Thomas Mountain Campground — Hotel in Palm Springs

Be prepared for a LONG bumpy scary rutted rocks boulders dirt sand cliffs steep hillsides, nasty little bugs, misquitos, beautiful skies day and night, big valley views, indian reservation territory with locked gates, the destruction of previous forest fires, amazing steep mtn sides with giant tall trees, sticker bushes , sunrises,sunsets, and dust! Great jeep road, no low chastity vehicles, no bald tires, need good shocks, sunglasses, binoculars, good head lamps, and you will be in isolation....from one side of the road entrance by Lake Hemet, to the other side of the ridge near Paradise Valley, it will take 5 hours . Do not drive FAST. Horses, hikers, bicyclists, and general lost wanderers use the road to the Thomas Mtn campgrounds as well. Not for the impatient or l weak...

This is a beautiful spot that takes a little effort to get to, which is nice. Filters out the crowds. Maybe 30-45 mins from the highway in a high-clearance vehicle will get you to the best sites (Yellow Post 3/4/5), no matter which road you take in. Perfect sunset views and a great look at the valley floor from these well-spaced out campgrounds. Check with the range station in Idyllwild either by phone or in person for current fire restrictions before heading up. Also be sure to have an adventure pass and a fire permit (you can get this online) if you're going to burn...

Beautiful remote spots. If you want to reach the top during the winter season you will need a 4x4 with some decent clearance. It is worth the effort to get to spots 3/4/5 like Tyler said. Also, like he said, don't forget an adventure pass and a fire permit (you can get...