After taking the tram up, we spent some time walking around Mount San Jacinto State Park, and it ended up being one of the most relaxing parts of the trip. It's a big contrast from the desert below , cool air, tall pine trees, and quiet forest trails. The trails around Long Valley are pretty easy, so you don't need to be a serious hiker. It's perfect for a casual walk, taking photos, or just enjoying the mountain scenery. We saw squirrels and chipmunks, and I've heard people sometimes spot deer around here too. One thing to know: it's much colder up here than in Palm Springs, so bring a light jacket and wear comfortable shoes because you'll probably end up walking more than planned. It's a nice little nature break after the tram ride, and definitely worth spending some time here before heading back down. read more

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Visited Mount San Jacinto and it was such a refreshing experience. The views are absolutely beautiful and it feels like a completely different environment compared to the desert below. Everything was peaceful, clean, and perfect for just taking a break and enjoying nature read more

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Amazing what nature offers all on it's and at your risk. Play it safe ! What a steep incline coming back to the tram station. I huffed and puffed till I no longer could puff and stood still. I embraced each brake as I admired all that was around me. Mount San Jacinto has so many birds for those that are bird watchers. Such as Western Bluebird, Yellow-ramped warbler extra. I stopped by the ranger station boy all the information I learned there was amazing. Stop by ! There use to be mules where the first ranger station is located back in the days. History! With Endless forest trees and trails, kind folks as you walk along the way. There is so much to explore. Camping is also available. Without the tram I don't think I'd ever make it up to the san jacinto station and park. read more

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I almost don't want to tell anyone about this State Park, but since it's considered one of the state's most popular I guess there's no harm in letting the cat out of the bag. Well maintained, most sites are spacious, and water near enough. Only a few hard-to-get hook up sites, and I don't think I'll come back with a trailer unless I get one. But many do very well for trailers in non HU sites. Tent campers will be happy here. Friendly Rangers, easy to get along with. Yes, I will return! read more

Beautiful state park including campsites and hiking trails. I visited in search of wildflowers; the rangers and staff were extremely helpful in pointing me in the right direction and giving me parking tips. A day pass is necessary for hiking, but it's free. Trails were beautifully maintained and provided easy hiking. A lovely getaway from the desert heat (about 15 degrees cooler than Palm Springs). It's also the endpoint of the tramway, but there's so much more. Highly recommended to drive up via scenic 74. read more

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This is a really great place to visit when going to Palm Springs. The ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to get up here was very fun, too. Inside the building is an interactive touch screen to look up different hiking paths to choose from. There is also a little museum of animals found in the park. Outside views of the mountain and lands below are amazing (too bad no snow). If you're too tired from walking, go to the theater to take a break since not too many people go in there. If you're hungry, you can grab some food at the restaurant. read more

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I really enjoyed my first time exploring this park. After taking the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up to Mountain Station, I spent my day exploring a few hiking trails. The views are just amazing. You can see the entire San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm from the peak. I mostly walked the nature trail loop and spent some time hiking along the edge of the peak. Mount San Jacinto became a state park in 1937 and is the second largest mountain range in Southern California. There are two drive-in campgrounds near the town of Idyllwild. If you like to hike, there are over 50 miles of hiking trails from easy nature walks to more challenging trails to choose from. Hiking and camping in the Wilderness area requires a permit that you can get at the ranger station. Mount San Jacinto is 10,834 feet above sea level. This makes the weather a little cooler up here so be prepared for that. There are a few food options at Mountain Station but I suggest bringing your own snacks and water. read more

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Absolutely beautiful state park! I accessed this place by way of the Areal tram in Palm Springs, and it was so stunning. Full of green trees and beautiful rocks, you can see how alive the mountains are. I would love to come back one day. read more

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Me and my bf camped here for 4 days this week. The bathrooms and showers were incredibly clean, the staff is super friendly and helpful, and the lot we camped on was very spacious. The area is beautiful and there are little trails and picnic areas you can explore. The wood sold at the rangers station is the cheapest in town, at $7 a bundle, although it does burn a little fast. The camp is also located just outside of the main square, so you can walk a short distance out of camp and be in the heart of the town. We had an absolute blast and are planning to come back someday! read more

