Mount Rubidoux Park & Trail
DETAILS:
Location: Riverside, California. Entering Mount Rubidoux into your favorite navigation app should provide directions, but if you chose to park in Ryan Bonaminio Park as we did, you can use the address provided under parking.
Hours of Operation: Sunrise to sunset.
Parking: Your best bet is to park in Ryan Bonaminio Park (5000 Tequesquite Ave, Riverside, CA 92506) which is just a short walk across the street to the trailhead.
Cost: Free!
Time Commitment: Two hours should be plenty to enjoy your time topside while also factoring your time to get up and down.
Trail Details: There are two main trails leading up to the peak of Mount Rubidoux (in addition to a couple other side trails up). The main trail is approximately 2-3 miles roundtrip and is mostly paved the entire way up. It meanders gradually up so while you’ll start breathing a little harder as you proceed, it’s nothing major. The other main trail up is shorter in distance, but much steeper as a result.
Certain locations have the ability to transport you to another place and time, or altogether different realm, if you’ll allow your imagination a few indulgences. As I journeyed up Mount Rubidoux towards the heavens, I became Don Quixote in search of adventure. Nowhere was this more apropos than when I came upon the first of Mount Rubidoux’s three giants; the World Peace Bridge, which is only fitting since it was fashioned after a notable bridge in Alcántara, Spain. With no conquistadors on guard this day to block passage, I returned my sword into it’s sheath and took a (long) moment to admire the magnificence of the stone-built structure looming in front of me before continuing on my quest…
Then a jogger passes by wearing Bluetooth earbuds and the latest dri-fit apparel from Nike causing everything to come crashing back down to reality. But Mount Rubidoux is still impressive regardless of which lens you view it through. After the bridge, you’ll eventually reach the summit, greeted by a spectacular 360° view of the surrounding area from 1,300 feet high. You know it must be a grand vista if it makes Riverside look good (I kid, I kid). The top of Mount Rubidoux is bookended by two more of its main features; a gigantic cross perched on one side (notably used every year for sunrise Easter services) and a gigantic United States flag billowing in all its patriotic glory on the other. On a clear day, both can be seen for miles in every direction. Several (careful) attempts at exploring any one of the many boulder formations located on the mountain is certainly worth your time as well. Weekends can see a lot of foot traffic, so weekdays are preferable if you can swing it. Either way, it’s perfectly all right to give way your imagination here as you wander about. And just like that, I was Don Quixote again, chasing after windmills.
