Idyllwild, California

“Sometimes idyll, always wild.”

Tucked in the San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California is an adventurer’s paradise. Located about two hours from Los Angeles in Riverside County, it is close enough for a day trip, yet removed enough to feel like a getaway. At a literal mile-high, Idyllwild is a reprieve from the heat of the desert below. This past August, a work errand drove me to into this unincorporated village in the pines, so we decided to make the trip into a mini-vacation the week before school started up again.

While there are many options for accommodations in and around Idyllwild- with the abundance of campgrounds, along with quaint inns in Idyllwild and nearby Pine Cove- we opted to utilize our timeshare and stayed at Wyndham Indio, which was about an hour’s drive away. Since I had to be in Idyllwild for a meeting on Monday, we booked our stay from Sunday through Tuesday. So after doing a small bit of research, we headed up early on Sunday for a special audience, taking the scenic detour from I-10 to CA-243 and up into the mountains before heading to the resort.

The drive up went smoothly, even in our ancient 1996 Toyota Camry. The older kids had taken both the Subie and the Kia for work, leaving me with the Green Machine. As decrepit-looking as the car is, it is reliable, and it easily climbed the over 4000 feet in elevation from Banning up the Banning-Idyllwild Panoramic Highway.

After passing through Pine-Cove and past Idyllwild Nature Center, we arrived in Idyllwild. We parked in the Village Center and headed to our first stop: brunch. After the two-and-a-half hour drive from the San Gabriel Valley, we were fairly famished. For brunch, we decided on Red Kettle Restaurant. According to their website, The Red Kettle opened in the 1920s as a soda shop. It evolved into a coffee shop in the 1940s and was renamed The Coffee Cup, until the 1970s when it was rebranded back to Red Kettle. It is one of the oldest buildings in town, and is one of the buildings designated for an historic district.

Per usual, I opted for breakfast. The grilled potato scramble was excellent, with grilled potatoes, bell peppers, onions, and two scrambled eggs making for hearty breakfast fare. The sourdough toast was a bit less sour than I would prefer, but the coffee was good and plentiful. The inside of the restaurant was interesting, with an eclectic mix of artwork and kitsch signs. I would definitely recommend a stop at Red Kettle for a good, reasonably-priced breakfast or brunch when visiting the town.

But the highlight of our trip was after brunch, when we had the opportunity to visit with some famed elected officials who serve the town of Idyllwild, bringing joy to everyone who has the honor of meeting them.

Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller I was elected to the office of Mayor of Idyllwild in June 2012 and inaugurated July 1 of the same year. According to the internet, it could be said that the election was bought. Indeed, votes for Idyllwild’s mayor were purchased at the cost of $1 apiece. While, as a fellow public official, I would typically be aghast at the idea that money could buy an election outright, this is one where the ends justified the means. The election was a fundraiser for the Animal Rescue Friends of Idyllwild. The effort raised over $31000 for the animal rescue and Max was elected to a one-year term.

Sadly, Mayor Max I passed away before the end of his first term, and was succeeded by Mayor Max II. He was so popular among the residents of Idyllwild and its visitors that he was elected to serve in perpetuity in 2014. He served the mountain community from 2013 until his passing in July 2022. He was survived by his deputy mayors, Mickey and Mitzi, who served as interim mayors until the public debut of young Mayor Max III in December 2022.

Mayor Max III continues to serve the unincorporated town of Idyllwild, California. His duties include endeavoring to promote the mountain community on and off the Hill, “support commissioners in their projects, strive to be present at community events such as outdoor concerts, festivals, fairs, and the July 4 parade, do his best to accept invitations for official visits, such as ribbon cuttings, ‘mixers,’ etc,” and “speak out on behalf of the animals of this mountain, domesticated and non-domesticated.” In keeping with the spirit of promoting this lovely mountain community, the Mayor and his deputies are available for visiting on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm in front of Wooley’s. Sami had long wished to visit the Mayor since she found him on TikTok, and as I love meeting dogs, with a special bias toward golden retrievers, I could not refuse. The Mayor arrived promptly to his spot in front of Wooley’s accompanied by his sister, Vice Mayor Meadow, and his handler. While the Vice Mayor was a bit barky on this particular Sunday, it was still a fun time. We were delighted to meet such distinguished officials, so much so that we dropped a few dollars on artsy Mayor Max stickers as well as a small donation to his office- a worthy cause indeed.

The next day, I left the resort relatively early for a summer Monday morning, leaving the kids to their own devices. Though Jacob had met us in Indio later the prior evening with the Kia, I opted to take the Camry once again so that he and Sami would have the air-conditioned car for a scorching hot day in the desert. I was headed into the mountains and out of the heat anyway.