Fantastic camping experience!! On the drive up, it looked like there was gonna be more than a foot of snow on the ground (people were sledding in their yards) so I was initially a bit anxious, but the campsite itself was sunny so it was all good, no crazy snow. The Park Ranger on duty was super nice and hilarious and told some genuinely fascinating stories lol. Nice facilities. Colder than a lot of our campsite neighbors had anticipated (just because it's southern California doesn't mean it's not February in the snowy mountains!) but we were prepared and did just fine. Just pack a 30° rated sleeping bag at minimum unless it's summer. The drive up the mountain was beautiful! Easy to find as well. The one criticism I might have is that if you're on a certain outer ring of the campsites (we were #22) you can see some nearby buildings, but it wasn't enough to remove a star, we just set our camp chairs to face the other direction lol and had a great time! We'll definitely be going back soon, 5/5. (p.s. It also doesn't seem to have bear issues like Big Bear, at least in the winter -- as far as I could tell by looking at the type of trash receptacle that was out -- but always be aware just in case) read more

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Stopped by the office because signs everywhere indicated that you need to do so before entering. We were looking forward to a hike after seeing all the reviews and pictures. The woman in the office was incredibly rude. I had an adventure pass and asked if I could use it to enter the park and she told me that I couldn't and stated that it was a campground. She had a very rude tone. She then asked what I was looking to do and I told her we wanted to hike and she cocked her head and said "this is a campground. All of Idyllwild is for hiking" in the most condescending tone. I walked out at that moment. read more

Mount San Jacinto State Park can be found in Palm Spring. Daily vehicle entrance cost $10 and free WiFi is available in the visitor center/ ranger station. Once you enter the park and pay your fee, the employee at the booth will assign you what parking lot you can park in. Then from here, you can catch the aerial tram ($24.95 per person, prior to tax. Cost $55.90 for 2, including $4 processing fee if purchased online) to the mountain. My husband and I came out here on a Tuesday late morning for a snow day since we saw that this state park has snow and would be fun to bring our own sleds. Once we arrived at the top from the aerial tram, we made our way down the path to get to the snow. Be careful though because the snow up here was not soft powdery snow but hard as ice, which made for a very slippery walk (we saw several people trip and hurt themselves on the asphalt). Even though we brought an inflatable sled (we had a small handheld air pump to inflate it), sadly it didn't last very long. It actually popped as my husband went down a small hill. Most people that brought plastic sleds with them cracked and broke. In fact, there are a few piles of broken sleds all around. So if you want to come up here for the snow, either bring a strong thick plastic sled or don't be attached to the sled you may bring up here with you. The weather temperature is much colder at this state park so be sure to dress accordingly. There are restrooms available at the visitor center where you will need to catch the aerial tram and also at the ranger station. There is a restaurant at the ranger station, meeting room/ ballroom available for events/ weddings and a small museum with a short film with brief information about the state park. The hiking trails were open but just be aware that the snow and hard ice on the path are very slippery so be sure to wear the right type of shoes (we saw a few ladies that wore booths that are smooth on the bottom and slipped all over, please think on the right footwear when you come here). We were able to get some great snow photos and had a nice afternoon. If you have a free day, consider checking out this state park (probably would be better to come out here during spring time for the best weather for hiking). Please note that dogs are not allowed at this state park with the exception of service dogs. read more

Mount San Jacinto State Park - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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First to San Jacinto for a hike. Got up really early to enjoy the sunrise and start a hike in cooler temperatures. No traffic on the drive here. Prior to hiking a permit must be completed at the ranger station. There were also people around ready to climb with their gear. There was plenty of parking towards the entrance of the hiking trail. The trail we were headed was for the Devil's Slide Trail. I believe this was rated as a moderate trail where there was some climb in the hike. For an amateur hiker like myself I had to stop and rest a few times. No biggie, I got to stop and enjoy the view. After a grueling 8+ miles later we made it to Tahquitz peak at 8800 elevation. We stop by at the watch tower at the top of peak and spoke with the volunteers there. They took shifts watching for fires all around. They shared stories about the Holy/Cranston fire that occurred just a few months ago. The fire was just inches away from burning the watchtower. You can see where the charred marks end. The fires scorched large acres of land and natural habitats. Some trails were closed due to the hazard from the fire. Some trees make be weakened and burned so badly that they could collapse unknowingly. On the decent down I was glad to be hiking down since our adventure took much of the morning hours. read more

