Idyllwild Nature Center Reviews

This is a place where you can hike and clear your mind of the day to day stuff. Great trails and local places to eat and shop.

I was here last weekend on a whim. Took the scenic 395 highway from Palm Springs . It snowed the night before so the driving there and back down looks like a scene from a movie. Very picturesque. The nature center is about a mile away from the center of the town. There is 4$ parking that's "optional" per person . There are picnic areas and restroom. You can also take someone in a wheelchair since the road is paved. From the center , you can continue on trails as you pleases. It's really beautiful and so romantic there esp. after a snowfall.

Visited this center with my two labs, Nala & Ginger. There is a small center with exhibits. The trails are nice, we took two smaller easy hikes and enjoyed them. We brought our lunch and had a nice picnic at tables outside the center. I would like to go back and take a longer hike from here.

The staff here are great. Really helpful and friendly. The cost is reasonable at $4 adult & $1 each dog.

Many winding trails to choose from that go all through the mountains and valleys. Far away from the city and any traffic, gives that great feeling of being out in the wilderness.

Looks like a great place to bring groups of kids. There was a bus full of first graders and parents. I got put off by the live snakes in the nature center and the possibility rattlers could be on the hiking trail so opted not to do that. Maybe next time.

The nature center is a great place to learn about native flora, fauna, and wildlife. There are a few short, easy trails with some pretty views. I would go back if I go back to Idyllwild.

We visited on a day when the exhibits were closed. Still got to hike around and enjoy the views and fresh air. There was a light snow on the ground which made things more holiday-like. Not very crowded so it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. Definitely worth a visit and a must see if you're in town.

Beautiful vistas and so many granite rocks. There are hiking trails and so much beauty. Wish we could have spent more time.

My family and I have visited countless nature centers across the US, and this small center within walking (hiking) distance from our campsite is very much worth a visit. The information is very good, and there are fun interactive displays and a few young-child oriented games. There is also some programming available if you can schedule the time.

The Idyllwild Nature Center was nicely done but pretty small. The exhibits were neat and informative. However, k$4 seems a lot for a day-use fee per person. The trails were well-kept but a little too close to the highway to feel like you were getting away from it all. The grinding rocks were pretty cool. One minor grumble: they closed the bathroom, or tried to, 15 minutes early. We did not appreciate this since we'd raced down the trail to be sure we were back to use them before they did close.

Breathtaking 🙏. We felt like being under the sea 🌊 with all the trees 🌲 tree 🌳 that looks like corral reef.

This is a beautiful place to visit , clean , tranquil and with amazing nature views .
Hiking is a must , easy trail yet a lot to see . Don't forget to stop by gift shop and take a souvenir home !!

We went to the Idyllwild Nature Center for a hike with our dog. We did a day use, the Center was closed on the day we were there. We were very disappointed that there wasn’t a display case with a map of the trails so we could plan our hike. The trails were poorly marked, another disappointment, but we managed to achieve our goal of finding the scenic overview, which was absolutely beautiful. We brought a picnic lunch, and thoroughly enjoyed resting on a large rock and eating and resting while taking in the gorgeous scenery and tranquility.

Enjoyed trading stories with staff at the Nature Center, then took a 45 minute short loop hike on a hot day. It was a nice break and we enjoyed ourselves.

We visited here and enjoyed all of the exhibits. We also walked the trails and enjoyed nature. Lots of manzanitas!!

It has two nice hikes, one very easy for young children to walk, (without holding hands) . The other one is harder. Inside the building there are activities for the children to see and do. Lots of animals (stuffed) on display that are native to the area.

Great place to enjoy the forest and learn about nature. There is ample parking. There are many things for children to see and do here.

Cool little nature center that highlights local flora and fauna. Yes, stuffed animals including the bigger predators. Easy parking, great hikes that start right there. Easy parking.

Looking for a good hike, we stopped here for a quick overview of the area and ended up discovering several great trails, of varying difficulty, that leave right from the Nature Center. We embarked on the Summit Loop Trail, which was advertised as roughly 1.6 miles. It seemed MUCH longer, but was a fantastic, challenging, and scenic hike! Completely recommended. The Nature Center charges $2 per person and $1 for dogs for use of the trails and grounds. Their maps are a little confusing (and possibly misleading) but the trails are well marked. There are picnic tables on the Nature Center grounds and it would be a great, serene place to have a picnic lunch. The Center itself is pretty small with some stuffed cougars, owls, rattlesnakes, etc. on display. Nothing too exciting for us. It would probably be more interesting for kids. Nonetheless, do the hikes. Great intro to the beauty of Idyllwild!

Nature Center has a map showing hikes in the areas. Marked Easy, Moderate and Harder. Lower parking lots were full as we were there on a holiday weekend and it was busy with a wildflower show too. We took a short hike down to the nature center and then hiked some easy short trails back to our car. Nice view spots, well marked trails and with the pamphlet that they give you with your entrance fee...you learn about the area. Nice if you wanted to have a picnic lunch. We spent about an hour and a half there, but even with the short hikes you could spend a few hours there. Entrance fee was $4 per adult.

