Thomas Mountain

Overview

The San Jacinto District of San Bernardino National Forest contains some of Southern California’s most beautiful mountain environments. The star of this particular show has always been the San Jacinto Mountains, dominated by Southern California’s second highest point, the 10,834’ Mt. San Jacinto. Although the San Jacintos, with their rugged slopes, soaring views, and dense forests, receive the bulk of the notice, Thomas Mountain’s unassuming but no less beautiful habitats invite consideration. Gently swelling, conifer-crowned Thomas Mountain rises from the southern edge of Garner Valley, standing in contrast to the rugged crags of the San Jacinto Mountains to the east. This moderately strenuous hike travels through a variety of ecosystems, including montane chaparral, pine-and-oak woodland, meadows, and mixed-conifer forest. Visitors can enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping at the yellow post campsites, backpacking, mountain biking, and off-roading. A network of dirt roads traverse the upper reaches of the mountain linking several yellow post campsites in an informal constellation of campgrounds. The yellow post campsites are a signature of the San Jacinto district, and other similar campgrounds can be found near and on the summit of Santa Rosa Mountain and Black Mountain. Hikers can reach the mountain’s forested heights by way of the narrow, twisting Ramona Trail which originates from Highway 243, just north of the junction with Highway 74. This trail provides a single-track shortcut from the highway to Tool Box Spring Campground. The remainder of the hike to the summit follows the access roads, which hikers may find themselves sharing from time to time with off-road vehicles and mountain bikers. From the wide parking area at the entrance to the Ramona Trail, pass through a metal barrier to follow the eroded bed of an old access road. This road heads straight into a ravine before the narrower single-track Ramona Trail splits off on the left to begin a switchbacking climb thr

Trail Stats

Photos

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Tags