Jennifer Gee will meet all of us at the pavilion in front of the main lodge at the James at 10:00 a.m. Directions are attached, and everyone will need to sign waivers. If you have questions or want to make arrangements for rides, please contact Lynne Eodice at 818 207-0460.” Lynne Eodice
The best way to get to the James Reserve from Riverside is toward the 60 (until Banning). At Banning on Interstate Highway 10, take State Highway 243 to the south (exit 100) and proceed up the mountain until you reach Lake Fulmor (about 15 miles). Once you are at the lake, turn into the disabled parking area next to the lake and pull up to the white bar gate that says “Road Closed”, this is the first of our two gates. The first gate is right off the main road (243). There are several locks on a chain on the left side of the gate; look for the one that has USERS etched on it. Then, you will need to enter the Code 5263 on the four tumblers of the lock, you might push it in first and then pull it open. To close the lock, please push down the padlock and scramble the numbers, then go through and lock the gate behind you. The second gate is about 1/4 mile further along the dirt road, using the same procedure as the first one (USERS:5263). Once through it, you are on the reserve proper. Parking. Once you enter the James, keep driving up the road until you cross a small bridge and come to a “y” in the road. Take a left and park your vehicles in the parking lot.
It can get warm there, so come prepared with drinking water and a hat.
The James Reserve is an outdoor classroom set in the San Jacinto Mountains. Founders Harry and Grace James established an innovative and pioneering Trailfinders program of outdoor education long before the James Reserve was established. Youth from urban Pasadena as well as the Hopi Indian Reservation spent idyllic summers here. As Trailfinders, they grew up to become renaissance men with a diversity of skills, from rock climbing and outdoor survival skills to appreciation of and fluency in classical music.
Today, the James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve strives to carry on the Trailfinders tradition by hosting classes from preschools to high schools and universities. In addition to day trips from nearby campuses, the reserve’s 70+ bed capacity and full kitchen facilities allow faculty from more distant schools to plan multiple day stays for their classes. The on-site classroom with plant and animal collections and laboratory facilities add to the learning students will experience at the James Reserve and Oasis de los Osos. Multi-day visits can expose students to experiences that go beyond their class subject matter, including interactions with scientists conducting research at the reserve.