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We (a group of 8) hiked to the San Jacinto Peak on Saturday 6/17/19. We arrived at the ranger station to get the permit at around 4:45 am (54270 Pine Crest Ave). It took us about another 15 minutes to drive to the Marion Mountain Campground and that is where we started our hike at abut 5:15 am. The trail is beautiful and there are beautiful views pretty much from the start. Much greener than I expected...beautiful trees providing shade, large rocks to stand on for better vantages, running water near and on some parts of the trail, and even parts with white flowers and ferns. It starts off hard and never really relents. Mile 2 had a 1,000 ft elevation gain, Mile 4 "only" had a 500 ft elevation gain but by that time you are near 9K feet high and is difficult for many people (including myself) to catch one's breath and avoid fatigue due to the altitude but trust me push through the pain/discomfort to make it to the peak for the spectacular 360 degree views. You do pass some campgrounds and intersecting trails but it is not too hard to find the signs that will keep you on the right path to the summit. The summit is just beyond a stone cabin/hut that is available to people who might get stuck near the top in inclement weather. Once you reach this structure the peak is maybe 1000 ft pass that but it will include some boulder scrambling. It can get a bit crowded at the top and there was an awkard man getting unnecessarily impatient with us as our group were taking our pictures near the sign by getting really close to us and giving us some nasty looks...everyone in our group noticed the same thing. The views are spectacular in any direction that you look and there are views to all 4 cardinal directions. The weather wasn't as bad as we were expecting. Nearby areas were experiencing triple digit temps for a few days but it was a very comfortable 60 degrees at the start and stayed cool for the majority of the hike with the last couple hours being the hottest with temperatures in the 80s but areas of shade and breezes to make it not too bad...the benefit of being at such a high altitude. At the conclusion of our hike when we drove down the mountain and stopped at a liquor store before getting on the fwy the heat was intense with a very dry wind reminiscent of Las Vegas. Here are the details: Distance: 12.2 miles RT from the Marion Mountain Campground trail head Elevation: gain of about 4,500 ft (start at 6,300 and peak is 10,834); each mile has anywhere between 500 to 1,000 ft of elevation gain Duration: 10 hrs total for us...5 hrs up...4 hrs down...1hr at the top...we did take frequent breaks to take in the views, take pictures, catch our breath, etc... Difficulty: Strenuous *peak 4 of the Six Pack of Peaks Challenge for us read more

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Who knew there was such a Winter wonderland high above the desert floor? That was the thought after riding up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway on a lukewarm December Monday. Lukewarm some 8500ft. below or so, that is. Back in town, it was bone dry. & my partner in crime & I weren't quite sure what to expect up here. Colder? Sure. Snow? Possibly, though there was no sign of it looking up at the cliff face from town. But when we walked out the back of the Aerial Tramway's Mountain Station, there it was. Snow. Along with an entirely unexpected pine forest. Pine trees interspersed with craggy peaks, & the pure, clean, white stuff covering the ground everywhere. Winter wonderland. With a view. Or 5 views to be precise. We didn't have to go far before we came across the Desert View Trail. It's a short & easy, though slippery in places with snow on the ground, 1.5 mile loop trail that leads to 5 "notches." Each notch is a magnificent vista point opening in the forest for viewing the desert valley far below from different angles. Mount San Jacinto State Park was an unexpected, & easy to get to on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Winter wonderland. Maybe someday I'll make it back here during a different season to see what other surprises there could be way up here. read more

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Chose this as the check in option for being at the top of the tram ride up from the valley floor. Checking out the vistas from the V.W. Grubbs Viewpoint showcased the clean mountain air, granite boulders, pine trees, and stunning scenery in all directions. In the Mountain Station for the Palm Springs Aerial Tram, they have a video with tips for the 10 essential items to pack along with you if you are going to hike in to the park. Very wise advice to follow. There are many adventures to be had, but it makes sense to be prepared. The opportunity to have this contrast from desert heat to mountain coolness is very special; especially in 10 minutes time for the ascent! We are fortunate to have this resource so close to many Southland residents. read more

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Excellent hike, great friends, good times! What a view at the summit! Don't forget to stop for fuel on the way back at the tram restaurant! read more

