Tahquitz Peak Fire Lookout

About Tahquitz Peak Fire Lookout

The hike up to this lookout tower through the San Jacinto Wilderness offers some of the most beautiful vistas in Southern California, including the Salton Sea to the southeast. The origin of Tahquitz's name is derived from the Cahuilla god Tahquish, who believe the peak to be the god's home.At an elevation of 8,846 feet, this lookout is the highest within the San Bernardino National Forest, and the only one located within a designated Wilderness area. It is also the forest’s longest continuously operated station, serving some 77 years.Up here, all work must be done with regular hand tools as no motorized equipment is allowed in wilderness areas.

How to Get There

The trail to Tahquitz Peak Lookout is a 4.5-mile hike via either Devil's Slide or South Ridge trails. Both require Wilderness permits. Devil's Slide requires an Adventure Pass. Adventure Passes are $5/day or $30/year. Interagency Passes also accepted. For more information, please visit our recreation pass page.

Plan Your Visit to Tahquitz Peak Fire Lookout

Heading to Tahquitz Peak Fire Lookout? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)