My wife and I had the privilege of getting married at the Idyllwild Nature Center last month, so this spot holds a very special place in our hearts. The ranger team made us feel welcome and were incredibly accommodating as we pieced everything together for our big day. In the end, we got married under a giant 400 year-old coast live oak surrounded by beautiful manzanita trees, who could ask for anything for more? The trails, the views, the trees, just a wonderful place that's definitely worth a visit.

On the recommendation of a friend, we stopped at Idyllwild on our way to Palm Springs for a hike. To our delight, including our dog's, there was snow on the ground. We stopped at the Nature Center and decided to take the Perimeter Hike. It took about 2 hours and we were rewarded with wonderful views at the apex of our climb. There's something about looking down on the cloud layer that always adds a little extra beauty to the view. We enjoyed the hike so much that next time we'll come to Idyllwild as a final destination.

Beautiful views with paths to suit young kids or to carry a baby. The center has a play area for kids as well.

Center was closed on day after Thanksgiving. Easy trails. Takes awhile to figure out markings of trails. No permit needed on these trails

This is a cute little park carved out of wilderness. It's good for hikers with kids of people who may not want a too streneous hike. If you come here in early spring like I have the rivers are running and the views are stunning without much effort. The museum is very cute and informational. Great for kids. Also did some awesome geocaching in the area.

You will be able to fine lots of organic foods friendly staff very helpful I specially love love the honey is local.

This is well worth a trip by parents and children. Lots to see and trails to hike. Nice Nature museum and live animals like snakes, turtles etc. Need at least 1-2 hours to really enjoy.

We had a great time hiking around the grounds of the nature center. We enjoyed the beautiful weather, climbing on rocks, and sitting on benches enjoying the beautiful view. We also found large clusters of ladybugs which was cool to find!

Nice place to enjoy mountain..only 1hr 30 minutes from LA..good place for mountain escape.. a lot restaurants. It have Big Rock mountain for hiking..
Good people in the store and restaurants.Good place for Dog Lover :-)
The city mayor name MAX : Dog
After you done visit Idyllwild the good thing continue go visit Cabazon Outlet Premium.
One the good place for shopping.

This is a county park. The $3 per person fee is also good for admission to any other Riverside County park (Hurkey Creek, for example) on the same day.

The center has excellent displays and is staffed by friendly, knowledgeable people. For birders there are several reasons to come here. White-headed Woodpecker and Band-tailed Pigeons can be found here in February (the only time of year I've been here). Pygmy and White-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee, Dark-eyed Juncos, Acorn Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, and Williamson's Sapsucker are present.

A hike along the easy 3/4 mile nature trail is a good way to seek many birds and learn about the natural history of the area. Sitting quietly on the deck watching the bird feeders is a pleasant way to spend part of your visit here. If here at mid-day, you may have a White-headed Woodpecker work a tree overhead while you picnic.

Cute little town. Charming little shops, painted deer statues all over and great places to eat. Drive up and down the mountain a fun drive

We still walked the perimeter despite it being closed and I was scared out of my wits! I kept thinking that a bear would come.....LOL I wish I would have stayed another day to see what was inside the Nature Center. Until next time....

Inside the Nature Center there are great exhibits, birds, animals, and books, rocks, and souvenirs to buy. Animals are stuffed and are up close. Young children love looking at the animals, and so do I.

Easy 1/2 mile pleasant hiking and picnicking.

Make this a stop on your trip to Idyllwild.

Nice gift shop and nature center. Has periodic special exhibits, e.g. flower show. The trails are very manageable, though not 100% flat and over a variety of distances. These are good trails for kids, complete with nature trail and fun climbing rocks.

We made the Nature Center our second stop when we got to the town of Idyllwild. We had lunch at the Idyllwild park and then drove to the nature center and was informed we would have to pay the $7.00 per person fee again. We were expecting a real nature center and nature trails but they have neither. They have about 6 hiking trails of different difficulty and a small display of animals.
This is really a place to pay to hike a trail that has a bathroom at the trail-head. The staff in the store were very rude to us when we told them the ranger at the park told us the fee we paid there would be good for both places almost yelling at me that that was not correct and I needed to pay again.
I was so upset over the treatment we did not hike any of the trails, we just left. If you want to hike in Idyllwild go to the downtown area and walk around the streets, it is free and they have restrooms available.
I am not paying $7.00 per person to hike a trail under 2 miles long.
Do not bother stopping at the Nature Center unless you like rude and overpriced treatment.

Very nice place to stop and walk some trails and see some scenic views around Idyllwild. The nature center has a few nice exhibits.

We had a great hike here. We hiked the summit trail and completed a loop on the perimeter trail. It took us about 4 hours, which included a stop in the picnic area and time for sight seeing.