Mount San Jacinto State Park - Mt. San Jacinto summit - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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I have conquered the harder hikes than this, therefore this hike is easier for the experienced. My friends and I got to the Desert Hot Springs early in hopes of departing on the first tram. Although it is a bit expensive, I do recommend taking the tram up to the start of of the peak because it narrows down your long adventure by 8 miles. As we reached the top through the tram, we didn't notice any snow (this was a few weeks ago). We were delighted because that would lesson the pain on our feet. As we entered thebpark, we had to sign a permit on the trail for safety precautions and inquiry. This hike is self explanatory; follow the trail and don't stray off of it. Bundle up because the peak is cold. Regardless, this hike took me about 6 hours to finish. The inclines aren't too much if you've hiked other hikes and it is a gradual increase in altitude and incline over a long stretch. For inexperienced hikea, this hike is a good start to the 6 packs of peaks challenge. Start with this to test your strengths, take note of your weaknesses, and get ready for the next hike. Good luck. read more

Mount San Jacinto State Park - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

This hike totally kicked my ass! Note to self..don't do hikes on Sundays anymore LOL. So my friends and I are planning to do the Spartan World Championship Beast Race in Lake Tahoe. I've never been to Tahoe, but we needed to train w/ the elevation. My friend suggested San Jacinto since it was closeby and the elevation is about the same. The whole hike round trip according to my smartwatch was about 14.2 miles. Initially you check in at the ranger station and they didn't open til 8am ON THE DOT. We were there early w/ others, but had to wait outside. The restroom inside is clean so I suggest you take advantage before your journey. We started at around 9 and finished 5:30? I wanted to go faster, but the idea is to stay as a team so we had to wait a bit for others to catch up. The elevation was killer and hit me halfway up the hike, I began getting a headache. My tip for you is POP AN ADVIL BEFORE THE HIKE!! It does wonders. There's plenty of trees and shade throughout the hike as well if you plan to take breaks. Once you finish rock scrambling to get to the top, it's a beautiful view! The sign was fun to take pictures with cause it had the American flag. The only thing I hated about the hike was that there were SO MANY DAMN BUGS! I know it's the forest, but at such a high elevation, I didn't think I'd see swarms of lady bugs and big black ants. I wanted to lay down and soak up the sun on the rocks up top, but the bugs kept flying on my face or crawling on me which was disturbing lol. There's even a cabin w/ a bunk bed if you happen to get lost and have to stay overnight, but it looks a bit sketch.... We also saw 1 porta potty about halfway into the hike. Anyway great hike! You will encounter mud :) read more

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What a beautiful, peaceful state park... And only a couple hours drive from the Los Angeles area. Really, if you have never been to Mount San Jacinto State Park and you are FROM SoCal, put it on your bucket list. While I did not partake in any of the wonderful hikes during our first visit here (May 2016), once our toddlers get a bit older we will. The rangers here were mostly fairly nice. I cannot wait to do more camping here AND later ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway! Bucket list. Add it now. Oh, and stock up on some thermal base wear (long johns, etc.) if you don't already have some. It got down to 34°F at the campground where we stayed one night. \m/ OTHER TIPS - summit = 10,834 ft, making it the second highest mountain in SoCal (39th overall in the state) - free permits are required to hike into &/or camp in the wilderness Review #475 '16 Challenge #41 read more

If we're in this area again, we will definitely come back hiking, camping, exploring, etc. Lovely State Park with upbeat staff. Memorable aerial tramway up to the highest peak without backpacking it. I'm sure the view is even more breathtaking when there's snow. Yes, it reminds me of beautiful Lake Tahoe without the crystal blue lake. As we got higher into 8,000 feet elevation, it reminded me of SF, much cooler weather. Thank you to all the hardworking staff and volunteers for preserving this wonderful State Park. Visitors, please be mindful of your trash and pickup your garbage and/or recycle. Together we can preserve such treasured landmarks for generations to come. read more

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I can't say enough about these CA State Park Rangers! I'm 65+ and towing a 22ft trailer to support hubs on Pacific Crest Trail. I got to the park way too early and they directed me to Humber Park where hubs was supposed to be arriving that day. At 3:30, right before closing time I arrived back at the park WITHOUT hubs. My site had an 8 inch drop AND a three ft ledge and boulders lined the park roads! There was no way I was backing in by myself!. The rangers offered to let me overnight in over flow parking area if I couldn't get into my site. Fortunately as I waited at the trail head for hubs for 8.5 hours I met a couple also from Michigan who were camped next to my site. It took three of us and me driving the wrong way on a one way road to get into the site. My hands were shaking the whole time as I was upset from hubs no show and the difficult site. Very grateful to the rangers even though I did get backed in just for offering. First thing she said when I checked in was "you look like you had a rough day"! Hubs showed up next day at 11 am! But these park rangers were the BOMB! read more

