Hiked: 11/22/2019
Distance: 6.3 miles round trip on trail
Summit Elevation: 5635' (Cahuilla), 5604' (Coahuila)
Prominence: 1555' (Cahuilla)
Elevation Gain: 1541'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.2
Round trip time: 3 hours
Recommended water: 32 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Juan Diego Flats Road (6S22)
Difficulty: Easy
Cahuilla is #221 on the Sierra Club HPS list, meeting the criteria of being over 5000' and in the southern half of California. Its P1K status was more interesting to me. I had driven by Cahuilla several times this year on the way toward Idyllwild. There are two miles of dirt road to reach the trailhead and it gets a little rutted toward the end. High clearance recommended. The trail started off gently and was well maintained. After some switchbacks, I passed under the Coahuila Benchmark, saving it for the return. Good views of San Jacinto, the divide, and the local area are available most of the way on the left side (right coming down). There were three distinct vegetation zones. San Diego desert scrub at the bottom, oaks and maples in the middle, and manzanita and pines toward the top. There were a few patches of snow in the shade. Views from the summit were limited by tree cover. The ammo box held several nearly filled registers, attesting to the popularity and accessibility of this mountain. I would call it family friendly. On the way down, I left the trail below Coahuila and looked for a use trail. Not finding anything clear, I pushed through about 50' of light brush before it opened up. I found two reference marks and the Coahuila benchmark. Oddly, one of the reference marks was higher. I didn't find a register on Coahuila, but I might have missed it. Views were better (360 degrees) from Coahuila. I cruised back to the truck in short order. A brief but pleasant outing.
Cahuilla from highway 371
Start of the trail
Snow dusted Tahquitz and San Jacinto
Summit ammo box
Coahuila is the closer bump
Weird pole with a spring
Looking back at Cahuilla Mountain
View from Coahuila summit
Coahuila benchmark
Didn't wanna do Little Cahuilla while you were there? Or had you already done it? I thought the view was better from Little C - yeah, those trees on Big C were in the way.
ReplyDeleteMike Martin
Mike,
DeleteLittle C is usually done with Big C, but I had to get back for a family function. I'll pick up Little C in the future and combine it with something else in the area.