We paid our 3 dollars at the gate and went in to look around the center building. While looking at the displays of stuffed local wildlife, in their former lives, and reading the display explanations we met one of the docents. As luck would have it he was extremely knowledgable. He was doing a training of one of the new employees and invited us to tag along. We took the short trail and listened in to his descriptions of the points along the way. Do get a tour! You could walk this quarter mile and miss everything. Did you know that Jeffery Pines smelled like vanilla? They do!

This place is great. A beautiful drive in. It's not big but it does a great job at having examples of the local flora and fauna. Free parking the times we've been there. Drop a couple bucks in the donation box on your way out if you and your family got value from your visit.
They also allow local emergency services to hold meetings in their big meeting room. Very cool.

Worth the visit if you're in the area. Informative presentations on the local flora and fauna and geography/geology.

We visited the Idyllwild Nature Center on a busy Saturday when they had a special family event on, but the staff were great and very helpful in advising us as visiting birders from the UK on how to connect with our target species, particularly White-headed Woodpecker. There is a lovely deck with feeders and as it quietened down, the birds returned and we caught up on everything we wanted to see. There are lovely trails through the woods, and we greatly enjoyed our visit.

Thanks to everyone for being so knowledgeable and generous with their time - we visited a lot of nature centers on our trip where the staff knew very little about where to see wildlife on their patch, so Idyllwild really stood out.

There are a variety of small live creatures to hold and behold. Staff was very forthcoming with information and interaction with the center. Pelts to touch, microscopes to view, and videos presented by decendents of the first people in the area. I think it's a great little museum and you could spend a good hour there if you took the time to read & take in the displays. Our favorite item is the North American Lion skull. The grounds has various levels of walking trails - dirt so expect that. We have a great jogging stroller with air filled tires that I sepcifically got for offroading trails like this. Great for bird watching and other wildlife there. We saw a mama squirrel chirping away, a tortise, lizards, and a variety of birds. Clean restrooms. Lots of picnic tables, shade, and trees. Well worth the minimal price of a couple of bucks per person. We went for Mother's Day with my parents and our toddler. Great fun for all ages.

I love how beautiful this place is , there is so many things to do and see that are nature related. I would recommend it to all nature lovers and those who love the outdoor activities. There is a town near by which host many events and interesting stores.

We wanted to visit the nature centre. GPS address will take you to the correct address. If the gate is closed go no further. It said to pay $4 for each adult to use the facilities in a pay box. We felt that they should post when the nature centre is closed at the gate so you don't waste your time walking in as it is a bit of a hike. On the building we saw the days & hours.

The Nature Center has many easy trails to explore and some more tough ones if you want. My wife and I spent some time exploring there and loved it. A great visit for the Idyllwild area!

The hillside trail here is gorgeous and so are the other smaller trails that go around the summit. The actual summit trail is very steep, hard to follow and not that scenic -at least I think I was on the summit trail :)

A wonderful gem in Idyllwild. Learn about the history and animal and plants of the area. Child friendly and dog friendly. Closed Monday and Tuesdays. Picnic tables to enjoy a meal.

Idyllwild has so much outdoor beauty to offer and the local Nature Center represents it well. It is situated within the crossroads of many trails that are easy to follow. Staff are friendly and quick to share their knowledge of the area.

Enjoyed our visit to the nature center. Talked with the very friendly staff to learrn where to hike that had shade during the very HOT weather. Found a couple of easy enough trails (good for a novice - but they also had other options for those more skillful at hiking). Wonderful view, not crowded. Felt safe (although there was a rattlesnake sighting). Liked the air conditioned visitor center with some history of the area. Park at the lot at the bottom of the hill, not the one up top if you are going to the visitor center. You can pay for parking in the visitor center.

Eat here. Bring your own lunch. Enjoy the truly genuine nature and beauty of Idyllwild. Forget Idyllwild downtown, so called. Nothing to do or see there. NOTHING. Cheap entry fee. Ample parking. Picnic tables. Wonderful views and trails. Again, FORGET CENTRAL DOWNTOWN IDYLLWILD.

The Idyllwild Nature center is a great little place to experience while in Idyllwild. They have animals on display, wildlife information about the area, as well as the history of the area. Sometimes staff is on the floor giving training sessions about a particular reptile etc...and they will have it out of the cage for children and others to interact with. There are hiking trials by the nature center, and picnic tables. Great for an afternoon outdoors!

My grandkids like going here, especially the gift shop! The center is clean with interesting exhibits and a friendly staff.

Stopped by to see the local history, they have a move you can watch as well as many animals that are local to the area as well as plants. They had a nice trail that we skipped only due to the fact that is started to rain and I was cold to the core.

Nature Center has a variety of exhibits but the nicest part for us are the various trails throughout the park. The main trail goes by a group of bedrock mortars that is very interesting to see. The Park has beautiful views, uncultered scenery and a serene setting for you to enjoy a picnic and get away from the more crowded parts of downtown Idyllwild. The last time we were here a deer crossed our path which was an unexpected highlight. There is plenty of parking and many things to keep the young folks occupied in the Center exhibit area. The staff on hand were very friendly and were able to answer the couple questions we had and offered suggestions to us. A very nice place to spend a couple hours or more in a natural setting.

