That’s mostly because we house the West Coast’s premiere boarding high schools for the arts, Idyllwild Arts Academy. The community is often known for its “artsy” culture. Visit the Idyllwild Nature Center with the kids and grandparents for easy nature walks and an impressive interpretive center to learn about local Cahuilla history and about native flora and fauna. Hiking, camping, fishing, mountain biking, and rock climbing are popular activities. Much of the village itself is surrounded by National Forest, making a small residential footprint amid a large wilderness area. The seasons are lovely with the scent of lilacs in the air in spring, warm summers, vibrant autumn colors and snowy winters.
At a mile high, residents and visitors enjoy an alpine forest abounding with wildlife. Idyllwild is a nature-lovers oasis located in the San Jacinto Mountains above Palm Springs.
