Positioned directly between the pine-dotted Garner and arid Anza Valleys is the great ridge of Thomas Mountain. Stretching about 10 miles from Lake Hemet to Highway 371, this impressive ridgeline both is the stalwart ballast of the southern San Jacinto Mountains, and an impressive block in keeping the Sonoran Desert out of the Southland. From its wide summit, one can lookout openly into five counties: Los Angeles County with distant Mount Baldy and Santa Catalina Island, San Bernardino County crowned by the San Gorgonio Massif, Riverside County, the county in which the peak is in, Orange County's Santiago and Modjeska Peaks, and San Diego County, with its respectable forested summits of Hot Springs, Agua Tibia, Palomar and Volcan. As mentioned, the views are phenomenal; and with all of the Los Angeles-San Diego Metro area's major mountains in sight, the Sonoran Desert, and the distant sea with its islands, it is hard to think of a better viewpoint at this elevation.
The Ramona Trail, named for Helen Hunt Jackson's famous 1884 locale novel Ramona, in which the story is told in these very mountains, is seldom used. The trip can be made even more solitary by attempting on a weekday, and when snow covers most of the trail, both conditions of which were met for my climb. As such, I saw no one all day, which when considering the silent glistening forest and freezing, blustery temperatures made for quite an extraordinary day.
Stats:
Category: Strenuous
Miles: 13
Elevation Gain: 2400'
Location: San Bernardino National Forest
The Trail: From the easy-to-miss trailhead, follow the trail as it leads up onto the lower, chaparral covered slopes of Thomas Mountain. The vegetation at this elevation is comprised mainly of Red Shank, distinguishable by its namesake peeling red bark and Scrub Oak, a hardy plant able to withstand freezing winters and blistering, dry summers. As the trail ascends, the view north will become more expansive with the bulwark of San Jacinto Peak, and the Taquitz formation. Directly across from you is the Desert Divide and the Pacific Crest Trail, charred from the relentless 2013 Mountain Fire; eventually consuming 28,000 acres of prime forest, 23 buildings, and $25 million until its satiation.
About 2 miles from the trailhead, the vegetation morphs into a quasi-forest, with chaparral still being dominant, but with many Coulter and Ponderosa Pines and Live Oaks also taking their stand. The trail passes Dripping Springs, which flows seasonally from a spout about 3 miles from the start. Shortly thereafter, you arrive at a summer campground along the Thomas Mountain Road (6S13), and some restrooms. From here you are about half-way to the summit, but with only 800' of gain left. Head west (right) on the dirt road as it meanders through the forest of pine and cedar, taking extra caution if there is snow present. The USGS Topo Map has the small spur road to the summit marked incorrectly as 6S13D; however that route is nonexistent, so follow the path up marked 6S13C, about 3 miles from the camp, to the blustery summit of Thomas Mountain at 6,825'.
On summit there used to be an old fire lookout, but the Forest Service took it down, and instead placed a small radio-communicated near the actual high point. Enjoy the expansive view south towards Cahuilla Mountain, the Palomars, the Volcans and Santa Anas, and the Panamanian north and east towards San Jacinto, and lonely Toro Peak respectively. When I went, it was 30 F, with 20 MPH wind on top, so I did not stay long. Return the way you came.
Hiked: 2/2/2016. Riverside County
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| Beginning: 39 F |
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| Some snow on the sides... |
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| Snow in the Chaparral |
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| I don't think the little Cactus likes this snow.... |
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| Icicles on trail |
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| Large icicle |
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| The Trail? |
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| Near Dripping Springs...which was dry |
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| Thomas Mountain Rd. |
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| Full on snow! |
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| Christmas Tree? |
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| "In the meadow we can build a snowman..." |
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| "Frost and Snow, Bless the Lord" |
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| Spur Trail to the summit |
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| Nearing Summit |
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| Logs near summit and view east |
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| On summit |
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| South |
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| Old Fire Lookout Ruins |
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| San Jacinto Peak and friends |
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| Snow on descent |
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| Toro Peak on the way down |
The Ramona Trail, named for Helen Hunt Jackson's famous 1884 locale novel Ramona, in which the story is told in these very mountains, is seldom used. The trip can be made even more solitary by attempting on a weekday, and when snow covers most of the trail, both conditions of which were met for my climb. As such, I saw no one all day, which when considering the silent glistening forest and freezing, blustery temperatures made for quite an extraordinary day.
About 2 miles from the trailhead, the vegetation morphs into a quasi-forest, with chaparral still being dominant, but with many Coulter and Ponderosa Pines and Live Oaks also taking their stand. The trail passes Dripping Springs, which flows seasonally from a spout about 3 miles from the start. Shortly thereafter, you arrive at a summer campground along the Thomas Mountain Road (6S13), and some restrooms. From here you are about half-way to the summit, but with only 800' of gain left. Head west (right) on the dirt road as it meanders through the forest of pine and cedar, taking extra caution if there is snow present. The USGS Topo Map has the small spur road to the summit marked incorrectly as 6S13D; however that route is nonexistent, so follow the path up marked 6S13C, about 3 miles from the camp, to the blustery summit of Thomas Mountain at 6,825'. 
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