Camped at the Idyllwild Campground Nov 15 - 17, 2020. Grounds and facilities are remarkably clean; staff is extremely friendly and helpful. Shout out to Theresa, Trish, and the gal at the Ranger Station (sorry, didn't get her name) who provided me with excellent customer service. The only bummer was that wood-burning campfires were prohibited due to high fire danger, which made for very long, cold, and dark nights. My fault for not checking ahead, and we ended cutting our trip short because of it. There's no shortage of hikes in the area, mostly moderate and advanced level. We did the Suicide Rock via Deer Springs Trail hike (3.2 miles one way, 1700' elevation gain, about 3.5 hours round trip). Awesome views and pretty cool to experience different temperatures in one short hike -- shorts and t-shirt weather at the trailhead, snowy/icy trails and cold winds at the top! The next day, we visited the charming town of Idyllwild, and did the easy Ernie Maxwell Scenic trail, which is perfect for families. So peaceful and beautiful, even running water from melting snow. There's something for everyone here. Will definitely return better prepared so we can stay longer and do more exploring of all the beauty and adventure this place has to offer. read more

I'm giving Mt. San Jacinto State Park a good review because it's a really nice area and there's no park admission. However, I'm not sure if there's any alternate way to get here if not using the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which is about a 10 minute ride up (and down) that costs $23.95 round trip (and if you're an AAA Member, you can get a discount, but need to ask for it and it's $21.65 per person RT). The hiking area is nice, and on Valentine's Saturday 2015 where it was in the 80's in Palm Springs, it was in the 50's to 60's here, with evidence of snow, lots of ice, some white patches, even a few areas where the snow was fluffy enough to make snowballs and snowmen with a little effort. I actually built 2 snowmen of varied qualities, but both fun and cute. It's good for at least 4 hours of adventure hiking, and it's very safe. The only wild animal I saw was a squirrel, otherwise nothing dangerous, and most trails where well kept paths that guide you. In the winter you can supposedly go snow shoeing, 'tho with So Cal droughts, you need to monitor whether there's any snow here before coming. In the Spring/Summer/Fall the hiking trails are probably pretty nice. I went on Valentine's Day Saturday 02/14/15 and it was the perfect temperature, not too hot, still sunny, warm, with areas that were comfortable chilly so if you wore shorts or a jacket you'd be equally comfortable either way depending on how you like your body temperature. I hear you can also camp overnight here too. There's a restaurant and gift store here. read more

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We took the palm springs tramway which is beautiful and a nice scenic route up to the top of the mountain that has a restaurant, gift shop, restrooms, and a deck to sight see the area which is good for people who want to see nature without hiking far. From the tramway, we started our hike to San Jacinto Peak. It's a 11 mile round trip, but there are other routes like Marion Mountain if you prefer not to use the tramway. The price is roughly around 26 dollars. The parking at the tramway area is free. I really enjoy this as after a big hike, you end up at the restaurant just relaxing before heading down the tram. Please check out https://www.pstramway.com. Remember to stop by Long Valley Ranger Station to fill out a wilderness permit. The permits are free. Because this hike is at high elevation, some people can adjust to the altitude or some like myself have a hard time and end up moving much slower than normal. Just remember it's not a race to the top, just pace yourself, take as many breaks as you need, and enjoy the hike. I tend to know my directions and I tell my hiking buddies to go ahead, and I will meet you up there. The trail itself is well maintained, and it's one of the top hikes on my list in Southern California. As always, pack accordingly to the weather and have fun. read more

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The park is huge and offers many miles of hiking and other recreational activities. It is designated as a wilderness area and requires a (free) permit (available at ranger stations) if you want to camp, or climb, or explore the "backcountry". I only visited Long Valley due to snow and ice when I was there. The 2 trails I took were very slippery - and not always easy to see due to being covered with snow. The "YakTrax" I bought for my shoes at the Palm Springs Arial Tramway upper station gift shop really helped and were worth the cost since otherwise I would have to wait until spring/summer to explore even the shortest trails at 8,500 feet. Sledding, snow shoeing, and cross country skiing are also popular and equipment available to rent. I've also taken a few mountain trails from the edge of Palm Springs that are supposed to eventually reach the area I visited from the tram but I didn't follow them far enough due to time and weather. I have also hiked from Idyllwild but am not sure if or when I was actually in the State Park - but might make a point to visit from that side in the future. This park is unique in many ways in regard to the variety of plants and animals found within in it and the opportunity to experience a totally different environment at high elevation than is common or expected in the surrounding a Southern California areas. If snow flurries and rain were not expected when I visited, I would have liked to stay longer. read more

