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Hemet lies in the San Jacinto Valley of Riverside County, surrounded by the San Jacinto Mountains and rolling hills. The town was laid out in the late 1880s, and a dam built in the mountains in the 1890s brought water to the valley, turning it into a farming community of apricots, olives and citrus. Hemet was incorporated in 1910.
The city is famous for the Ramona Pageant, California's official outdoor play, performed every spring since 1923 in the Ramona Bowl amphitheater in the hills. Based on Helen Hunt Jackson's novel Ramona, it is one of the longest running outdoor plays in the country.
Downtown Hemet keeps historic storefronts and the Historic Santa Fe Depot, now the Hemet Museum. Nearby Diamond Valley Lake offers fishing, boating and trails, and the Western Science Center displays mammoth and mastodon fossils found during the lake's construction. The valley's hills bloom with wildflowers in spring.
The Ramona Bowl is a natural hillside amphitheater in south Hemet, home since 1923 of the Ramona Pageant, California's official outdoor play, based on Helen Hunt Jackson's novel Ramona. Performances run on spring weekends with a large cast and horses. Buy tickets early and bring a cushion and layers for the outdoor seats.
The Hemet Museum is housed in the restored Santa Fe railroad depot downtown and tells the story of the San Jacinto Valley, from Cahuilla people and early ranchers to the town's citrus and farming era. Displays include photos, tools and railroad items. Admission is free or by donation, but hours are limited, so check before you go.
The Western Science Center near Diamond Valley Lake displays Ice Age fossils uncovered when the reservoir was built, including Max, one of the largest mastodons found in the western US, and Xena, a Columbian mammoth. Hands-on exhibits suit families. Allow about an hour and combine the visit with a walk at the lake.
Downtown Hemet along Florida and Harvard streets keeps early 20th-century buildings, antique shops, small restaurants and the historic Hemet Theatre. Murals around town illustrate the valley's history. Many shops close early on Sundays, so plan a weekday or Saturday stroll if you want to browse the antique stores.
The Hemet Theatre on Harvard Street opened in 1921 as a silent movie house and is one of the oldest theaters in Riverside County. Its vintage facade and marquee anchor downtown Hemet, and the building has been the focus of community restoration efforts. Check locally for current events, as use of the theater has changed over time.
Diamond Valley Lake is a large reservoir on the southeast edge of Hemet, opened in 2000, with a marina for boat and kayak rentals, shoreline fishing for bass and trout, and miles of trails for hiking, biking and horse riding. Swimming is not allowed. Fees apply for parking and fishing, and summer afternoons are very hot.
The Wildflower Trail is a loop on the hills above Diamond Valley Lake that bursts with California poppies, lupine and other wildflowers after wet winters. It also gives wide views over the reservoir and the San Jacinto Valley. Go in March or April for the best blooms, start in the morning and bring plenty of water.
Simpson Park is a wilderness park in the rocky hills south of Hemet, with dirt trails among boulders, chaparral and seasonal streams. Hikers climb for views across the San Jacinto Valley to snowy peaks in winter. There is little shade and rattlesnakes live here, so hike early on warm days and watch where you step.
Weston Park is a shady downtown park in Hemet with lawns, mature trees, picnic tables and a playground, close to the library and civic buildings. It is used for community gatherings, concerts and holiday events. It makes a pleasant break during a walk downtown, and benches under the trees stay cooler on hot afternoons.
Maze Stone County Park, just west of Hemet, protects a boulder carved with a labyrinth-like petroglyph believed to be several centuries old, now a California Historical Landmark. A short path leads to the fenced rock. It is a quick stop of about twenty minutes, so combine it with other sights in the valley, and do not touch the carving.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
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