This was a great place to visit. We came there during a special event. We were able to see some live wolves and tortoises walking around. Inside the center, had lots of informative displayed and kid friendly activities. Nice deck and trail heads. No air conditioner inside though but they had fans to help out with the circulation.

A Riverside County park. Staffed by helpful friendly people. Guided nature trail with shallow grades. Grinding stones used by Native American women to grind acorns in large boulders in park.

Nice trail or drive in, the smell of the pines will knock you out. Nice little nature center tells of the flora and fauna and animals of the area not those to include the ones in town after dark;.

It is located less than a mile from town, this " Nature Center " has an exhibit and on paper, tons of trails. The only problem is, the trails are not well marked, some of the trails have a high incline to them and the views are not that great. And you have to pay $3.00 per person and $1.00 for your dog. Not worth it. Just head on out to any of the trails located in and around Idyllwild-- but--you have to have an Adventure pass to park in most of the trailhead.

I have been to the Idyllwild Nature Center County Park many times. This small informative park is great for kids to learn about the animals, birds and snakes that live in the forest. There are stuffed animals, snakes in cages and mounted birds. You will learn about different types of trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Pick up a trail guide and take a small adventure. The Nature Park is a good place to show small children how to hike and what to look for while on a hike. As you walk the short loop trail you will notice nice rocks and stumps to sit on. Take a break and listen to the stillness, you will hear the forest critters. Parking is close for handicap and wheelchair use. Restrooms are clean and handy to both trails and museum. If you didn't pack a lunch, pick up a sandwich to go in Idyllwild and have a picnic in the woods. Remember to take all of your trash from lunch and deposit it in the trash cans. There is a ranger to answer Questions. A small fee is charged for park use and it is worth it.

We loved the walk up the road from the first car park up to the visitors center because of the expansive views. Midweek, this park was peaceful and just what we wanted for an introduction to hiking in the area. The indoor, informative nature center was an added bonus and I highly recommend it for all ages. Beautiful examples of local birds and animals. We saw lots of birds on our quiet walk.

What a wonderful staff. We were camping in Idyllwild Park and took the hike up the hill (a bit more hill than we anticipated). What a lovely small but educational nature center. We had three kids with us between 6-8 years old and the staff were wonderful educating the kids, even letting them hold a snake and turtle. The entire setting is lovely and well worth the small charge.

We thought we were on the moderate Perimeter and Hillside Trails, but markings weren't that great and at the end of the hike we found out the Perimeter and Summit Trails were the same in one area and that's where we had been. Super views of the valley from up there. It was a good hiking day, just a bit harder than we expected.

This was a highlight of our weekend in Idyllwild. The kids got to pet the resident snakes, we spent 30-45 min viewing the exhibits and in the kids' area, and then we hiked around the self-guided nature circuit, ending with a picnic lunch. You can also hike from there down to the County Park (which my spouse did and said the views were incredible). Very much appreciate this spot and the staff engaging with the public so much.

The nature center is small but packed with displays that are frequently changed. They have beautiful nature trails and picnic tables where you can relax and have a lunch. The staff is very willing to answer questions. They have many community events with lots of activities for all. There is a fee for the museum, but all outdoor activities are free.

We mainly stopped in to use the surrounding short nature trails. This allowed you to take reasonable walks without planning an arduous backcountry hike. They are relatively level. The exhibits were old and dated. I would have liked to see more history of the area. The staff is very friendly and helpful. I wondered if they had scheduled activities on other days.

Went for the Monarch Butterfly exhibit and release. They were in a special tent and had a lot. The event was also selling Milkweed and had information on the Butterflies. All of the volunteers were knowledgeable.
The visitors center was well done on had good exhibits. A nice place to visit and hike. Fee is $3.00 per person. Lots of parking.

Easy level hikes. Perfect for seniors. Helpful rangers inside small museum. Informative. Snacks and water available. Amazing views. Must see.

Very well planned out, organized. Plus such a beautiful setting and backdrop, for walking/hiking ....great for kids, adults, older adults, etc.

Nice drive to Idyllwild from Palm Springs-about an hour. Enjoyed the mountain cool breezes. Not much there. We walked an easy trail for about a half an hour. Better time getting there. Go to the town down the road and walk around.

A well-maintained small nature center, with friendly staff. Quite a few walks / hikes, of varying difficulty.

Great easy to moderate hiking. Nice displays in nature center. Good option for family outing. Fabulous viewpoints from many locations along the trails. Short drive from town center.

This was a nice place to take the family because of the nature center and the easy hikes. The ranger was interesting and friendly. She brought a king snake outside and educated the kids and let them touch it. Also nice for a picnic.

Easy nature walk. Not crowded. A short distance from the center of Idyllwild, but best to drive there.

