HUGE BOULDER IN THE ROAD BLOCKS SOME ACCESS TO IDYLLWILD

Morongo Basin residents travelling to Idyllwild may have to plan an alternate route. Recent rainstorms may have been responsible for a huge boulder that fell onto a mountain road and is blocking traffic. Just before 10 p.m. Sunday, the boulder and other debris fell onto Highway 243, between Idyllwild and Pine Cove. The boulder, which is 18 feet in diameter, is between Pine Cove Road and Franklin Drive. Large rocks and boulders line the mountain roads leading into and out of the Coachella Valley, including Highways 243 and 74. The boulder fell in a secluded area and there were no reports of injuries or damage Monday night. Pine Cove is accessible from Interstate 10, but anyone going to Idyllwild needs to use Highway 74, through Palm Desert or Hemet.