California · Rock climbing · Idyllwild

Ernie Maxwell Trail

Ernie Maxwell Trail in California has 2 trad climbing routes.

Ernie Maxwell TrailPhoto: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
2 routes
5.7 – 5.11b
Trad

Is Ernie Maxwell Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for San Bernardino National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · San Bernardino National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Ernie Maxwell Trail

Best months: April–July and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

  1. Jan

    55° / 31°

    7 wet · 2 snow

  2. Feb

    54° / 30°

    7 wet · 3 snow

  3. Mar

    59° / 32°

    6 wet · 2 snow

  4. Apr

    64° / 35°

    4 wet · 1 snow

  5. May

    71° / 41°

    2 wet

  6. Jun

    80° / 48°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    85° / 55°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    86° / 55°

    3 wet

  9. Sep

    81° / 50°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    72° / 42°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    62° / 35°

    4 wet · 1 snow

  12. Dec

    54° / 30°

    6 wet · 2 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Idyllwild Fire Dept, CA, 1.1 mi away at 5,380 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Ernie Maxwell Trail is a climbing area in the San Jacinto Ranger District of San Bernardino National Forest in California. It sits within the San Jacinto - Santa Rosa Mountains Recreation Area, about a mile from the San Jacinto - Santa Rosa Mountains Recreation Area's fishing waters. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Idyllwild show May highs around 71°F and October highs around 72°F, while July and August climb to the mid-80s. That station sits about 660 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Other problems, a climbing area, is just 0.1 mile away, and Parking Lot Boulder is about half a mile off. South Ridge and Lower South Ridge are both about half a mile away for hiking.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive