Santa Rosa Mtn Family Camping Trip

We don't do much camping in the summer since its usually unbearably hot out in the desert, beach camps are booked full, and Big Bear is a bit out of our way. However, a few years ago I discovered an area that's somewhat closer to home, at a higher elevation. Santa Rosa Mountain and Toro Peak in the San Bernardino National Forest.


This may be one of the best kept secrets in Southern California. A genuine pine forest paradise awaits at the top of Santa Rosa Truck Trail. This wooded island in the sky is a hidden jewel above 8000 feet. This is truly a one of a kind place. Warnings such as "Rocks don't burn, but trees and man will," have been painted on rocks and trees by none other than "Desert" Steve Ragsdale, a man who came to these mountains in the 1930s. He built a cabin atop Santa Rosa Peak (only the fireplace remains today), helped build the road into the area, and remained the unofficial protector of these parts until his death in 1970.

Our Yellow Post campsite, one of 13, right at the peak of Santa Rosa Mountain.

Santa Rosa Truck Trail 7S02

Since my wife had to work Saturday morning we got a late start and ended up finally reaching our camp at around 11:45pm. After lighting the lantern and setting up the tent, I got dinner cooking. Carne asada fajitas!

After eating it was off to bed for us. A full belly and the cool night air had me fast asleep. Autumn was up with thee sunrise and took a few photos before sleeping in some more.

Looks like someone was wondering where mommy went to!

Time to get up yet?

Before breakfast I check out our camp area a bit.

Another campsite below us along the main road.

My ugly mug!

Chorizo & egg burritos for breakfast!

Our baby girl plays while I cook.

Notice the old cabin ruins in the background.

Happy girls!

I think she likes it here!

Happy family!

Heading back down the mountain.

Of course we had to stop for the flowers.

On the way down we came across this rattlesnake on the road.

Before heading home we decided to check out the water crossing on San Jacinto Ridge Truck Trail 5S09, just North of the small mountain town of Idyllwild off Hwy 243.

Lots of folks enjoying this cool oasis in an arid environment.

This turned out to be a great place to relax.

Cooling off.

Playing in the water.

Map of the trail from Pine Cove off Hwy 243, to Bee Canyon off Hwy 74.

All too soon it was time to hit the road and head home. On the way out I noticed a historical marker and took a closer look. It was the Speed-Of-Light Experiment Historical Marker No. 26.

"From this location instruments reflected light in 1926 to Mount Wilson, 82 miles northwest. The work was one of a series of experiments conducted by Nobel-Prize winning scientist Dr. Albert A Michelson to refine the value of the speed of light. Although smoke generated in the valley below prevented measurements from being taken, the experiment encouraged Dr. Michelson to devise more accurate means of measuring the speed of light."