Mount Rubidoux

Mount Rubidoux is a 1,331-foot hill just west of downtown Riverside, kept as a 161-acre city park. Its 3.5 miles of paved road are closed to cars, so you walk up with the joggers and cyclists to the Serra Cross on top. Frank Miller, owner of the Mission Inn downtown, helped buy the land in 1906 and build the road.

What's Worth Seeing

The Serra Cross came first. The cross and its tablet honoring Father Junipero Serra were dedicated at the summit on April 26, 1907, and that date is still on the plaque set into the rock. An Easter sunrise service began here in 1909 and is described as the oldest outdoor non-denominational one in the country. Attendance passed 30,000 in the 1920s.

The summit has an unusual owner. The city runs most of the mountain, but the Rivers & Lands Conservancy bought the 0.43-acre top at a 2013 auction, after a possible lawsuit over the cross. A community group, Totally Mt. Rubidoux, raised nearly $260,000 for the purchase and upkeep.

Near the top, stairs lead to the Peace Tower, dedicated to Miller in 1925, and the World Peace Bridge, a replica of a bridge in Alcantara, Spain. To reach the cross you can take the steep stairs, or go around the far right side, where the climb is easier.

The views reach Mt. San Gorgonio and Saddleback Mountain on a clear day, with the city spread out below.

Good to Know

The main loop is about 3 miles with about 560 feet of climbing. The city says to allow 45 to 60 minutes at a good pace. Winter and spring are the cooler seasons for it, so bring water and watch for runners coming up behind you. Weekends get crowded.

The park closes at night and the trail has no lighting, so night hikes aren't allowed. Restrooms are at Ryan Bonaminio Park.

How to Get There

Park at the Ryan Bonaminio Park lot at 5000 Tequesquite Ave, which the city's page strongly encourages because street parking nearby is limited and much of it is residents only. From the lot, it's a walk of about five minutes up San Andreas Avenue to the trailhead.

From Los Angeles, take the 60 east to the Rubidoux Boulevard exit. Turn right on Rubidoux Boulevard, left on Mission Boulevard and right on Redwood Drive, go straight through the roundabout, then turn right on Tequesquite Avenue.

From the 91 east, exit at University Avenue and turn left. Turn left on Redwood Drive at the roundabout, then right on Tequesquite Avenue.

Nearby

• The Mission Inn in downtown Riverside is Frank Miller's hotel, now a National Historic Landmark, and it runs historic tours.
• California Citrus State Historic Park in Riverside has citrus groves and historic buildings, with free grove tours.