The Lost Pictographs of Perris, Found!

A Hike to the Pictographs of Lake Perris

Long before there was a Lake Perris there were the Luiseño people, known in their own language as the Payomkawichum (“people of the west”). They lived here for thousands of years, and left behind pictographs that can still be seen today.

From the Bernasconi Day Use Area, head east to reach Pictograph Rock (3 miles round-trip on an out-and-back trail). You can hike the dirt path to feel close to nature, or you can hike or bike the paved trail that circles the lake, part of the San Juan Bautista National Historic Trail. Or hop between the two, as the trails occasionally cross. Enjoy lake views as you hike through native plants such as brittlebush, sagebrush, and various cactus species. The hills are coming into bloom, so look for colorful displays of wildflowers, such as goldfields and California poppies. And keep an eye out for abundant bird life, including bald eagles.

Time has swept away most evidence of the native settlements, but this whole area was once inhabited by both the Luiseño and Cahuilla people. Their history lives on, though, in the rock art found around the lake. There’s no signage for Pictograph Rock, but look for it after the second intersection of the dirt trail with the paved path.

The style of art on the rock is called the “San Luis Rey style” and is typified by geometric elements. Iron oxide obtained from the surrounding hills created the red pigment. (Remember, never touch the rock art!) The exact meaning of this design is unknown, but it is believed to represent a Luiseño puberty ceremony. The initiation would prepare adolescent boys and girls for adulthood and teach them their cultural roles and responsibilities. Though most of the art is weathered away, it is still a moving glimpse of a vanished life.

The Lake Perris Bernasconi Day Use Area is located off of Bernasconi Rd. in Perris. From I-215, exit on the Ramona Expwy. and head east, toward San Jacinto. After approximately 6.5 miles, make a left on Bernasconi Rd. The parking area is at the end of the road on the left, near the group campsites. Dogs are welcome on the paved trail, but not on the dirt trail.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View