Box Springs Mountain

I’ve been here twice so far and can’t wait to go back! We’ve seen wild donkeys, lots of birds and roadrunners so far. Beware there is mountain lions, bob cats and snakes here so definitely be careful.
Our first time we went down Edison trail pretty easy with lots of scenery. Second time we did the 2 trees trail and almost died! (Totally exaggerating). Incline is bananas so I suggest if your just getting started definitely start small and work your way up to 2 trees trail when your stamina is up.
The board by the picnic tables has maps, warnings and a bunch of other information which seems to be very accurate including how easy or difficult the trails are so definitely use that.
I suggest a walking stick, lots of water and a snack if your taking the long trails just incase. Use the restroom before you start because there is no restrooms once you start.
All in all this place is quiet and very relaxing to enjoy some hiking with a variety of trails and wild life. You can see the city which is always nice to see! Definitely a great place!

Ok, somehow I had no idea that it cost $ 5 to park, until I got there. So that’s important.
The hike is something else, well for me it was a big challenge. We started at the parking lot and both my daughter and I wanted to see the M. I didn’t think we would do it today but we arrived at 10 AM and walked up the fire access looking road (few trails were marked well) As we kept climbing the thing that keeps me going is the beauty of what we may or will see. This was didn’t disappoint. We got up to those towers and I was impressed. Then we began to question how far we were from the M. We hiked up at least 2 miles and it looked to be another mile to the M on my phone map, but it wasn’t that far. Luckily we ran into people that helped us find it as I said, it wasn’t marked too well. So lack of directional assistance and shade made me only give it 4 stars. We made it back to the car by 1 PM. Slow up, faster down.
This was a hike I talked about doing for years! Glad to mark it off as done. Not sure I would want to do it again but sure glad the weather was great for us today. Not something I could have done in the summer. (I am 270 lbs)
We saw lots of odd tracks but only lizards today.

Made it to the M (our goal) above the 60 Fwy… It took 1hr & 50mins (3hrs total/​10miles) A pretty good workout on the way down. Yay, another one bites the dust!

Two crazy miles to the top but well worth the views. Was going to trail run it… But it was crazy steep.

there are plenty of trails on this mountain! some can take up to three hours to complete, the trail to the south is the most treacherous one (the one going to the «M»; i always say the «M» stands for money haha) you will get an awesome view of Moreno Valley, although I think Crystal Hill shows off Moreno Valley more elegantly, this mountain gets 5* cause of the variety.
The trail to the north will give you an awesome view of grand terrace and san bernardino county (if the smog is not active) and is a circular path, the trail to the east leads you straight down the mountain into riverside (one way deal). Animals eat at night, and if you are venturing the trails during sundown you will hear the mountain come Alive!
Windy evenings are best because the wind takes the smog away and the sun is not beating you down while you are walking. Do you have a jeep? you can find your way around the barricades on the trail to the north! (you didn’t hear from me though)

Great place to go hiking whether or not you choose to start at the base or from the ranger station.
During the summer as an obvious precaution bring lots of water and sunscreen and be hydrated and be very careful of rattlesnakes. A family member had a dog get bit and killed not far from the top a few weeks ago and this happens very often. Keep your dogs close by as they can run into rattlesnakes areas and not know it.

**WARNING** Unilocal’s provided address is incorrect. If you follow it, it takes you to a neighborhood in Moreno Valley. Instead, download a .pdf map of the park and look for the trailhead you want to hike.
Box Springs Mountain Park map here:
Most popular is the Two Trees Trail, which has this address for the trailhead:
430 2 Trees Rd
Riverside, CA 92 507
33.985 507, –117.306 022
This trail begins with a small amount of shade/​cover and then opens up into a dessert wasteland. No shade or cover at all. You need to be very prepared with a ton of water: platypus/​camelbak, and dogs I would not recommend in the summer heat or they will get severely dehydrated.
Overall, it’s a death sentence in the summer, but perhaps if overcast or in the winter it could be tolerable. Views I’m sure are spectacular if the weather is clear. So overall, I can’t recommend this place because you will have a hard time finding the correct trailhead and there is no shade/​cover. There are no toilets or amenities either.
Be warned that the trailhead on the other side of the mountain in Moreno Valley is 4×4 off road vehicle only with a pot-​holed dirt road up the mountain.

