Rock Point

Rock Point, photo by Sharon Moore

Rock Point, photo by Google Earth

Rock Point, photo by Valerie Norton

Rock Point, Photo by Sharon Moore.

Peak Name

Rock Point

28N

Elevation

5280

feet

Status

active

Region

Desert Divide

Range

San Jacinto Mountains

Nearby peaks

Butterfly Peak

Location

33.5991933,-116.587517

Description

This aptly named rocky outcropping is a pleasant hike that is usually combined with nearby Butterfly Peak, or with Ken Point after a short drive. The route winds up rocky slopes dotted with red shank and boulders, climbing to views of pretty Garner Valley to the west and the remarkable Desert Divide profile to the north.

Route 1 follows the Butterfly Peak trail to Gold Hill, where you can read about the history of the area, then heads south to the rocky but not difficult summit. Route 2 approaches the peak from the southwest but has been withdrawn because it crosses private property. It can be hiked with permission of the Garner Valley Property Owners Association who own the land, or one of its residents, among whom are some HPS members. Route 3 follows a newer and very good trail from the Butterfly Route 1 trailhead to join Rock Point Route 1.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1

Elevation Gain

720′

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

4 miles round trip on road and cross-country

Estimated time

2-3 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-10 or SR 60 east to SR 79 in Beaumont. Take exit south to SR 79.
Go south on SR 79 to the Ramona Expressway. Turn left (east).
Go east and then southeast on the Ramona Expressway until it ends at SR 74. Turn left (east).
Go east on SR 74 to Mountain Center (junction with Idyllwild Highway – SR 243).
Continue east on SR 74 for 10.1 miles to Toolbox Springs Road on the left. Turn left. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 0.6 mile, fork. Go left on Butterfly Peak Road.
At 0.8 mile, fork. Go right on Table Mountain Road.
At 1.0 mile, a narrow dirt road on the right, marked “Private Property”. All vehicles must park here along Table Mountain Road.

Hiking route

From the parking area (4560’+), hike southeast on the private lane to a T-intersection in front of a house, about 150 yards.
Turn left and hike along a fence. After about 1/8 mile, the road turns sharply right at a locked gate, and goes uphill.
Keep right at a fork and continue on to another fork just southeast of Gold Hill (on topo), about 1 mile from the cars. This is the turnoff for Butterfly Peak.
Take the right fork, follow the poor jeep road south about 3/4 mile to a clearing. (The last 1/2 mile of this road is a well-travelled footpath/horse trail.)
From here, the peak is visible to the south. There may be a stake in a rock cairn to mark the start of the route, with a second stake in about 50 yards. Also, at the start of the route on your right side (west) is a pile of wood boards.
Head toward the summit along a shallow stream bed, looking for a ducked route that leads off to the left (east). Follow this route to the summit. It is not necessary to climb the large class 5 summit block. The register is below the summit block.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2

Elevation Gain

550′

Navigation Difficulty

Difficult

Distance

2 miles round trip on road and cross-country

Estimated time

2-3 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-10 or SR 60 east to SR 79 in Beaumont. Take exit south to SR 79.
Go south on SR 79 to the Ramona Expressway. Turn left (east).
Go east and then southeast on the Ramona Expressway until it ends at SR 74. Turn left (east).
Go east on SR 74 to Mountain Center (junction with Idyllwild Highway – SR 243).
Continue east on SR 74 for 10.5 miles to Devil’s Ladder Road and turn left. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 0.5 mile, reach an opening in a white fence. Park here.

Hiking route

From the parking area (4590’+), hike east on a dirt road/easement toward a water tower. After a approximately 1/4 miles the dirt road/easement crosses a paved road. Continue up the dirt road to the water tower.
On the east side on of the water tower is a use trail going east to a ridge. The use trail is rocky and somewhat hard to follow.
From the ridge follow the use trail northeast to the peak.

Route Notes

Printable Route