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Deer Springs Trail to Suicide Rock

Riverside · Managed by Mount San Jacinto State Park (California State Parks) · Region: San Jacinto Mountains
Difficulty 18/100 · Easyout and back#viewpoint#rock-climbing-history#idyllwild#day-hike-plus
Distance
6.6 mi
Total gain
1,900 ft
Net gain
1,900 ft
Net loss
1,900 ft
Days
1–2
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires prohibited

Overview

Suicide Rock is Idyllwild's famous granite face — a 7,528-foot overlook with a notorious name and an even better view. The Deer Springs Trail climbs 1,900 feet in 3.3 miles to its top, a classic warm-up for the peak routes beyond.

Highlights

  • The face of Suicide Rock dropping 700 feet to Strawberry Valley
  • Views over Idyllwild and the desert beyond
  • A piece of Southern California climbing history
  • The trailhead for the longer Deer Springs peak route

How hard is Deer Springs Trail to Suicide Rock?

CaliPeaks rates this route 18/100 (Easy). The score weights five factors: climbing counts for 45% — 1,900 ft puts this trip at 16% of the reference climb; distance 20% at 6.6 miles; maximum altitude 15% at 7,477 ft; route technicality 10% (established trail throughout); and trip length 10% at 2 days. A score under 20 suits first-time backpackers; 60+ means serious endurance. See how we score difficulty for the full method.

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Deer Springs Trailhead (Idyllwild) · parking: Deer Springs trailhead on Highway 243 near Idyllwild
  • Water: Seasonal streams near Strawberry Junction; carry water in dry months.
  • Resupply: None; Idyllwild has full services.
  • Shuttle: Not needed for an out-and-back.
  • Stove required: yes — no fires possible on this route

Permits

  • Agency: Mount San Jacinto State Park (California State Parks)
  • Reserve or apply on parks.ca.gov
  • Quota: Free day-use wilderness permits; overnight camping permits $5 per person.
  • Reservation window: Permits issued at the Idyllwild Ranger Station.

Campfires & stove regulations

Campfires prohibited. Campfires are prohibited in the state wilderness. Only portable stoves with an on/off switch are permitted. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: April, May, June, September, October.

Snow: Usually snow-free April through November.

Heat: Warm on the exposed rock.

Bugs: Minimal.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • The rock's edge is unguarded — keep back
  • Water is seasonal along the trail
  • Stoves only in the wilderness; dogs prohibited

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. SRTM90 elevation data (sampled). OpenTopoData (SRTM, NASA/USGS-derived open data) via Photon geocoding (OpenStreetMap). https://www.opentopodata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-10. Elevation sampled at geocoded coordinates; location from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL).
  2. Hiking Trails — Mount San Jacinto State Park. California State Parks. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30375. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Deer Springs Trail to Suicide Rock (6.6 mi round trip, 1,900 ft elevation gain), rated Strenuous; Suicide Rock lies in the San Bernardino National Forest.
  3. Mount San Jacinto State Park. California State Parks. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=636. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Wilderness permit requirements, campfire prohibition and stove rule, dogs prohibited.
  4. San Jacinto Peak. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Jacinto_Peak. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Summit elevation (10,834 ft) and range context.