Santa Rosa Wilderness
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 2:15 pm
A friend of mine engaged in some non-essential travel to go on a backpack trip last weekend. I told him he is very naughty and made him promise never to do it again until this whole virus thing is over, even if his wife and kids are driving him crazy. Anyway, he did a one night trip in the Santa Rosa Wilderness, one of the more obscure wilderness areas in SoCal. It's right off Hwy 74 in the Santa Rosa Mountains above Palm Desert. My friend parked at the Sawmill trailhead and as he had hoped there was no one there. He signed into the register (no permit required) and headed down the Cactus Spring Trail.
It was right after all the rain we got earlier this month and it was very cold and damp. Water everywhere. Streams running through every gully and wash, including parts of the trail. It was clear this is normally a very hot, dry place and my friend was seeing it at a very special time.
The wildflowers were popping!
After passing through several drainages my friend crossed Horsethief Creek (2.5 miles in). It was pretty full but passable. He is told it runs year round.
The climb out of the canyon was pretty steep, but soon enough he was on his way to Little Pinyon Flat where the views opened up.
My friend arrived at the location of Cactus Spring, 5 miles from the start. Even after all this rain there was no water. I would say the spring is effectively dry and should never be depended upon. What was my friend to do then? Go back 2.5 miles and drop down to Horsethief Creek? Uggh! No, there was a much better way. He went cross-country about 1 mile south to upper Horsethief Creek. It was pretty flat and open enough to avoid the scattered ribbonwood and pinyon pines. He was rewarded with life saving water and a dip in upper Horsethief Creek.
The sun came out for the afternoon and my friend was very glad it was a cool day. There is absolutely no shade on the trail or at camp. It would be very unpleasant at the wrong time of year. If you go here, be like my friend and come on a cloudy winter or spring day.
Sunset at camp:
My friend read that there is a Cahuilla village site somewhere in the area. He searched around but did not see any mortreros or other remains. Lots of hoof prints and poop everywhere. Not sure if they were deer or bighorn sheep. Thought for sure he would hear something at night, but not a peep was made. He did see some jackrabbits and quail the next day when he went about 4 miles further down the Cactus Spring trail. After rounding the base of Martinez Mountain the country got very rough. He kept loosing the trail and decided to turn back.
San Jacinto Peak from afar:
The hike back from Cactus Springs is only 5 miles, but all the ups and downs make it tougher that you might think. It was cool and sunny that afternoon. Still plenty of water.
Seasonal waterfall:
What a great trip! If your wife and kids are driving you crazy, be like my friend and go somewhere where no one else is, at least until this virus thing is over.
It was right after all the rain we got earlier this month and it was very cold and damp. Water everywhere. Streams running through every gully and wash, including parts of the trail. It was clear this is normally a very hot, dry place and my friend was seeing it at a very special time.
The wildflowers were popping!
Sunset at camp:
San Jacinto Peak from afar:
Seasonal waterfall: