Idyllwild is a small hiking town near the San Jacinto Mountains. 2 hours from Los Angeles, it’s one of the closest hiking destinations with trees instead of dry shrubs. Idyllwild winter is always a great idea.
It’s been over 1 year since I moved to LA, and I have to say I miss hiking among trees. LA definitely has its hikes, but it’s mostly coastal hikes. Near Santa Monica, you’ll be hiking on dusty dirt and shrubs. Closer to Palos Verdes, it’s a big rockier and coastal. But I haven’t been able to find anywhere close that has trees .. until Idyllwild!
Winter in Idyllwild is a perfect weekend getaway if you’re looking for something quiet and relaxing, with some good hiking with pine trees nearby. It’s also a great trip year-round, even in December when it’s usually freezing everywhere else. Even if there is snow in Idyllwild, the weather will be much more moderate! I can’t recommend Idyllwild enough if you’re looking to unplug and want somewhere driving distance from Los Angeles.
PS – if you are looking more for weekend inspiration near Los Angeles, check out my Los Angeles hikes and hit the comment section below if you want more inspiration!
IDYLLWILD Winter Accommodation
There are many options when it comes to Idyllwild winter accommodation.
1. Silver Pines Lodge ($$)
Close to the center of town, Silver Pines Lodge is a cozy and affordable option. Nightly rates are around $110/night.
2. The Grand Idyllwild Lodge ($$$)
For a more luxury option, check out The Grand Idyllwild Lodge. They are a boutique luxury lodge with a fantastic breakfast, spa and more. Nightly rates are around $400/night in the winter.
3. Airbnb
And then of course there is Airbnb! We stayed at a cozy A-frame cabin in the town of Idyllwild. Equipped with a hot tub, this was perfect for a winter weekend in Idyllwild. If you don’t have Airbnb yet, sign up here.
WHAT TO DO IN IDYLLWILD IN THE WINTER
There is a lot of great hiking near the town of Idyllwild. Most of the trailheads are close to town so there are a lot of good options. These were some of our favorite hikes in Idyllwild snow:
Suicide Rock Trail
This 6.3 mile out and back trail takes you along the San Jacinto Mountains, with views of Lily Rock and Tahquitz Peak. It is not dog friendly
Tahquitz Peak via Devils Slide Trail
This full trail is 8.1 miles there and back, but in the winter there will be ice as you get closer to Saddle Junction. This trail is the only dog-friendly trail in Idyllwild in the winter.
Bring good hiking boots and crampons if you want to do the full loop, otherwise, you will have to turn around ~2.5 miles in because of how deep the snow gets, making the total hike 5 miles. Here are my favorites:
See more on the map here and don’t forget to buy a permit here if needed!
Relax in Idyllwild!
Of course, one of the best things to do will also be relaxing in a hot tub which is why I loved our Airbnb 🙂 Many of the lodges will also have a spa option where you can unwind.
FAQs for Winter in Idyllwild
Where to Eat in Idyllwild
If you have a pup, Idyllwild is a great place to take him/her, even in the winter. I’m sure Idyllwild in the summer is dog friendly and that carries over in the winter! Most of the restaurants have an outdoor patio with some kind of heating so you can eat there without worrying about freezing your butt off. Plus, it doesn’t get too cold in the winter anyway.
Some of the dog-friendly restaurants in Idyllwild we liked are Cafe Aroma, La Casita Mexican Restaurant, Red Kettle, and Tommy’s Kitchen.
How Long Should You Stay?
In terms of activities in Idyllwild in the winter, there isn’t a ton to do. As you can see, most of the activities are around hiking. The town itself is also pretty small so there is a limited amount of shopping available.
In my opinion, it is perfect to spend 3 days in Idyllwild in the winter.
Have you been to Idyllwild? What are your recommendations?
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Thanks for this post – in Idyllwild now and looking for trail ideas. Humboldt trailhead is closed so that limits things quite a bit. There are some near the Nature Center (sounds cheesy, I know) that I took a peak at today, heading back with snow shoes tomorrow.
And I hear you about needing to hike in trees – add to that, I want a rushing river, too! Both can be very hard to find near LA, but if you haven’t discovered it yet, you might want to check out Ice House Canyon Trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/ice-house-canyon-trail Trailhead was under 90 minutes from my friend’s house in Silver Lake! (Not at rush hour, lol.) I did this one last April, things were already getting fairly dry in the region but the river was still going. I went on a weekday afternoon and it wasn’t too crowded … it’s dog friendly too. I’m not sure how the fires later in the year might have affected the area, so you may want to check on that. Happy hiking.