Idyllwild in Riverside County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Camp Emerson

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 15, 2023

1. Camp Emerson Marker

Inscription. Boy Scouts began organized camping here in 1919 on land given by C.L. Emerson, pioneer Idyllwild subdivider. The site was chosen by C.J. Carlson, longtime county wide Scout executive. Rock mortars indicate that Indians had lived here. A log bear trap, recognizable as late as 1937, was a reminder of early activity of Anglo-Americans who cut timber in the vicinity in the 1870's.

Erected by County of Riverside.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.

Location. 33° 44.087′ N, 116° 44.13′ W. Marker is in Idyllwild, California, in Riverside County. It is on Idyllbrook Drive just west of Canyon Drive, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 53155 Idyllbrook Dr, Idyllwild CA 92549, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Inland Empire,

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Idyllwild Campground Pictograph (approx. 0.7 miles away); Hoxie-Vance Cabin (approx. 1.2 miles away); Donaldson Futuro (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Idyllwild Monument (approx. 1½ miles away); Logging Shaped This Landscape (approx. 1½ miles

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away); Idyllwild Town Hall (approx. 1.6 miles away); Speed-of-Light Experiment (approx. 1.8 miles away); Tahquitz Rock History (approx. 3½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Idyllwild.

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 15, 2023

2. Camp Emerson Marker

Camp Emerson Gate image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 15, 2023

3. Camp Emerson Gate

Rock Mortars image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 16, 2023

4. Rock Mortars

Located in Idyllwild near 26040 Boulder Drive.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 522 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 15, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on September 16, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.