Review Of Tahquitz Pines Retreat In Idyllwild
Do you dream of escaping to the mountains, breathing in the fresh air, and recharging away from technology? With our busy lives in California, an occasional trip to the mountains is a must!
For our latest weekend adventure, we booked a stay at the beautiful Tahquitz Pines Retreat in Idyllwild. With a charming downtown and pristine wilderness, this small town (as its name indicates) is truly idyllic.
In this post, I share more about our experience staying at the Tahquitz Pines Hotel.
If you’re looking for a relaxing stay in a woodsy property away from the crowds, this place is for you!
Some of the links used in this blog may be affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission when you book through these links for which I am very thankful!
Hotel Information
- Location: Idyllwild-Pine Cove
- Accommodation Style: Great for couples, families, events, pet-friendly
- Price Range: $$
- Food On Property: Yes
- Hotel Highlights: Seasonal outdoor pool, restaurant & bar, game room, outdoor fire pits, basketball court, pickleball court, fitness center, horseshoes, chapel
Tahquitz Pines Retreat Location
Tahquitz Pines Retreat is located in the Idyllwild-Pine Cove community within the San Jacinto Mountains. The hotel is owned by Idyllwild locals who specialize in real estate.
The lodge is located on the outskirts of the town less than a 5-minute drive from the main shopping area. Although you won’t be able to walk to restaurants and local cafés, the remote location offers a peaceful stay away from the busy downtown Idyllwild.
Tahquitz Pines Retreat is set on a gorgeous property surrounded by a forest. As we drove through the main entrance we marveled at the beautiful trees covered in fall colors. The entire grounds are just stunning and the landscaping is so impressive!
The property is quite big and has walking paths where you can go for a refreshing walk in the woods without needing to venture far away from the hotel.
Overall, this is a great place to stay for couples or families seeking a relaxing mountain retreat. Idyllwild offers the perfect escape into nature while being close to plenty of shops and dining choices.
The Accommodations
Tahquitz Pines Retreat is beautifully built with a variety of room choices to fit different group sizes and needs. The hotel offers cottages, poolside cabins, retreat cabins, celebration suites, forest rooms, and village cabins.
We stayed at the Village Cabin in the southern part of the resort. These cabins come with two rooms – a main room with a king or queen bed and a second smaller room with bunk beds. This is a great accommodation choice for couples or smaller families with kids.
Our room was simple yet tastefully decorated with wooden furniture and mountain accents. It came with all of the necessities for a comfortable stay including a nicely sized bathroom, a dresser, and a small eating area.
The room was spacious enough to accommodate us, our one-year-old baby, and our dog. We chose to book the Family Queen room so our baby could take a quiet nap in the bunk bed room during the day.
The cabin was equipped with a coffee maker, mini fridge, and a microwave that was great for heating up leftovers.
The room had a large flat-screen TV and a heater/AC system that kept us warm and cozy on the cooler nights.
There are 20 Village Cabins that are located in the same part of the property. Our cabin had a small patio area with outdoor lounge chairs enclosed by a wooden fence for privacy.
Food & Drinks
Tahquitz Pines Retreat has a restaurant and bar on the property which is very convenient if you don’t want to venture far away from the hotel in search of food. While we did try a few of the restaurants in town, for dinner we chose to eat most of the meals at the hotel restaurant.
The Peak Restaurant and Bar has a decently sized menu with a variety of choices from appetizers to main entrees, desserts, and kids’ meals. They also have seasonal offerings and an extensive drink menu that covers specialty cocktails, wine, beer, and liquor.
As an option, you can order the food for take-out or delivery to your room. The restaurant has spacious outdoor seating which is great for warmer summer days and indoor seating for the winter season.
Hotel Amenities
The hotel offers so many excellent amenities that we spent very little time in our room!
The hotel has an outdoor pool which is great for the summer season. The pool is not heated so we did not use it during our stay in the fall.
Next to the pool, you will find lots of outdoor courts and games to keep the entire family entertained! You can play a game of pickleball, basketball, or volleyball.
There is also an area with horseshoes, tetherball, and swings for kiddos.
If the weather is too chilly, head to the indoor rec room where you can play a game of foosball, table hockey, ping pong, darts, and pool.
