Rock Art Roadside Attractions: Apple Boulders of Perris, California

Not only can I not pass by a roadside attraction, I think you should know by now that I actively seek them out and plan my routes around possible sightings. While returning to LAX from the San Jacinto Valley in SoCal, I made a slight detour with hopes of spotting the Apple Boulders in Perris, California.

A Few Words from the Creator of the Apple Boulders

The artist, Neil Larson, said he painted the boulders in 1983 when he lived just above the bluffs behind the rocks. Apparently the locals enjoy the whimsical roadside attractions, as they’ve re-painted the boulders several times, of which Mr. Larson is thankful. Though he says, “One day I should go there and actually paint it better with fresh red paint!” Until then, visitors can stop and pretend they’re seeing a giant a Red Delicious instead of a Cripps Pink apple. The faded paint makes no difference to me, I can’t say I’d want to sink my teeth into them even if they were candy apple red. No, this roadside attractions is a feast for the eyes only.

Where to find the Apple Boulders

Want to check out the Apple Boulders for yourself? Follow Hwy- 74 through Perris. You’ll find the Apple Boulders on the right at the intersection of Wasson Canyon Road. There is a dirt parking area at the traffic light with room to park your car or truck, but probably not an RV unless it’s really small. The parking area is pretty rough so take your time turning in and watch for ruts and potholes. You can set your GPS with this address: 27665 Hwy.74 Perris, California, but you’re likely to pass it if you’re not paying attention, which would be hard to do as the boulders are highly visible from the road. I mean hello, a giant apple. Kind of hard to miss, right? If you pass Wollens Road, you’ve gone too far.

In addition to the apples, you may also find some other pieces of art among the rocks. I spotted a green frog before I spotted the apples and kind of figured I was in the right vicinity. There is supposed to be a bison as well, though I didn’t find that out until I’d already left.

How to Find More Roadside Attractions

Once again, I found this lovely attraction using my Roadside America app on my iPhone. As of now, there is no Android app, which really is a shame especially since my iPhone just died and I’m now using a Samsung Galaxy Note5. Do you think they’ll hurry up and create a new app on my account? Yeah, unlikely. I know. Maybe you can help me. No, you don’t need to sign a petition, but if you know of another app that helps avid road trippers seek out fun and quirky roadside attractions, leave me a comment so I can check it out. After all, I really don’t know what my family would do if I was unable to find these sights on family trips. And yes, you can and should inject some sarcasm in that comment. Just read this post about our stop at Cadillac Ranch and you’ll begin to get the picture.

Do you enjoy roadside attractions? Good or bad, what is the most memorable roadside attraction you’ve ever stopped at?