Great hike, surprisingly there is a small spring/​stream that flows near the path. The view is beautiful and at night it is amazing view Riverside lights and neighboring cities. There are also a lot of large boulders and sometimes you will see native wild donkeys. Defiantly do this hike with a friend and there is also a nice health food store near by that makes organic smoothies which are refreshing before or after!
Check it out there are also cave near this hike. It is hard to explain or describe where they are.

As far as hiking goes in riverside this is a pretty nice spot! They have a ton of different trails! My favorite hike to do is to go up two trees walk the back of the mountain and come down the C, it’s about a 6 mile loop. When you are walking the back of the mountain you no longer feel like you are in Riverside! It’s pretty cool sometimes you can see the wild donkeys and a bob cat that walks around up there. The best time to hike there is after some rain and everything is green! But because we live in riverside most of the time it’s pretty brown and dead. But even when everything is dead there is something very peaceful about hiking on this mountain! They also have a ton of huge rocks that are nice to climb around :). If you haven’t hiked here you should definitely go :)!

III’ve tried the springs trail & it’s a easy hike if you like climbing rocks (like me) it’s just lots of rocks & little hills. Now the Edison trail is a lot of up & down hill which I would say is a little more difficult at first. After the second time you go, it gets easy.
I love coming here with my dog & family. It has a great view of both Moreno Valley & Riverside. I like how it has different trails & every time I go I try a new one. It’s a good work out & very peaceful. So far I haven’t had any problem here.

Enjoying my day off in Riverside I decided to look up some hiking trail systems in the Riverside city area. While Box Springs isn’t technically in Riverside City, its super close and right near the 215 freeway. I decided to park at the two tree entrance (
) and we begin hiking up the mountain. The views are amazing up here on a clear day and you can pretty much see all of downtown Riverside from the mountain. Since I came here after a much needed rain storm in the winter time, the hills were lush with green and it looked beautiful (
). I can’t recommend this hike to everyone though, the trail is rather steep in some places and the rain wash down the mountain made a lot of the dirt on the trail really unstable, so I wouldn’t call this a ‘easy’ trail. Its definitely one that you should try, if you’re in the area though.

Nice hiking! Love the views. Nothing too strenuous but lots of fun. We love to take our toddler on some of the trails, they are flat enough she can do them herself in areas which rocks.

I have done this hike a few times, and enjoy it every time. The hike starts off a little tough, but nothing too difficult. The last portion of the hike (If you are going to the M) is fairly easy. I recommend taking the horse trail. I would also recommend going at night when the moon is either full or close to it. I have never done this hike in the daytime, I have only done it at night and have never once used a flashlight. Be careful of rattlesnakes, that is really the only thing you need to worry about up here.

Time to buddy up! Mountain Lion — Momma and cub spotted last week just below the big towers.

Awesome Hike! A great way to work out your cardio and catch some Awesome Views! I even made a YOUTUBE video at the top. To see it view the Channel if: Bernie Lawrence, or simply type in Moreno Valley Real Estate. You will love this mountain!

If you know what to expect and do the appropriate preparation, the trails of Box Springs Mountain Park can be very enjoyable, a great and convenient way to not only get some exercise, but to enjoy a wide variety of scenery.
It should go without saying that a cool, clear day is best for hiking these trails. There’s virtually no shade, and if there is smog or haze, visibility is poor. However, if rains have cleared the air and the temperature is in the 60s or lower, the views can be great. Even on cool days, however, wear a sun hat and bring more water than you think you’ll need.
The Two Trees Trail is a popular route, expeditiously ascending 1,200 feet in only 1.5 miles. Climbing up the west side of the ridge, the trail showcases passes by some interesting geological formations and takes in some panoramic views of Riverside, the San Gabriel Mountains, the Santa Anas and more.
The «M» Trail visits the gigantic white M that is visible from the 60 Freeway in Moreno Valley. Like the Two Trees Trail, it’s a quick, steep climb — about 1,300 feet in just under two miles. The trail offers nice views to the east, including San Bernardino, San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Peaks.
Ironically, I used to live across the freeway from these mountains, but it never occurred to me to check them out more closely. It just goes to show how many cool things can be right under one’s nose.