Beautiful place to see. Different hiking trails that range from easy walk in the park, to more strenuous hikes. Definitely wonderful place to relax and enjoy s little bit of nature.

My sisters and I stopped here to ask for hiking guidance. The gentleman working here was so helpful! He explained which trails would be best for our abilities and explained which ones need permits.

Very open spaced preserve. Their nature center provided a lot of local history and geographical information for tourists. We were there for a dog fundraiser for their local animal shelter. BUT BEWARE!!!! We were advised to be on high alert for rattlesnakes Even so a great place to spend the day wandering around nature enjoying beautiful scenery and views.

You're able to access a good variety of hiking trails, both easy and difficult. The only problem was that out on the trail there was a sign that had come out of the ground and had been propped up against a tree stump. The signs were pointing in the wrong direction, so some people had taken the wrong directions to trails they weren't prepared for. Opps! People there are very nice.

It was our first time visting this gem in the forest. Friendly staff and displays we were able to cool off after our hikes inside.

We always enjoy hiking the area with great views. The Center was informative is a great place to take your kids.

After a great lunch in town we stumbled upon this place and were greeted by the friendly staff who could not have been more helpful. We looked at the exhibits and then went on a nice hike through the woods. It really made it special that the nature walk had markers that corresponded to an information sheet they gave us. Look forward to coming back.

A must stop as the center enables interactive with experts on the nature of the area. Dogs on leash are welcomed. Trails wonderfully marked. Also a good picnic spot.

Where do I start... first off it’s right off highway 243 and there is spacious parking spots that are surrounded by beautiful and large manzanitas. The trees are lush and the grey squirrels are frolicking around happily. To make things better I even spotted a bobcat while hiking and deer. The Park Ranger for the nature center is Ranger Steve who was so kind and informative about the flora and fauna on the mountain. The center itself is cute and has an assortment of gifts to purchase on your way out. Take the time to visit. Oh and before I forget the California Quail are so cute and chubby, I can watch them for days.

It was $3 per person (adults) for day use to park and hike here. Totally worth it! Great views, variety of trails, plenty of parking.

Note: the gates close at 4:30pm promptly, so if you aren't sure how long you'll be hiking around, park in the lot just off the highway, close to the entrance and then enjoy!)

Some of the trails aren't as well-marked as one might hope, but if you pay attention, you can usually tell where it is. When you go inside the nature center to pay, definitely take one of the free trail maps!

The views, trees, creek, birds...beautiful!

calming, one with nature, trails from easy to more challenging, much to learn at the center, lovely place

There were multiple hiking trails (all different levels) that we took advantage of on 2 different days. I would have liked to have spent more time in the Center itself since there were many interesting displays, but when traveling with a group you have to go with the flow.

We stopped by here expecting a basic nature walk loop we could do with our dog. We were pleasantly surprised by the beautiful views and for-real trails. This is a really nice park where you can choose to stroll around the grounds and the gift shop (with interesting displays on local animals and Native American cultures), or you can head back in the woods for moderate to challenging hiking. Trails were fairly well marked. We were there in early June, and the mosquitoes and biting flies were a bit of an issue, so come prepared! Well-maintained bathrooms and picnic areas are available.

Love the nature center and the resident bunny LOVES attention!! They have great small hiking trails and bathrooms. Good parking and also has souveniers. Very happy we stopped by!

Loved this place such a beautiful experience. Very nice place to enjoy with kids and your family. If you ever want to get away and explore hikes and the nature this is the place!

My family and I hiked from Idyllwild Park to the Nature Center. The Idyllwild Nature Center is small but interesting. There was an informative video nature series playing on the television and a few interactive activities for my daughter. There are also lots of good spots to enjoy a picnic lunch.

We enjoyed the Idyllwild Nature Center recently while on a two night mini vacation to Idyllwild. It was rainy and snowy the first two days that we were there, but the day we were leaving, it was a beautiful, sunny (but cold) day. We decided to hit the nature center before we left town and were glad we did. It is a compact center filled with interesting exhibits and a few live reptiles and, of course the obligatory gift shop. The staff was very friendly and helpful and directed us towards a short hike near the center which led to some breathtaking views of the snow covered mountains and the valleys below. There are also longer hikes that start at the center, but we were not equipped for a longer hike. We would definitely recommend the center to anyone interested in the history and ecosystem of the area.

Well worth a visit if you'd like to escape the desert sun of Palm Springs. Can be significantly cooler than the desert below, 30 degrees less sometimes, so be sure to check the weather before. Views are spectacular, and the contrast of being in a scorched desert 30 mins before to Alpine and snow topped mountains is stunning and surprising. Nice restaurants and great quirky shops to check out.

Well worth a half day trip. Really lovely.

Only one hour from Palm Springs this place is awesome, a natural chunk of real beauty and peace in California. There are a few nice bars and restaurant's and some very quirky boutique shops to have fun in. I especially recommend the Funky Bazzar, which has great vinyl , original first edition hard back books and amazing art. The proprietor is totally nuts in a good way and its worth visiting his place just to meet him. I got a really cool fuzz pedal there which has a red moustache on it.

