Spitler Peak

Apache and Spitler Peaks, taken from Antsell Rock, photo by Kathy Wing

SpitlerPeak, taken from PCT, photo by Sharon Moore

Apache and Spitler Peaks, taken from Antsell Rock, Photo by Kathy Wing.

Peak Name

Spitler Peak

28G

Elevation

7440

feet

Status

active

Region

Desert Divide

Range

San Jacinto Mountains

Nearby peaks

Apache Peak

Location

33.702245,-116.6227948

Description

Sometimes peaks get named after colorful characters instead of heroes or prominent citizens. Such is the case with Spitler Peak, named for a squatter who lived on the nearby Fobes Ranch (ca.1890). The loss of its forest cover in the 2013 Mountain fire left a beautifully shaped peak with stunning views of the Desert Divide, featuring views of the Coachella Valley and Salton Sea on one side, and Garner Valley and Lake Hemet on the other.

Route 1 uses the Fobes Trail to link up to the PCT, and Route 2 uses the Spitler Peak Trail, and both routes combine well with Apache Peak.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1- Fobes Trail

Elevation Gain

2300′

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

8 miles round trip on trail

Estimated time

4-5 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, moderate

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-10 or SR 60 east to SR 79 in Beaumont.
Take exit south to SR 79.
Go south on SR 79 to the Ramona Expressway. Turn left (east).
Go east and then southeast on the Ramona Expressway until it ends at SR 74. Turn left (east).
Go east 15 miles on SR 74 to Mountain Center (junction with Idyllwild Highway – SR 243).
Continue east on SR 74 for 7.0 miles to dirt Fobes Ranch Road (6S05) on the left (north) at a cattle guard. Turn left onto the dirt road. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 0.4 mile, fork. Go left.
At 3.6 miles, fork. Park here.

Hiking route

From the parking area (5200′), hike north up the Fobes Trail. The trail bypasses Fobes Ranch and meets the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) at Fobes Saddle (5960+) in 1 1/2 miles. This trail is shown correctly on the San Jacinto Wilderness map and is shown as a faint dotted red line on 1988 and later versions of the USGS Palm View Peak topo map.
Turn left (north) on the PCT and follow it for a long mile to the trail’s highest point northeast of the peak.
Take the use trail on your left (west) to the ridgeline and continue south to the summit.

Route Notes

Note: Continuing north on the PCT from the junction with the Spitler Peak use trail leads to the Apache-Spitler Saddle and then Apache Peak. Combining the peaks will add 3 miles and 1,000′ of gain to the round trip statistics.

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2- Spitler Peak Trail

Elevation Gain

2500′

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

11 miles round trip on trail

Estimated time

5-6 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, moderate

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-10 or SR 60 east to SR 79 in Beaumont.
Take exit south to SR 79.
Go south on SR 79 to the Ramona Expressway. Turn left (east).
Go east and then southeast on the Ramona Expressway until it ends at SR 74. Turn left (east).
Go 15 miles east on SR 74 to Mountain Center (junction with Idyllwild Highway – SR 243).
Continue east on SR 74 for 3.5 miles to Apple Canyon Road (paved) on the left. Turn left.
Pass the entrance to the Hurkey Creek Campground on the left and continue 2.6 miles to a large parking area on the right. Park here. This is the parking area for the Spitler Peak Trail.

Hiking route

The Spitler Peak Trail, 3E22, begins at a square post at the north end of the parking area (4940′).
Hike 5 miles up the trail to where it meets the PCT at the Apache-Spitler saddle (6980′).
Turn right (south) and follow the trail as it starts around the northeast side of Spitler.
About 25 yards past a short switchback, leave the trail and go up the slope to the ridge on your right (west).
Then turn left (south) and follow the ridge up to the summit.

Route Notes

Note: Turn left (north) at Apache-Spitler Saddle to hike to Apache Peak; the combination would add 2 miles and 700′ of gain to the round trip statistics.

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Additional Peak Information

Special conditions: Wilderness permits are required under all circumstances. Permits are limited to 15 hikers. Permits may be obtained from the Idyllwild Ranger Station 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

Peak combinations: Apache Peak is often combined with Sptiler via Routes 1 or 2.