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This park is a hidden gem just a short walk into the charming mountain community of Idyllwild. The park has only 33 camping sites, which are relatively private in a breathtakingly beautiful setting with giant pine trees, old oaks and even a Native American grinding stone! There is an annotated nature walk around the perimeter, perfect for families to discover together. A quiet serenity blankets the park. read more

Mount San Jacinto State Park - Camping site #20 - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

I've gone up the tram to Mt San Jacinto a few times and it is always a blast. We were lucky and got to park in lot A, went in a bought our ticket very quickly and easily. Went up the tram and spent couple hours at the top hiking and sightseeing. The food was decent and the views are amazing. It's also fun to see snow, especially because I live in San Diego where it never snows. I'd definitely recommend coming up here to visit! read more

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This is a review for the hike to San Jacinto Peak from the Aerial Tramway. Easy parking (Lot A) around 9:30 am on a Sunday. Luckily it wasn't too hot a mid-July day due to some incoming rain. The slightly overcast skies with the occasional it's-gonna-rain breeze made for ideal hiking weather. The ~5.5 miles up went quickly enough and we weren't too affected by the altitude save for a tiny twinge of headache and light-headedness. Do-able for most hiking levels if you take your time -- poles are not necessary. The hardest part was scrambling over the rocks to get to the peak. There were outhouses on the trail a few miles from the tram but it's best to use the restroom in the tram station before starting the hike. We finished in about 6.5 hours with very temporary stops just to get snacks in and out of our packs. Be warned -- as with any out-and-back peak hike, the way back down, post adrenaline rush, is TWICE AS LONG. What I was not expecting, which may have been realized had I done more research beforehand, was the $31 +gas cost for this day-long excursion. AHhhhghhhhhggg! All for hitching a ride to mid-mountain and "opting outside". All in all, a solid day hike with some altitude... with a very expensive price tag. read more

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Yesterday was picture perfect! I didn't do an early start knowing without the snow this trail was fairly easy for an avid hiker. I surprised myself doing 11 miles under 5 hrs (minus the time taking a nap at the peak lol). There was one spot on the descent before hitting Wellman Divide I lost the trail and went south too soon. But I had a good sense where I was and once I got up to the ridge, Google Maps was working for me and found the trail again. Thankfully hiker responded when I hollered. I didn't lose much time and very much appreciated the detour workout. It was so cool to pass by an array of people going to the summit. Little kids, families, students, older folks. All friendly and all simply happy to be outdoors. read more

