Palms to Pines scenic byway is in southern California near Palm Springs. The byway follows CA 74 and CA 243 for 67 miles between Banning and Palm Desert. Both state highways are two-lane paved roads suitable for all types of vehicles. Both are generally open year-round.
The byway travels through San Bernardino National Forest and the San Jacinto Mountains. The mountains are isolated from others in southern California and are a drastic contrast to the surrounding desert. Byway travelers are taken from a desert oasis to snow-capped mountains. Among the wildlife inhabiting the area are bald eagles, usually seen around Lake Hemet in the winter, and bighorn sheep.
Two wilderness areas can be accessed from the byway: San Jacinto and Santa Rosa. Trailheads into San Jacinto are located near Idyllwild. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail is also accessed from the byway. In all, over 150 miles of trails run throughout the national forest.
Those interested in camping have several campgrounds to choose from. Fern Basin is a national forest campground with 24 RV and tent sites. It is open May through October and limits the size of RVs to 18 feet. Hurkey Creek is a county-operated campground with over 100 sites. Mount San Jacinto State Park has several developed camping areas.