Coldwater Creek

I had to run over to Indio yesterday to gather what remained from our rental property. On the way back, I stretched my legs with a nice 1.5 hour walk through the woods near Idyllwild. It still amazes me that I can have breakfast in the desert, lunch in the pine-covered mountains, and be at the ocean watching the sunset during dinner.

The walk was through an area below the desert divide, mostly horse trail country. These trails are not on any maps. I was able to find the one person at the ranger center who had walked them - he made himself a map of the trails and made me a copy.



When you look at the lands around 4500 feet in elevation off highway 243, it looks like all manzanita and coyote brush. But once I got away from the road, I discovered the beautiful Coldwater Creek area, with plenty of pines and cedars. There was still a little snow left, even though it was 60 degrees!

It was just a perfect walk through the woods, without a big elevation gain. So if you don't want to spend all day "peak bagging", this 3 or 4 mile hike is a great alternative.

If you ever want to do some hiking in Idyllwild, give me a call - I know the way!