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PUTZIN' AROUND SAN JACINTO STATE PARK! BACKGOUND: This is not necessarily an update, instead additional information of what one can do in the Mt. San Jacinto State Park. STATS: 5 miles About 1,000ft gain, from 8,516ft ESSENTIALS: At least 3 liters of water Know your limits Hiking boots that can withstand water, ice, and snow Snowshoes Layered Clothing Gloves High protein food/snacks Electrolytes Camera Hat (optional) Sunscreen Trek/ski poles Tram Tickets (refer to my original review for more info) Hiking permit (refer to my original review for more info) OUR ROUTE: After taking the very scenic ride from the desert floor to over 8500ft, me and The Crew took to the trail to the Long Valley Ranger Station to sign our life away and pick up our hiking pass. Btw, you don't really sign your life away, and the permit is free. Rangers just want to keep tabs on the number of people in the event of an emergency, so fill out the permit, which is good for up to 15 people. No need to be sneaky on this one. At the station we put on our snowshoes. Many of us had never snowshoed before, hence we were totally looking forward to this escapade. SIDEBAR: Snowshoes can be rented at most sporting goods stores, REI was a little more expensive than Sport Chalet, as of January 2015, both stores rented shoes for less than $20/day. I rented my shoes for three days, and was charged for one. Renters are not charged for the pick-up day or return day. I used my own trek poles, so I didn't need to rent them, thus can't tell you how much they charge for them. Whoa!! What a trip, getting into these shoes got some getting used to, which, fortunately, by the time we got knee deep in the snow, we were all "pros". The upside to putting on snowshoes in the snow, is the notion of being secure, virtually no worries about slipping in the snow. Only big worry is postholing, which can be very painful and/or frustrating. Google it if you don't know what it is and want to know. We followed the trail to San Jacinto until we reach Round Valley where we found a meadow of fresh virgin snow. Seeing clean, untouched white powder left us in Ahhh!! Kicking in the meadow, a couple of us took some time out to take the Nestea plunge into the snow and made snow angels. The weather was perfect, the sun was warm and shining bright, the air was clean and crisp, and the snow was soft and light. If you ever want to go Snowshoeing, San Jacinto State Park is a great place to do it. Taken from my original review... Some feel the hardest part of hiking San J is the long uphill climb to the tram. It's typically, the thought of an ice cold adult beverage at Peaks that helps people start up the mound. Use caution when walking down from the tram and up from the trail. We wore our microspikes going up because it was so slippery coming down. Most of us held onto the railing and unfortunate one gent slipped and pulled a ligament or two near "pride & joy". YOUCH!!!! Needless to say, he didn't last long on the trail. Please, please take care when traveling up and down the cement walkway. DISCLAIMER: Hiking is not something that can be taken lightly. It can be life-threatening as you see and hear on the news, people die or get lost all time. Please, if you are going to hike, never go alone and prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Remember when going for a hike, no matter how short you think it may be, always be prepared. Carry at least two liters of water for every five miles (more if the weather is warm), protein bar, nuts, and electrolytes. Wear sturdy lug sole shoes and protective clothing. Some areas the weather can change quicker than a fireman can put on his gear. It is also very important, always always always let a family member or friend know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Lastly, have fun when you hike it up. Review 43 Yelp 100+ Challenge 2015 read more

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The hike to Mount Jacinto, leaving from Marion Mountain Campground, is about 12 miles roundtrip with 4,800' elevation gain/loss. This is the highest peak in Riverside County and is considered one of the 3 Saints - the other 2 are Mt Baldy and Mt San Gorgonio. This is a tough hike, in terms of continuous ascension, elevation, and maneuvering around and over rocks and boulders. Most of the way it is shaded with loose rocks under foot. The first mile is pretty tough. The middle portion is still mostly on an incline, but not as tough as the first part. Towards the end, however, the elevation can get to you and cause fatigue. It definitely can slow you down. Also, that last mile or so feels like it is never ending. The scenery for most of the way is quite pretty. Once you see the cabin towards the top, you are just short of the rocky summit. Make sure you complete your mission, as the views are absolutely spectacular. This hike is definitely worth it, in terms of workout and scenery. At the summit, you will have reached 10,834'. parking - small lot. Adventure pass required read more

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Mother nature at it's finest! My gal pal and yelper Sue L tackled the hike from the Tram station to the peak of San Jacinto on Jan 18 and had a great time! Originally, we were scheduled for Snow Shoeing with REI , but since we don't have enough snow, we decided to hoof it to the peak. We stayed in Palm Springs (thanks to www.hotelstonight.com) so we could have a leisurely morning and avoid the long drive from OC/SD. For info on the Palm Springs Tram to the top, including peak weather, check out www.pstramway.com. You do save time by purchasing your ticket ahead of time. You can suit up, get food, get your map and just chill out and enjoy the view at the Tram station before heading out. From the Tram station, you need to check in at the Ranger station (check out Ranger Rick - adorable) before heading up to the peak. There is also a bathroom here and one other port-a-potty at ~9400 ft. The hike is 11 mile roundtrip, 2400 elevation gain from 8400 to 10,800 ft and it takes about six hours. About 50% of the hike is in shade, so even though there wasn't a lot of snow on the ground, there was a lot of ice, just below the dirt and pine needles. Bring poles - we shared a pair and that worked well. The trail is fairly clear, but there are spots where it's not 100% obvious where the trail is, especially with snow and lots of baby pine cones. Pay attention and you'll be fine. The final section is basically a rock scramble. Leave your poles behind and you'll be fine! I was concerned about altitude, as I had to stop at 10,500 ft on San Gorgonio and turn around. However! I made it to the peak here at 10,8xx and I think it's because I'm in better shape, drank a lot of water and took some ibuprofen when we started. Both of us had slight headaches but they went away fairly quickly after descending. We did feel winded at times, but nothing that deterred our 'summit.' This is a pretty hike - pines, large downed trees, meadows, a view for miles and a nice change from coastal hikes we frequently do. Just go prepared with enough water (3L), food, the 10 essentials, good traction shoes, layered clothing, a sense of adventure, stay safe and you'll have fun, too! read more