We had so much fun exploring the different games in the rec room (and things got pretty competitive!).
Throughout the property, you can walk around on paved pathways that are lined with beautiful trees and plants. There are many tables and benches where you can bring take-out food for lunch or sip a cup of coffee in the morning.
After a day full of outdoor adventures, grab a drink and relax at the outdoor lounge and fire pits.
The property also has a small chapel ideal for weddings and church retreats.
Tahquitz Pines Retreat Pet Policy
One of the main reasons why we stayed at Tahquitz Pines Retreat is their excellent pet policy. This hotel allows up to 2 dogs per room with no additional fees. There are no limits on pet size which is great for travelers like us who have a bigger dog.
Please keep in mind that pets are not allowed on the furniture or beds. If you need a dog blanket, you can request one from the front office for the stay.
While the hotel is dog-friendly, there isn’t an enclosed dog park on the property. We took our dog to the Idyllwild Nature Center and Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail for exercise which are dog-friendly.
Things To Do In Idyllwild
This was our first time visiting Idyllwild and we were so pleasantly surprised by it! The downtown was so charming yet very modern. Every store owner was welcoming and we had a great time exploring this small mountain town.
Here are some of the best things to do in Idyllwild, California:
Downtown Idyllwild
Start your visit by driving out to downtown Idyllwild and walking around. The downtown is very small but there are plenty of specialty shops selling food and unique souvenirs.
I recommend El Buen Cacao chocolate café and Atomic Cow Creamery if you have a bit of a sweet tooth. Be sure to stop by Idyllwild Town Monument ‘Harmony’ to take a few photos for memories!
Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail
Idyllwild is home to many incredible hiking trails that you can reach within a short drive from the hotel.
Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail is one of the most popular ones in this area. This hike is 4.6 miles long round trip with 830 feet of elevation. Note that to park at the trailhead you will need to get a $5 parking permit from the San Jacinto Ranger Station.
Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail starts at Humber Park and travels for 2.3 miles downhill until it ends at Tahquitz View Drive. Then you will need to climb that same distance back up. The elevation gain is very gradual so the hike is much easier than it sounds!
This hike is very dog-friendly but it does follow a narrow single-track path. There were lots of other dogs that I encountered on the trail and I had to move over with my dog to let them pass.
Idyllwild Nature Center
Idyllwild Nature Center is another great place to go hiking in Idyllwild. This park has over 5 miles of hiking trails along with a visitor center showcasing displays of local animals and plants. Most of the trails are fairly easy so this is a great place to go hiking for families with little kids.
On our visit, we hiked the Idyllwild Park Trail which is 2.6 miles long with 415 feet of elevation gain. This hike follows a fairly flat loop in the forest before descending down to the Riverside County Playground Rd. Along the way, you’ll pass a great viewpoint overlooking the surrounding forest.
Idyllwild Brewpub
If you’re looking for a place to grab post-hike beers and food, head over to Idyllwild Brewpub in downtown Idyllwild. This is a fun brewery with a pet-friendly patio so you can bring your furry friends along.
With 21 beers on tap and a full menu, there is plenty to choose from for everyone. You can also treat your four-legged friend to a specialty beef patty or chopped chicken from their doggie menu.
Indian Vista Scenic Overlook
On your way home, stop by the Indian Vista Scenic Overlook along Banning-Idyllwild Panoramic Hwy. This is an easily accessible viewpoint that overlooks the San Jacinto Mountains and the valley in the distance.
There is a designated visitor parking lot next to the viewpoint and a short, paved pathway that leads to it. At this overlook, you can check out interpretive signs about the surrounding geology and nature.
Tahquitz Pines Retreat is one of the most beautiful mountain hotels we have stayed in Southern California. It is the perfect place to relax for a few days and unwind before diving back into everyday responsibilities.
Ready for a relaxing time in Idyllwild? Check out Tahquitz Pines Retreat rates & availability here!
Looking for more things to do in California? Be sure to check out these popular posts next:
This post is written by Laura. Hi, I’m a California local and the founder of the California Wanderland travel blog. I currently live in Ventura County and help 50,000 readers a month discover things to do in Central California! Read more about me here.
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