The San Jacinto Valley is peppered with dozens of community parks. Some of the largest and/or most interesting of these parks are listed on this page. What is exciting, is the large number of regional parks in the area that draw visitors from neighboring communities. The most impressive of these parks may be the relatively new Diamond Valley Lake. Diamond Valley Lake is the largest man-made lake in California. Diamond Valley Lake is home to two incredible museums, great fishing, horse trails with incredible views, and a 21-mile biking and hiking trail that circles the lake. A new aquatic park and sports park are the most recent additions to the Diamond Valley Lake area. Still, the best hiking and views of San Jacinto Valley can be found at Simpson Park, it sits in the hills surrounding the famous Ramona Bowl Theatre. The San Jacinto Valley is a park-lover’s paradise.
Bernasconi Hills
4 miles - 1100 ft gain
4 miles - 1100 ft gain
Black Mountain
8 miles - 2700 ft gain
8 miles - 2700 ft gain
Ernie Maxwell Trail
5 miles - 1700 ft gain
5 miles - 1700 ft gain
Idyllwild County Park
4 miles - 1300 ft gain
4 miles - 1300 ft gain
Lakeview Trail: DVL
22 miles - 200 ft gain
22 miles - 200 ft gain
North Shore Trail: DVL
6 miles - 600 ft gain
6 miles - 600 ft gain
Stone Creek
1 mile - 200 ft gain
1 mile - 200 ft gain
Suicide Rock
7 miles - 2000 ft gain
7 miles - 2000 ft gain
Terri Peak - Perris Lake
6 miles - 1000 ft gain
6 miles - 1000 ft gain
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La Clarita Avenue & Palo Santa Way, San Jacinto
Ward Park includes a small play-area with swings, a basketball court, and a covered picnic area and BBQ grill.
Park Meadows Drive & Meadow View Drive, San Jacinto
Bolander Park includes one covered eating area, playground equipment, a basketball court, and a long field perfect for kite-flying.
Pico Avenue & Ramona Boulevard, San Jacinto
Druding Park, located in historic downtown San Jacinto, contains monuments to veteran’s of each branch of service.
South Dillon Avenue & West Ash Street, San Jacinto
The grounds of the San Jacinto Museum and historic Estudillo Mansion include a beautiful demonstration garden and mature trees to stroll under. It is open on weekends.
Wheelbarrow Way & Harvest Drive, San Jacinto
Granite Park has a single covered eating area, play equipment, and a basketball court.
This small park lies next door to San Jacinto’s community center, just down the street from San Jacinto’s historic downtown.
Millett Park is a gem of a park. It boasts a very large playground, two gigantic covered picnic areas (with BBQ pits), restrooms, and lighted softball and soccer fields.
North State Street & West College Drive, San Jacinto
On weekends, the MSJC campus is a nice place to take a stroll, or sit on one of the many tree-covered benches and read a good book.
Esplanade Avenue & Arroyo Viejo Drive, San Jacinto
Several miles of tree-lined trails meander throughout the Rancho San Jacinto community in the southeastern area of San Jacinto; occasionally, these trails arrive at one of the many small parks that dot the community. Each of these small parks offer their own activities just off the concrete paths that are often full of bicyclists, skateboarders, and dog-walkers. The largest of the parks includes a baseball field, tennis court, two large covered eating areas, plenty of play equipment, a basketball court, and even a small rose garden.
Idyllwild Drive & Tahquitz Street, San Jacinto
Sallee Park is next to San Jacinto’s community pool and the Jim Connor Youth Center. The park contains play equipment, a baseball field, and a basketball court.
East Agape Avenue & Grace Drive, San Jacinto
Sunrise Park is a smaller park but noteworthy because it is a wonderful place to have a small BBQ picnic.
901 West Esplanade, San Jacinto
This park serves many purposes, including being the headquarters for the Valley-Wide Regional Parks Department. Valley-Wide cares for some of the larger parks in and around San Jacinto Valley. This Valley-Wide park includes a gymnasium, many lighted baseball and soccer fields, a basketball court, six tennis courts, a volleyball court, horseshoe pits, a fitness trail, picnic areas with restrooms, and several play-areas created for varying age groups. A number of fine community classes and clubs are offered for the community at this park.
