California Dreamin': Idyllwild, CA

I took a quick trip up to a little mountain town just an hour from Palm Springs, called Idyllwild. It was so hot in the desert that I decided I needed a break in the cooler temps of the mountains and forests. The first pics are of my drive up there. There was a large wildfire that went thru the area just south of Idyllwild last year but luckily the town was saved. After I got settled into my little cabin, I drove just a mile out of town to the Idyllwild Nature Center for a picnic and a little hiking. There is evidence there still of a fire that went thru there quite awhile back. It was so peaceful and quiet on the trails surrounded by giant pine and oak trees and lots of interesting Manzanita trees that have red bark. The bark splits and peels in places to expose the white wood underneath. It looks really cool!

From there, I drove up Hwy 243 north of town about 10 miles to Lake Fulmor. I stopped along the way for some photo ops of the mountains. Lake Fulmor is a small natural lake surrounded by mountains and has a wonderful picnic area. There is a trail all around the lake, however, it is blocked at one end by a huge pine tree that fell across it. I took lots of pics there because of the beautiful scenery and the reflections on the water of the surrounding trees and mountains. There is a fishing dock there and several picnic tables along one side of the lake. Saw several ducks swimming there. It wasn't too crowded being during the week. And also Hwy 243 is closed just past the lake going towards Los Angeles from a road washout during last February's heavy rainfall. So you can only get to the lake from Idyllwild now.

The weather was perfect, about 80 degrees with a light breeze! So much better than the 122* we had in the Coachella Valley a day or so earlier!

When I got back into town, I stopped at a restaurant/bar to have supper. Nothing to brag about. Food was OK but lousy service. Then I went back to the cabin and relaxed for the night. It was so nice and cool out after the sun set, so I sat out on the deck for awhile.

The next morning, I stopped at a cafe just down the street for breakfast. I ate out on their deck with a great view and nice breeze. I then went into town and walked thru the cute little shops there. There are a lot of spiritual, new-agey, and Native American shops which I really love. Bought a few little things before heading back home in the afternoon.

Here are the best of the many photos I took along the way...

This is along the road going up the mountain...

This is Lake Hemet...

This is at Lake Hemet Campground...

Some photos of the wildfire burn areas...

A little beauty among the scars...

Look at what is sitting at the top of this tree...

Here he is. Not sure what he is tho...any thoughts? There were a couple more in other trees...

My car in contrast to the blackened landscape...

These were taken at the Idyllwild Nature Center. These are the Manzanita trees...

You can see some evidence of a past fire on this tree...

Such colorful and interesting trees!...

There were pieces of bark laying on the ground that had interesting designs and coloring...

Peeling bark and some green growth on the Manzanita tree...

There were Native American tribes in this area long ago and they left these bedrock morters behind where they ground plants and seeds into flour...

Pine and oak seedlings growing side by side...

This tree grew in a crack in the rock and split it apart as it grew...

Same tree on the other side. Interesting growth lines in the wood...

Interesting rock shape. Almost looks like a little man facing the larger rock...

One of the largest trees in the park. I forget what kind it is tho...

This tree was marked to be cut down but then was saved due to being a home for various wildlife, etc. Was marked with "WL" to keep it from being removed.

A dry creek bed...

A local resident. I saw lots of these, but no other wildlife...

Beautiful canopy of trees along the trail...

Interesting twisted shape of this fallen tree...

There was no information on this interesting boulder. I can't tell if it is natural or manmade? It is near where the Indian morters are located so maybe they made these too?...

Another very large tree...

Love the texture of this old tree...

Moon coming up...

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, lol!

I just like the shapes and colors...

Saw this strange looking bee flying around these flowers.///

I think this is Diamond Valley Reservoir near Hemet, CA...

Lots of white rock up here with interesting shapes...

Like these lines in this rock...

More wildlife...

Beautiful green vista...

Great camouflage...

Welcome to Lake Fulmor...

Luckily, I didn't see any of these guys here...

This is the tree that fell across the trail...

This shows just how big this tree is!

A couple of the picnic areas...

People have carved their names in these trees. Every tree is covered with names...

That is a fishing dock across the lake there...

The breeze died and I got a perfect reflection!

Pretty flowers growing out of this boulder. That is the water in the background...

These trees will grow anywhere!

Great view!

This is so cool! That little pine tree growing into the rock looks like the eye of some creature!

Cool white rock!

The deck of my cabin...only $60 per night! Was really nice inside with all knotty pine walls and vaulted ceiling. Needs a little updating outside tho.

Strawberry Creek goes thru town...

Driving back to the desert...

An overlook just as you start coming down the side of the mountain into the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs and the other towns along the base of the mountains).