Rocky Picture Show

Fall Color Hike to Suicide Rock in Mount San Jacinto State Park

Suicide Rock Mount San Jacinto State Park

Suicide Rock near Idyllwild is a SoCal hot spot for changing colors in the fall, and a great workout as well. The 6.3-mile (round-trip) out-and-back hike gains 1,853 feet as it rewards you with autumn yellows and sweeping views of Mount San Jacinto and Tahquitz Peak.

Suicide gets its name from a legend about two Cahuilla Indian lovers whose love was forbidden. Instead of living apart, they decided to throw themselves off the cliffside together.

Deer Springs Trailhead is a short walk from the parking area. Make the first left and you’ll immediately be met with towering Jeffrey pines on either side. You’ll then come across the trailhead sign. The first mile is mostly lined with evergreen foliage and chaparral.

Close to the second mile is when the yellowing leaves of black oaks become prominent. You’ll also come across sections of manzanita, with its smooth red bark.

At about 2.5 miles is a trail junction where you should make a right onto Suicide Rock Trail to head toward your goal. At the fork you’ll see the prominent form of Tahquitz Rock, as well as Tahquitz Peak standing behind it. These two features are in clear view for most of the next mile, and the panorama is even better from the top of Suicide Rock. When you come across a large clearing in the trail and a massive rock plateau to the left, you know you’ve arrived.

From the CA-74 in Hemet, go east to the CA-243 and turn north. Continue for about 5.5 miles. Parking for the trailhead is directly off Hwy. 243 between Point of Rocks Dr.and Cedar Glen Dr. Parking coordinates: 33.753099, -116.722758. A free permit is required for this hike, which you can pick up at the Mount San Jacinto State Park Ranger Station, 54270 Pine Crest Ave., Idyllwild. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View
  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  3. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View
  4. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    Want to be king of the mountain? Head to King Mountain, the 108-acre open space preserve just above Larkspur in Marin. Despite its lofty name, hiking King Mountain proves that simp

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Yes, Seattle!

    Ready to try something new this winter? Seattle’s ready for you! Beautiful by nature with its Puget Sound setting, surrounding mountains, and nearby national parks, winter in Seattle can be a magical and festive time. Ever been in a hot tub boat?...

    View
  3. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  4. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View