sure to take plenty of water and snack breaks. Pro-tip… a large map of these trails is located at the Nature Center Museum entrance.
Location: access within Idyllwild County Park or behind Nature Center.
Suicide Rock Trail is a good trail for older kids or families wanting a challenge. It is 6.5 miles round-trip and offers amazing views of the surrounding wilderness. A free permit is required to hike this trail., which can be obtained at the San Jacinto Ranger Station kiosk (54270 Pine Crest, Idyllwild 92549).
Location: trailhead is located at the Deer Springs Trail parking lot, which is off Highway 243, about 1 mile north of town.
Exploring!
Idyllwild is a fun place to explore with kids. Granite outcroppings invite even the smallest of climbers and activities in town provide a wilderness respite for all.
If your kids enjoy folk legends (and possibly getting a little spooked out), you can tell them about The Legend of Tahquitz, found HERE. The story about a wicked shaman, Tahquitz, really set the tone for our boys. They were fascinated with, and slightly scared of, Tahquitz Peak, the giant rock towering over us during our stay.
Idyllwild Nature Center hosts a small museum as well as child-friendly trails (mentioned above). The Nature Center Museum contains a menagerie of local creatures (bugs and reptiles), information on native flora, fauna, and people, and a gift shop.
If your family is visiting Idyllwild during snow season, the Nature Center is a great, safe place for snow play. Hours and fees can be found HERE.
Location: 25225 Highway 243, Idyllwild 92549
The Town of Idyllwild is a quaint, but popular mountain getaway complete with a multitude of restaurants, shops, galleries, museum, lodging, movie theater, and gas station. Fun fact… the town mayor is currently Mayor Max III, a golden retriever!
Location: 54265 Village Center Dr, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549
Playing!
Idyllwild Community Playground and Idyllwild Skatepark are great places to get energy out.
The playground has beautiful wooden structures that provide many climbing, balancing, sliding, spinning, and swinging opportunities. There are also basic amenities such as benches, picnic tables, and porta-potties. Moreover, there are chess tables, a fitness circuit, and basketball court.
Location: 54195 Ridgeview Dr Idyllwild, CA 92549
The skate park is perfect for kids and grown ups who can’t leave home without their skateboards, scooters, inline skates, and/or BMX bikes. The park is small, but there are a number of fun wooden ramps, including a small half-pipe. Kids need to wear safety gear and as usual, skate at your own risk! Hours are from 7am to dusk,
Location: 26375 Highway 243, Idyllwild 92549
Camping!
There are a few campgrounds within Idyllwild proper and a many more on the outskirts.
One thing to note… Idyllwild-Pine Cove is particularly prone to wildfires during its dry season (summer into early fall), so there may be a ban on wood fires during this time. They may, however, allow propane fires during your stay. The Idyllwild Park website is actually pretty good about updating current campfire restrictions.
Idyllwild Park is one of the better campgrounds in the area for families with small children. Above all, you’ll probably be camping amidst many young families in the summertime with children riding bikes up and down the road. What’s more, there are meandering paths that cut through and around the campground (including the hikes listed above) with a few linking to the Idyllwild Nature Center. Likewise, other fun features include a seasonal creek, pictograph rock, and its easy access to town. It has 88 RV and tent sites with flush toilets and showers.
Pro-tip… most sites north of the main road sit above street level and are backed by boulders. If your kids are anything like mine, they’ll be happily occupied with climbing boulders while you set up camp or prepare meals. However, I can see it being a nightmare for families with unsteady toddlers. Sites on the southern side tend to be lower than or level with the street, shaded by a canopy of trees, and bordered by a creek.
Reservations can be made HERE.
Idyllwild Campground is a popular campground that is also located within walking distance to town. However, since it sits directly adjacent to Higway 243, you will hear road noise, so make sure to bring ear plugs or white noise app! It’s a small, tree-filled state park campground with 33 RV and tent sites, flush toilets, and showers. There is also a nice little nature trail that winds around the grounds to explore. Quick note… the campground borders a construction company on the east, so sites on that side (21-24) have a view of large trucks.
Reservations can be made at RESERVE AMERICA.
Stone Creek Campground is also a state park campground that is located about 5 miles north of town, along Highway 243. It is a primitive campground with vault toilets and no sinks, though water spigots are available. However, if in dire need of a shower, most people just head over to Idyllwild Campground.
Pine and manzanita trees provide abundant shade and interpretive/nature trails connect to the campground. There are 48 RV and tent sites.
Reservations can be made for Spring, Summer, and Fall at RESERVE AMERICA.
*Additional campgrounds worth looking into include Hurkey Creek, Lake Hemet, Fern Basin, Marion Mountain, and Thousand Trails.