The nature center has displays on the local animals and birds, as well as the known history of human development in the area. There are several good hiking trails near the nature center.

We spent a couple of hours here recently and what a spectacular couple of hours it was. There are a variety of trails to meet most any ability level. The staff was super nice and helpful with information. I recommend this for families, couples....anyone who wants to spend some quality outdoor time.

This is a value and a bargain for day visiting. The whole family can get in for $5.00 and spend a whole day hiking and bird watching. There are plenty of parking spaces. Lots of interesting trails and grounds to nest and be happy in. It's a tremendous value to fill a day. This nature center is close to restaurants and numerous other state parks. Recommended for family and friends or couples. Kids will love it. There is tons of wildlife: skunks, cougars, mountain lions, deer, bobcats, wolfs, coyotes and chipmunks, squirrels . Try it. You'll like it. John and Jann.

The Idyllwild Nature Center was a very peasant surprise. The visitor center was just right in terms of the level of information in the displays and the Ranger was most helpful. He provided us with directions to many nearby sites that would have been difficult to find and answered all of our questions with interesting anecdotes. The trails on the grounds were excellent. The Nature Trail was so much better than many others we have visited, and the longer trails, to which we returned the next day, were very satisfying. We highly recommend the Idyllwild Nature Center.

We wanted to hike around the Nature Center. The area around the center is certainly beautiful and easy to hike. Our only complaint was that we were there at 9:25 on a Sunday and the Center was still closed. It was supposed to be open at 9:00. It was open when we returned from our hike.

The Nature Center is a great place to get oriented to the trail and local fauna of Idyllwild. The Center itself has exhibits about the history of the area, and dioramas of the animals including one of skulls of local animals and reptiles- a sure hit for kids. And there are things for kids of all ages, even toddlers. They sell many books also.

Outside are several trails that are big mostly flat loops and can be navigated with a stroller. Pick up a map so you don’t miss some of the highlights.

There is a small charge to enter and/or use the parking lot. There are clean restrooms. Staff is friendly and helpful.

A great place to hike and lots of options for very long or short hikes. Great place for capturing some great photo's.

This is a good place to pick up information on Idyllwild hiking and visiting, so it would be great to start your visit here. They have a nice nature trail to see the local flora and fauna, and can tell you which animals you may see. The longer perimeter trail was not very well marked, and not so very beautiful. Be advised, you do have to pay to visit, but not too much.

Good hiking trails. Parking outside in front lot or by road-side. Fees for me seem a bit much. Even have to pay for children and dogs.

A truly beautiful location, clear skies and great views. Take time to walk around the unusual off the grid shops, hot chocolate drinks and friendly people.

Nice change from shopping and eating in town. Close to town, we chose the free parking lot right inside entrance.

We visited this Center and were very impressed with the knowledgeable Center staff who explained to us the delights of the San Jacinto mountains. There are some exhibits aimed only at children but we were fascinated with the stuffed exhibits of mountain lion, bear and Bob cat as well as many other smaller mammals and lots of birds. We then strolled around the Nature Loop through the peaceful forest. The sun glinted through the pines, the mountain air was crisp and fresh and the sky was the most brilliant blue. A wonderful memory which will stay with us forever. The Center is well worth a visit.

After paying an $8 entrance fee, we hiked several trails here. The trails range from easy to more difficult. Idyllwild is a beautiful place, and the Nature Center is a great place to see the local scenery. Highly recommended.

Nice place with friendly and helpful staff. Beautiful scenery and a couple different trails to do that range from easy to difficult.

We first entered in the museum.

We saw tree frogs, California Black Turantula.

Cahuila Basket display.

All kinds of animals in this place., like wolves,rakoon, puma elk and bear.
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The best part is an amazing view on the mountains. Wow!

We were surprised that this Nature Center has more than just a single nature trail. There are several miles of fairly easy trails you can traverse in the park.... excellent hiking for little ones, too. We didn't spend that much time in the actual center, but the staff was friendly in asking some questions. A modest day-use fee can be paid at the honor box, or in the nature center (if open).

There is a parking lot at the top of the hill - right off of Hwy 234. You can park here and walk down to the Nature Center, or you can drive down to the mail parking lot next to the center.

Bring a lunch pick you hiking level and go! This is a beautiful place to beat the heat enjoy your lunch and hike for miles or a short distance. Something for everyone at the nature center. Love it!

I have been an Idyllwild visitor for 56 years. Among my favorite destinations is the Nature Center in the County Park. The Museum and exhibits are always informative and the Gift Shop/Book Store has some wonderful items for sale. My favorite part however, is the picnic area and nature trails. Take a self guided tour and learn about the flora and fauna of the San Jacinto Mountains. See the bedrock mortars that were used by the Cahuilla people to grind acorns into meal for food. You will love the peace and tranquility of the Nature Center and will want to make it one of your regular stops when visiting Idyllwild.

