Cleveland National Forest · California

Dripping Springs

6.4 mi of trail, end to end · native material surface · trail No. 1W03 · trail class 3 · typical grade 10-12% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking, horse

Trailhead Dripping Springs Trailhead Drive there

Dripping Springs Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up

<a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/cleveland/passes-permits/recreation"><strong>Adventure Pass Required</strong></a>: To purchase a pass for this location visit a Cleveland National Forest office, find a local <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=STELPRDB5181410&amp;width=full">Adventure Pass vendor</a> or purchase online at <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/">https://www.recreation.gov/</a>. Dripping Springs Trailhead&nbsp;will be temporarily closed for hazardous tree removal.&nbsp;

Trail Views
Photo: US Forest Service

Dripping Springs Trailhead

Distance

10 - 30 miles depending on trail connections

Pets Allowed

Yes

Fees

Adventure Pass Fee Required

Hike/Ride Time

Full day

Difficulty

Moderate - Difficult

Best Seasons

Fall, Spring

Location

Located 11 miles off Hwy 79 in Temecula

Ranger District

Palomar Ranger District - (760)788-6130

With 4 connecting trail options, including Dripping Springs , Wildhorse , Palomar Magee , and Cutca , great views of the "Big Four" peaks to the north (Santiago Peak, Mt. Baldy, San Gorgonio, and San Jacinto) as well as wide ranging views of Vail lake, Temecula Valley and open countryside, Dripping Springs provides many great options for the recreational day user. Those looking for overnight camping accommodations after a long day on the trails can cozy up under the stars at the Dripping Springs Campground .

Since these trails typically offer little shade, it is not recommended for the summer months, as temperatures typically hit triple digits. Fall and Spring bring colorful foliage and lovely wildflowers (after the rain) and are considered the best times of the year. Much of the area receives light use, which provides a pleasant and tranquil outdoor experience.

This trailhead on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in Cleveland National Forest

All 125 trails in Cleveland National ForestFind a trailForest on fs.usda.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.