First of all, be aware that there are several possible hikes in Box Springs Mountain, and the directions to each can vary quite a bit. I will be talking about the Two Trees Trail which is really a very nice hike.
What I enjoy about this hike is that it is …
A: Decently challenging
B: Not terribly long (We got up and back in 1 hour and 15 minutes)
C: Beautifully scenic
It’s a really nice way to grab some exercise in just a couple of hours. If you need a getaway to nature this is a great option. It takes no time at all to get to the trailhead and as long as you don’t turn around to see the sprawl of city before you, you can easily forget that you’re in the IE.
The hike is a progressive incline, so you’ll be tired if you skip breaks and your knees will be angry on the way down. I recommend taking a second at flat areas to appreciate the fantastic views and rest your joints.

This hike has excellent views of Riverside, Canyon Crest area, and Moreno Valley. Thanks for Karen N. for perfect directions to the trailhead for Two Trees Trail. That trail is about 1.5 miles STEEP incline to the parking lot for the trailheads for the other hikes (like the one that takes you to the «M»). It is a dirt path with some cool views, a small spring ¹⁄₃ of the way in, and lots of lizards to see. Because of the steepness, it was hard on the knees and ankles on the way down.
At the parking lot, it’s a $ 4 fee that you put into a box. There is a porter potty.
The trail that leads to the M is a bit longer about 2 miles but it is not as steep as the Two Trees. The M is beyond the fence of the second towers. Follow the graffiti.

This review is specific to the Two Trees Trail: Went up yesterday in the late afternoon. The view was wonderful. It was clear enough so you could see all the way to the hills south of Corona and there was a great view of Mt. Baldy. The spring that is ¾ of the way up the trail was running well and someone had even cleared a side path to the small waterfall you could always hear but never see until now. The recent rains have not damaged this trail significantly. There is only one place where there is a minor washout but its not the entire trail and you can easily get by. There is a spot where a rock has come loose and is currently lying in the trail but once again you can get by easily. Otherwise just be aware of places where the water has run down the trail leaving small gullies.
General Informatin: A relatively steep, well used (especially on weekends) dirt trail that runs from the base of the box springs mountains in Riverside up to just north of the parking area in Box Springs Mountain Park. It is less steep than the trail to the C but is still steeper all the way up than either of the Mount Rubidoux paved routes. I am relatively fit and I can make it to the top in 45 – 50 min with minor stops to rest and look at the views. Be aware: Coyote packs, Deer, and at least one Bobcat live in the area. Also, as in all the local openspace you need to keep an eye out for snakes in the late spring, summer and fall.
To get to the trailhead Exit the I-​215 at Blaine Street in Riverside. Go toward the mountain (East). Follow Blaine Street until it becomes residential and keep going until you get to a stop sign (Mount Vernon Ave.). Take the second left (Belvedere) and follow it until you get to Two Trees Road (first paved road going right). Follow Two Trees Road to the end, there will be a parking area on your right for 4 or 5 cars. The trailhead is slightly uphill and to your right as you face north.

This is an amazing mountain. I used to live in a house right under it. Its the hallmark of UCR’s natural scenery.
The first time I hiked it, I was so long winded haha. That was back when I was out of shape. Its been a while since I’ve been up to the C, but its such a gorgeous view. You can see the whole city of Riverside and the Inland Empire expanse from here. I love going up there to reflect on life. I’ve always wanted to drink up there lol, but I think I’d probably get attacked by rattlesnakes and bears coming down.
It is absolutely gorgeous if you go up there Feb or March. The mountain is completely green! Its pretty hot in the summer, so if you go then, go during the late afternoon or early morning.
OH YEA! Also, this is a great place to take a date :)