Have you ever heard of Idyllwild? Chances are this idyllic mountain town has been flying under your radar and yet there are so many great things to do in Idylwild, California. Located on the top of St. Jacinto mountain right above Palm Springs, Idyllwild is a complete “antipode” of Palm Springs with much cooler weather (due to its 6000 ft elevation above sea level), big pine trees and gorgeous mountain scenery. Idyllwild has a mountain/ski resort vibe and yes, it snows here in winter.
Visiting Idyllwild should definitely be on your list of things to do in Palm Springs – it makes for a great day trip or a weekend getaway.
Below is my list of favorite things to do in Idyllwild, especially if you travel with kids. Most of these activities and attractions are totally FREE of charge:
Things to Do in Idyllwild: #1 Palms to Pines Scenic Byway
Palms to Pines Scenic Byway is a beautiful drive which takes about 45 minutes from the bottom of the mountain to Idyllwild. Take your time, don’t rush, stop at the scenic lookout sand enjoy the scenery.
Things to Do in Idyllwild: #2 Lake Fulmor
Lake Fulmor will be one of your major stops on the way to Idyllwild. It is a small but beautiful lake that has a paved walking trail along its shores and a bunch of picnic tables. It is so peaceful and quiet here! It is good for fishing too as it is home to catfish, bluegill, largemouth bass and it is stocked with rainbow trout by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Please, note that you will need California fishing license to fish at Lake Fulmor.
Things to Do in Idyllwild: #3 Indian Vista Scenic Overlook
Indian Vista Scenic Overlook is about a mile or so up the road from Lake Fulmor. Definitely stop here for some gorgeous views. They reminded me of Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains at the same time.
Things to Do in Idyllwild: #4 Hiking, Hiking, Hiking
Once you have arrived in town the best thing to do in Idyllwild is hiking. And then more hiking. Idyllwild has lots of fantastic trails for all levels of abilities, 275 miles of them to be exact. All of them are beautiful mountain trails and the only problem may be your ability to choose your favorite with so much choice. The best family friendly hiking trails are located around the Nature Center (more info below).
Things to Do in Idyllwild: #5 Idyllwild Nature Center
Idyllwild Nature Center is a great attraction for the entire family. The Center itself is an educational facility dedicated to the plant and animal life of the region but you can also learn about local native tribes here. In and around the center you can see some live birds and amphibians. In addition to that there are several places for kids’ outdoor fun, such as a meditation labyrinth and a tepee building site (with all materials provided)
The best activity at the Center is, of course, hiking. There are lots of great easy trails for kids here. We hiked the following trails: Viewpoint, Nature, Yellow Pine and Perimeter. We enjoyed them all. Viewpoint trail is the shortest but it has the most stunning vistas.
Things to Do in Idyllwild: #6 Idyllwild Deer Sightings
I am willing to bet both kids and adults will love this cool thing to do in Idyllwild – who doesn’t like a good old scavenger hunt? There are roughly 50 painted deer and 2 coyotes in town lovingly created by local artists. Each one is unique and has its own theme. They are all picture perfect! How many will you be able to find?
Things to Do in Idyllwild: #7 Community Center Playground
Idyllwild Community Center Playground is big (what you see below is just a small portion of it) with lots of different activities. If you are travelling with kids, running off some steam here is one of the best things you can do in Idyllwild and kids will love you for that, guaranteed!
Things to Do in Idyllwild: #8 Delicious Food
Idyllwild has lots of great restaurants and cafes. For such a small town it has a huge selection of excellent foodie pit stops. The only problem is it is super hard to choose which one is the best (the same as with hiking trails 🙂 )! We had a delicious Italian meal at Fratello’s Ristorante & Pizzeria and then later we had homemade ice cream at Idyllwild Ice Cream & Jerky. We absolutely loved both places!
Things to Do in Idyllwild: #9 Meet the Mayor
You cannot leave Idyllwild without meeting the town’s Mayor. In fact, this is the most unique thing to do in Idyllwild because its Mayor is… a dog!! Yes, a cute and super friendly lab named Max who LOVES meeting people. He holds his daily encounters with fans next to Wooley’s store on N. Circle Drive on Monday – Friday at 4 pm and on weekends at 2 pm.
Mayor Max the First was elected to office in 2012 by two thirds of the town’s votes and in 2014 people of Idyllwild decided that Max will be their Mayor in perpetuity. By now they already have Mayor Max II in office and the town folks seem to be super happy with their choice.
You may think that people of Idyllwild are a little crazy but when I look at some of our country’s politicians I honestly believe that a dog, ANY dog would have served better…
Conclusion
Idyllwild totally lived up to our expectations of being idyllic and wild. On top of everything I already mentioned above there are also many cute shops to explore in town and support small businesses. You should definitely add Idyllwild to you Palm Springs itinerary or it can be a great getaway on its own.
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Enjoy your trip!
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