Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail

The Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail is a pawesome trail that takes you through a beautiful forest and past tons of picturesque vistas. This out-and-back trail is 2.6 miles long, and it welcomes dogs on-leash.

The trail begins at Humber Park trailhead, where a restroom is available. Before you head out onto the trail, take a moment to enjoy the view of beautiful Tahquitz Rock towering above the trailhead.

When you walk onto the unpaved trail, you’ll immediately start heading down — the trail starts at 6,400 feet and descends 700 feet. As you go down the first part of the path, you’ll pass a lovely little creek.

A large portion of the Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail is downhill, with just a few small sections that climb upwards. As you go down the path, you’ll pass by tons of native pine trees, including Coulter pines, Jeffrey Pines, and Ponderos pines. In the spring, you’ll also see fields of lovely wildflowers, including lupines, wallflowers, and manzanitas.

Throughout your walk, you’ll pass numerous beautiful sights. About 0.5 miles into the path, you’ll get an amazing view of the 10,362-foot Suicide Rock Peak. Then, about 1.5 miles into the hike, you’ll go by a babbling creek, which is the perfect place to cool off on hot days. If you’re not ready to swim yet, don’t worry — there’s another stream just a few hundred feet down the trail!

For the rest of the 2.6-mile hike, you’ll continue descending until you reach the end of the trail at Tahquitz View Drive. Then, after you and your pup take a well-deserved break, it’s time to begin the uphill journey back to the trailhead at Humber Rock.

The Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail is a fun-filled trail that provides great views of the forest and mountains. Bring a few doggy bags with you so you can clean up after your dog during your hike, and enjoy trekking here!