Sunnyside Boulevard & Newberg Commons, San Jacinto
Warneke Park contains several BBQ pits, a single covered picnic area, lighted basketball court, restrooms, and a very popular soccer field surrounded by pine trees.
Brubaker Park is next to Hemet Youth Baseball’s fields. It contains a single covered eating area, a basketball court, playground, and a few picnic benches.
Cawston Park is a smaller park located behind the fire station. It contains newer playground equipment including a small rock climbing wall. The park also has several benches and tables.
Diamond Valley Lake has two entrances. At the west entrance, where it costs to enter the lake area, visitors will find a boat ramp (open depending on the depth of the lake), access to the 21-mile Lakeview trail (for bikes and hikers), and access to a shorter wildflower hiking trail and horse trail with outstanding views of the San Jacinto Valley. The fantastic, and free, Center for Water Education Museum sits just outside the West entrance next to the Western Center for Paleontology and the Diamond Valley Community Park and Aquatic Center. The eastern entrance is free and leads visitors to a beautiful view of the lake and valley. From the parking lot begins a very short and accessible trial that leads to a covered seating area and informational plaques.
Gibble Park is across the street from the Hemet Valley Mall. It contains tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball fields, restrooms, two covered eating areas with BBQ pits, and a war memorial.
Mary Henley Park contains a large field perfect for kites, two playgrounds, a couple of very large covered eating areas, two smaller covered eating areas, and a paved walkway that wraps around the entire park.
The Hemet Youth Baseball Fields, located next to West Valley High School and Brubaker Park, has more than a dozen baseball fields of various sizes.
Searl Sports Park has playground equipment and several baseball fields.
Weston Park is historic downtown Hemet’s park. It contains a bunch of picnic tables, restrooms, a playground, and shuffleboard courts.
This is not a traditional zoo or even a petting zoo; the Minor Zoo is a personal collection of familiar farm and exotic animals, such as zebras, that live on private property on Park Hill. At Christmas, visitors will find a nativity scene featuring the live animals. It isn’t uncommon to see several cars parked in front of the “zoo” watching the animals being animals. The animals should not be feed, touched, or bothered by guests and they are on property that is closed to the public.
Stoney Mountain Park includes a small covered eating area, playground equipment, a basketball court, and a short trail that, like the park, wraps around a beautiful hill of large rocks and boulders.
Diamond Valley Park is currently under construction. However, the children’s Aquatic Center, including its popular water slide, is up and running. It isn’t uncommon for the pool to be full. Soon, this park will include many lighted baseball fields, soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, pickleball courts, play-areas, picnic areas, and a fitness trail.
Oltman park is soon to be the home of Hemet’s first dog park. Oltman Park also contains a nicely landscaped trail and a special gated playground designed for younger children.
Simpson Park is a grand at over 500 acres of hilltop property. The park offers inspiring views of the entire San Jacinto Valley and beyond. Over a dozen trails make this park a prime destination for hikers and mountain bikers. The park offers a number of large eating areas as well as private picnic spots. The park closes during the driest months because of fire danger.
Fairview Avenue & Bethlam Avenue, Valle Vista
Valle Vista Park has a basketball court, horseshoe pits, playground equipment, a number of shaded picnic tables.
Acacia Avenue & Fairview Avenue, Valle Vista
Valley Wide’s Valle Vista location includes a gymnasium, a few baseball fields, several small covered eating areas, and playground equipment.
Haddock Street & Columbia Avenue, Winchester
Valley Wide’s Winchester Park features a gymnasium, four soccer fields, three baseball fields, horseshoe pits, tennis courts, a basketball court, a play-area, and a picnic structure.
The Maze Stone, once located in an active park, now sits about a mile past where California Avenue comes to an end. The Maze Stone is still there, protected by two chain-link fences; however, the area around the stone has been neglected and it has become somewhat dangerous. This park is closed.
State Street & McCallister Road, San Jacinto
The San Jacinto River Park was once a beautiful county park over 40 acres in size. Old pathways and a restroom are all that remain after the 1980 floods that washed over the park, closing it for three decades. Plans are underway to someday re-open this park; until then it remains closed.
WARNING: These parks are not open to visitors, and may prove to be dangerous.
WARNING
Hiking can be hazardous, especially in the wild. It is your responsibility to learn about and prepare for these hazards. Information on this site or www.localhikes.com may contain mistakes or omissions.