Drive the short distant to the headquarters, lots of parking, picnic tables and restrooms. We went into the headquarters museum and paid the ranger the daily use fee, $4 adults, a bargain. In front are a few helpful items for purchase that will help with identification of wildlife and trees. Excellent dioramas are in the headquarters, each with easily identified information on the well done exhibits. A great little area is set aside for the kids, clearly intended as a teaching area. Our mid-week visit in October with few visitors left the range plenty of time to talk with us. She was the supervising ranger for all of Riverside County's parks and centers. We were impressed with her friendly approach to what must be a sometimes difficult job. She encouraged us to take the short loop trail just outside the headquarters, gave us a little map that had 10 stops with a description of what we were seeing. The loop walk was interesting and easy, not getting much out of sight of the buildings. The ten stops were very helpful in identification of the various kinds of trees, pines, cedar, fir, etc. In front of the headquarters is a large public restroom that is well taken care of and clean. My wife said next time we should bring a lunch picnic and relax for a quiet break from out otherwise busy agenda. Highly recommend this stop with a very modest daily use fee as a contribution to the wonderful center and exhibits.

I live near the Nature Center and have the opportunity to hike the trails every day. There is a trail for everybody, from level,short walks to progressively more demanding hikes. All the trails are clean and well marked.
It’s a great place to visit and walk in the woods.

We visited here on 12/14/24. The entry fee was $6 pp for an adult. The Center is about a mile outside of town of Rte 74. The VC has a small rock display, several live animal (snakes, lizard, quail, insects) exhibits, a small gift shop and a lot of outdoor paths/trails. While we were there one of the staff displayed a King snake and gave everyone the opportunity to touch or hold it. Our visit was about 1 hour but we did not do a lot outside.
Overall, a nice spot, especially if you have kids.

Very friendly for small kids - but really wonderful for the adults, too. Short and easy walks take you to incredibly views. Really "purple mountain majesties". What a treat.

We stopped in to do some hiking and ended up hiking the whole area. We went down to the camp sites and back around up to the summit. All in all about 3 miles in hiking. Fun and easy for kids.

This is a wonderful little nature center, with helpful displays and information about the area. It's also great for kids. There are several well-marked trails near the nature center which don't require the purchase of a pass, which several other trails in the area do require. This is a good place to hike if you don't necessarily want to spend a long time hiking, and want some different choices. There's an easy hike behind the nature center which leads uphill, giving a good view of the area.

Living in the Desert year-round, you yearn for cooler climates, and change of scenery. We love driving up to Idyllwild, the Pines to Palms Hwy (Hwy 74), so pretty, hairpin curves, climbing high up the mountains and if you have ever driven the road to Hana on Maui, you will know what I mean... the road twists, turns and truly is fun, beautiful. Once you arrive in Idyllwild, welcomed by tall trees,(pines, yes, palms, not so much!) gorgeous forests, mountains, and enchanting town. We enjoyed a delicious, fabulous dinner at Restaurant Gastrognome (OUTSTANDING!) and stopped to enjoy the displays at the Nature Center.

Remember there is a small admission fee, but this is Southern California and we did not mind.
Plan, dress accordingly and you will really enjoy Idllwild! Safe travels!

Took grandchildren into center to check it our. Good place to visit while up inn the mountains. Had animal prints and stuffed animals. My grandchildren enjoyed it. Simple and small.

We visited Idyllwild Nature Center on Butterfly Daze. The volunteers/rangers were very helpful and had so much information about butterflies. We then walked the nature trail and enjoyed the blue sky and many different trees. I hope they get some rain soon.

Beautiful area. This time of year I would recommend getting there when they open, or close to it because of the heat. By the time we left there were a lot of people arriving. Dogs are welcomed. The walk paths are great as is the welcome center displays. And thee are plenty of rangers there to answer questions. The only disappointment was the "feeding." Not what we expected.

This is a nice area north of the town of Idyllwild. The visitors center has a couple of rooms with informative displays. There are a few trails, some leading to viewpoints of the valley and Tahquitz Rock, others through the forest. We visited in late October and the oak trees were bright yellow.

Good trails with easy and moderate level of exertion. Fee charged at entrance. Nice nature views. OK for a short walk.

Make sure to drive to the Nature center and pay for each visitor. This supports the park to maintain the trails and museum. Watch the 20 minute video to get an overview of the Idyllwild history and get an appreciation of the trails.
There are trails for all levels. For starters, you should try view point and the perimeter loop. View point is a must see and easy one. We took the perimeter loop, Summit trail and the Hillside trails for a great work out! Make sure to follow the marked posts to stay on the trail. These are moderate difficult and may not be for beginners and kids.

We didn't do very thorough research, so we were shocked by the entrance fee of $10 per person. The guy just took our money, then looked away, not saying "welcome", and not providing a receipt. The nature center has an OK exhibit with some texdermied animals and a gift shop, but no free trail maps - at least we did not find any while spending over 15 minutes there. The ground was largely snow-covered, so we hiked a short trail starting and ending at the nature center. The trail was just OK, without any great views. I guess if you really want to play with some snow, it may be worth the cost. Otherwise there are numerous better ways to spend your money. This was the biggest disappointment in our 10-day Palms Springs trip.

