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** Use at Your Own Risk **
See the Retired Peak Guides in the Archives for Microsoft Word and other versions of this peak guide.
Location: Riverside County, about 9 miles west of Palm Springs, 112 miles from Los Angeles
Maps
Auto Club | Riverside County |
Forest Service | San Bernardino National Forest |
USGS Topo | San Jacinto Peak 7½ |
Official HPS Maps |
TPO file - Save to your computer then open with National Geographic TOPO! |
| Viewable PDF file - Approximately 6 megs |
| GPX file or Google Earth KML file to
download to GPS units and other map software (How to use GPX and KML files) |
| Routes as shown on
CalTopo using the above files (How to use CalTopo) |
Nearby Peaks: San Jacinto Peak, Cornell Peak, Jean Peak, Marion Mountain
Printable version of this route
ROUTE 1
- Distance: 12 miles round trip on trail and cross-country
- Gain: 2700'
- Time: 6-7 hours round trip
- Rating: Class 2, moderate
Original: John Backus, 1981
DRIVING ROUTE 1
- Take I-10 east past Banning to the junction with SR 111.
- Take SR 111 southeast 8.5 miles to the Palm Springs Tramway Road.
Turn right.
- Go up this road 3.7 miles to its end at the tramway terminal. Park
where indicated by the signs in this area.
HIKING ROUTE 1
- Take the tram
(fee
required) to the upper station at 8560'.
- Go downstairs and exit the building. Follow the concrete sidewalk as it
descends to the valley below.
- Continue straight ahead to a ranger station.
- Continue about 1/4 mile to a trail junction with a sign "Round
Valley - 2". Keep right and continue to Round Valley Campground.
- Keep
left here at a junction and continue up to Wellman Divide (9700').
- Turn
right at this junction and continue up to a junction at a saddle just
below San Jacinto Peak.
- Go downhill (northwest) down the trail past a small
switchback to the first main switchback at 10,500'.
- Leave the trail here to
the right and contour cross-country, staying at a constant altitude about
0.3 mile to the saddle west-northwest of
San Jacinto Peak (10,400').
- Continue west
along the ridge to a second saddle.
- Go up over the top of the ridge and
then cross a narrow gully.
- Continue to the west end of the ridge which is
the summit.
NOTE
Temperatures are 30-40° cooler on the peak than on the valley
floor. Please dress accordingly.
Printable version of this route
ROUTE 2
(USFS Adventure Pass may be required)
- Distance: 18 miles round trip on trail
- Gain: 4800'
- Time: 9-10 hours round trip
- Rating: Class 2, strenuous
DRIVING ROUTE 2
- From the Chevron Station in Idyllwild, go northeast on North Circle
Drive for 0.8 mile to South Circle Drive. Turn right.
- Go 0.1 mile to Fern Valley Road. Turn left.
- Go 1.8 miles to the loop at the end of the road in Humber Park. Park
here.
HIKING ROUTE 2
- From Humber Park (6480'), hike up the Devils Slide Trail to Saddle
Junction at 8080'. This is a multiple trail junction.
- Take the far left
trail and continue up to Wellman Divide.
- Turn
left at this junction and continue up to a junction at a saddle just
below San Jacinto Peak.
- Go downhill (northwest) down the trail past a small
switchback to the first main switchback at 10,500'.
- Leave the trail here to
the right and contour cross-country, staying at a constant altitude about
0.3 mile to the saddle west-northwest of
San Jacinto Peak (10,400').
- Continue west
along the ridge to a second saddle.
- Go up over the top of the ridge and
then cross a narrow gully.
- Continue to the west end of the ridge which is
the summit.
Printable version of this route
ROUTE 3 - Marion Mtn. Trail
(USFS Adventure Pass may be required)
- Distance: 9.5 miles round trip
- Gain: 4200'
- Time: 6-7 hours round trip
- Rating: Class 2, strenuous
Original: Sandy Sperling, 2008
DRIVING ROUTE 3
- Take I-10 to Banning. Exit at 8th Street (SR 243 to Idyllwild). Turn right at end of off-ramp. Note odometer and go as follows:
- At 0.2 mile, turn left.
- At 0.7 mile, turn right on to San Gorgonio Avenue.
- At 1.4 miles, keep left on SR 243.
- Drive south on SR 243 for 19 miles to a junction with a paved road, Azalea Trail (NF-4S02).
- Turn left and proceed 1.6 miles to a wide dirt parking area just before the Marion Mountain Campground entrance. Trailhead is signed "Marion Mtn Trail." Park here.
HIKING ROUTE 3
- From the parking area (6300'), proceed east up the very steep Marion Mountain Trail to a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in 2 miles.
- Turn left. In 1/4 mile meet the junction with the trail to Deer Springs Camp.
- Turn right. In about 1 mile meet a junction on the left with the Fuller Ridge Trail.
- Go right, leaving the PCT. Proceed 1 1/2 miles to Little Round Valley (9600').
- Continue through the campground and begin the switchbacks toward Mt San Jacinto. After a couple of switchbacks, at about 10,000' elevation, leave the trail and head north up the gully. Stay on the east side of the gully to avoid dense brush.
- Continue up to the western saddle at the top of the gully.
- Continue to the west end of the ridge, which is the summit.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Wilderness permits are required under all circumstances. Permits for
day hikes can be obtained from the Long Valley ranger station (near
the tram) for Route 1. For Route 2, they may be obtained at Idyllwild
Ranger Station, as can permits for backpacking. Permits are limited
to 12 hikers. The Idyllwild Ranger Station is just off SR 243 at
54270 Pine Crest Road. There is a self-issue permit stand outside of
the ranger station. Permits may be obtained in advance from:
San Jacinto Ranger District
54270 Pinecrest
P.O. Box 518
Idyllwild, CA 92549
Voice: (909) 382-2921
Fax: (951) 659-2107
HISTORICAL NOTE
The area was designated a State Park in 1937.
Please report any corrections or changes to the
Mountain Records Chair.
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