Because traffic was favorable, I had about an hour to while away before heading to the camp. I decided to check out the Idyllwild Nature Center just north of the village center and not far from my final destination. Located just off CA-243, it is part of the Riverside County Parks system. The area around the center has several nice hikes among the pines and manzanitas.

The nature center has exhibits on the flora and fauna of the area, as well as Cahuilla Native history and culture, and the history of the San Jacinto Mountains. Unfortunately for me, the center is closed on Mondays, thus I was unable to go into the nature center building. However, there were a few outside exhibits I was able to view, including an art garden and an aviary housing California’s state bird, the California quail.

I hiked around the Perimeter Trail and a short portion of Deer Springs. I couldn’t go too far, as it would be time for my actual work visit, so after taking a few photos and enjoying a little snack, I headed back to the car and drove to my intended destination.

Following an informative meeting at the science camp, I headed back to the village center. Idyllwild is known to be an arts hub in the mountains, with a number of interesting shops where one could buy souvenirs, such as crystals, funky socks, and California-themed decor. We had visited some of the shops the day prior, and I had hoped to get in a walk before heading back down the mountain. That said, however, my first stop was to acquire a cool cup of energy. On the recommendation of the camp director, I visited Black Mountain Coffee Roasting for some non-froofy coffee.

I was not disappointed with my cold brew. It was bold and flavorful, and gave me the shot of caffeine that I needed. While sipping on my brew, I meandered around the town. I walked into some of the same shops as the day prior, along with Idyllwild Gardens nursery, which was on the route back to Circle Drive. The cute outdoors setup, pretty plants, and artsy decor caught my fancy.

The nursery looked very on brand for an arts town nestled in the forest. While the business wasn’t too busy on an early Monday afternoon, there were several other patrons walking through the nursery and gift shop. It was a pleasant diversion, and while tempted to find presents, I opted not to purchase anything on this trip, mostly due to space- or rather, lack thereof- in my vehicle.

Soon enough, it was time to head back. I had not finished my coffee, so it would keep me through the drive back down the mountain and to the sweltering desert heat. It was such a pleasant time, I did not want to leave. I hope I’ll head back, and with nearby Mt. San Jacinto State Park and many other opportunities for recreation, I think the outlook is good for a return trip.

Some things to consider:

Idyllwild is a mountain community, and as such the routes into town are winding. On the days I went up, CA-74 was closed for roadwork, so I took CA-243, which runs from I-10 south to CA-74, on both visits. The two-lane highway was fairly easy to drive, though there are some steep grades, along with bends and points where the road narrows. According to past news reports, the highway is notorious for traffic accidents, and I can see why. It is a drive that requires care and attention.

I did have good cell service throughout the drive; I was able to stream my true crime podcasts and Lana Del Rey and Lorde Spotify playlist. The kids were also able to contact me to see what time I would be back.

Idyllwild Nature Center is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Wednesday through Sunday. The center is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, however the hiking trails are open, unless otherwise indicated. There is a small fee for entry, to be paid at the nature center or at the self-pay station when closed. Cost is $4 for adults, $3 for children, and $1 for dogs. For snowy play days, the fees are increased.

At time of writing, Mayor Max and his deputies are usually available to meet their adoring public on Thursdays and Fridays at 16:00 and on Saturdays and Sundays at 14:00. Be sure to check the Mayor’s office site for any changes to their schedule.

For those who are wondering about Max’s mayoral status, as Idyllwild is an unincorporated community, there is no human mayor or other city politicians, rather the county provides governmental services. That said, Mayor Max has been at a number of town events, has his own calendar, and fun official merch. While there is a bit of nepotism involved- his sister is the Vice Mayor after all- the Mayor’s office is committed to the community and to spreading joy. I think these are worthy goals for any political official- canine or otherwise.

Idyllwild is such a beautiful place, with opportunities for both idyll and wild. There are so many places to explore. Whether you love tranquil hikes among the pines, conquering peaks, getting creative with the arts, or perhaps a combination of all of the above- there is an adventure for everyone in this Southern California respite in Riverside County. Just pick your happy trail and go. Cheers!

To plan your trip, check out:
Idyllwild Nature Center- Riverside County Parks
Mt. San Jacinto State Park- California State Parks
IdyllwildCalifornia.com

To support Animal Rescue Friends of Idyllwild, or to adopt a pet, check out their website. Petfinder is also a good resource to find adoptable pets. While we have never adopted pets from ARF, I can attest to finding a best friend at our humane society closer to home.

References:
AdminRK. Red Kettle, 11 Jan. 2023, perrysredkettle.com/.

Mayor Max of Idyllwild, California, 2022, http://www.mayormax.com/index.htm.