This is the Idyllwild Nature Center. A beautiful place to enjoy.

Great mountains and learning about animals and way more.

The view is the best of all!

The Nature Center is where all Idyllwild adventures begin. Great hiking trails and scenery, plus staffed by knowledgeable rangers. Small parking fee and plenty of spaces. One of the ONLY public areas approved for snow play. Picnic area and restrooms.

We've been before but this last time was the best. The host was very helpful and made the children (ages 7 through 14) get engaged and interested. We toured the facility and went on two short, flat hikes - these are worth your time. One goes to several beautiful view points and the other is a self-guided nature trail with Native American mortar holes and other interesting sites. Everyone had a great time.

My daughter came here on a field trip and she could not stop talking about the Nature Center and Ranger Steve. Nice little musuem and bird area, and we walked on the easy trail. Looks like theyre updating.

If your planning a visit to Idyllwild be sure to stop at the Idyllwild Nature Center. They have a darling gift shop along with a nature center depicting the way of life when the Native American's used Idyllwild during the summer, they also have on display the many animals, flora and fauna typically found in the surrounding mountains. I especially loved the blackboard with up to date sightings of local animals. They also have nature trails where you can hike to your hearts content. Great place for the littles (children) to visit and learn!

Disappointed that all the major hiking trails near Idyllwild were closed due to the recent fire, I decided to hike the perimeter trail at the Nature Center. Although the Nature Center is not actually open on Mondays, I was informed that the outside trails are always available and you can leave your $3/person fee in a box in the parking lot.

The Perimeter trail is not clearly marked on the official maps of the Nature Center, but is well marked for the most part on the actual trail. We hiked clockwise starting from the North parking lot and only ever saw one other person in 1 1/2 hours. Most of the trail is very mellow and pretty for the first half. The Summit trail, which is on the way back North, is actually a nice climb to the ridge line and is definitely a moderate hike which gets the heart racing.

The entire loop with the Summit trail included is 3.5 miles and took us 1.5 hours. There is an alternate trail to skip the climb for those looking for a more casual stroll.

I recommend this trail for anyone who wants to experience the trees and nature setting of Idyllwild and get a little exercise without adventuring too far or too long into the woods.

Staff very friendly, we were invited through to the back room to see the snakes etc as their display had been moved. We did a couple of the nature trails and spent an hour watching woodpeckers and a few other birds and a squirrel arguing over a hole in a tree trunk. Not an exhausting walk, just pleasant and quiet. Nice for a wee picnic.

This is a great, beautiful place to hike. Especially, if you have little ones, you can choose how difficult you want the hike to be and the views are wonderful. I would highly recommend.

The nature center is a small building packed with lots of information and fun things to see. There were slides you could look at under a microscope, a video that explained the history of the area and some examples of local wildlife(only a few were still able to move on their own)

Great place for an afternoon hike--a picnic etc! Enjoy great wildlife, wonderful lush forest and a great exhibit space that tells you all about the park.

A notice about the Japanese art of “Tree Bathing” welcomes you at the entrance and established my orientation to the time there. I breathed in the freshness of trees while likewise supporting them with my exhalations. I clambered over rocks and enjoyed their powerful and calm presence while admiring distant vistas. I examined a large pine cone breaking apart to start the next generation of pines.

You don’t need to do more than this to get a feeling of being reinvigorated and restored.

The Nature Center has much to offer: Hiking for beginners, moderate and advance. An educational center to explore for children and adults. A very small shop. Wonderful staff to give you information and history. Bathroom facilities in front of nature center and maps available. A must stop if you are in Idyllwild.

Enjoy an excellent afternoon in the mountains and visit this wonderful nature center. It changes with the seasons and offers exhibits for all ages. Whet your appetite there for a walk on one of the many local trails or just relax and enjoy the sound of the wind in the trees. You will never forget having been to this nature center. Admission fee....cheap!!!

Beautiful day in nature! Unspoiled nature reserve with many trails to be explored! We can’t wait to return to spend more time!

Anytime you can get out and enjoy natures beauty is a great day and the nature center is a nice place to get out and enjoy the day. Great trails to spend the day walking and a nice museum to wonder around as well.

Stopped by the nature center with family and had a nice time. Well marked trails for all skill levels. The visitors enter had nice displays with some good hands-on activities with kids

We hiked up the challenging trail from the Idyllwild County Park where we were camping. Many locals had booths set up to show off their special crafts and foods. Artists had a gallery on one side of the building with original works for sale.

This place is an example of a well-administered nature center, it keeps things simple and real. The little museum is basic but go there to walk the loo[p trails that range from flat and easy nature loop to the pretty dramatic Perimeter Trail. All are worthwhile and it is amazingly beautiful. PAy the little fee and smile:)