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Suicide Rock via Deer Springs Trail (~6.6 miles RT) This hike may seem a bit boring in the beginning, but the view at the top of suicide rock was way worth it (I did wonder why they call it suicide rock...if you did jump from there, you will surely die). 360 degree view! The trail starts off without much shade, and up, up, up you go. It starts to get more shady and when you start branching off to Suicide Rock, the views get better and better. Be sure to pick up your free hiker's permit at the ranger station in town. We passed by multiple signs saying you better have your pass or you will get fined/kicked out! (Even though we were there on a Friday afternoon and no ranger in sight to check...) The trail head is right across the street from the Nature Center (easy to miss) & we couldn't quite figure out where the parking is except for this small dirt lot near it. I think you can park in the nature center? Make this your one hike if you don't have too much time in Idyllwild! read more

I love the San Jacinto Wilderness because it's relatively accessible from more urban areas of Southern California. Plus the town of Idyllwild is so quaint! You can hike up to the San Jacinto Wilderness from Idyllwild or take the tram up from Palm Springs. There is a trail from the desert called the "Palms to the Pines" but it's only for the most experienced, hardcore backpackers. From Idyllwild you can hike up to Suicide Rock or take the Devil Slide Trail to Taquitz Rock, Tahquitz Peak and the Mount San Jacinto peak. I've done Devils Slide from Idyllwild. It's only 2.5 miles but you gain something like 2,500 feet with steep switchbacks. It levels off once you get Saddle Junction. I would consider it a moderate hike. I saw 65 year old women tearing it up! The trails are nice at the top and the view of Tahquitz Rock phenomenal! Lovely place to camp! Unfortunately no campfires allowed but you can bring a stove. And make sure to bring plenty of water because there is no water to speak of unless you go while it's snowing. If someone knows about a water source please PLEASE email me! :) This hike requires a lot of water due to the altitude gain. Bring a Camel Pack or a bladder! Also it's a great trail for dogs! The San Jacinto Wilderness lets you bring dogs while the other trails in the area do not. But make sure to keep them on a leash. There is still plenty of wildlife that will want to make Fido a tasty treat. You will need a free permit from the Ranger Station in town. Yes, they check! The last thing you want is to get 3/4 the way up the mountain only to get sent back by the ranger. You will need an Adventure Pass to be able to park at the trailheads. They are $35 for an annual pass but they can be used at most California Parks. I also use mine at Yosemite. It's worth the money! You can buy them online or at the Ranger Station when you pick up your permit. read more

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One of the best hikes I have ever been too. The surrounding look amazingly! Definitely beautiful when it's snowing. I need to come back and do it again around Spring time. Around this I wasn't really prepare to see so much snow. I brought the wrong shoes to hike in the snow. But, I did 6.0 miles with snow. At the end of the hike I was exhausted. But I will come back and finish it. I only recommend hiking in the snow if your a pro! It could be a little dangerous. Parking: $5.00 to park and $25.00 to take the tram. Daisy Adventures read more

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Okay, headed up here to hike to Suicide Rock after hearing many issues that I might encounter after all of the fires they've had around Idyllwild. It was BEAUTIFUL. The hike was steady, the views once you got past the opening mile or so were great. The signage telling you which way to go was a little vague, and the calculations for distances seemed way off, but we hiked about 9 miles from the car to Suicide Rock and back again, so it was a fun afternoon. Went on a Monday, so we didn't encounter a lot of other people, and because it was the end of September, the weather was absolutely gorgeous. The pathways are pretty well shaded, even in the middle of the day, so it doesn't get too bad on the trails. The trees are gorgeous, and even around the rocky outcroppings of suicide rock, everything was just amazing. I'm not a hiker and I can do it (albeit at a far slower and longer pace than most others), so you don't have any excuse. Get out there and enjoy! read more

After taking tram to the top, expect breathtaking view of the desserts and natural walks. It's so much cooler on the top of the mountains. read more

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It is a great campground. The restrooms are one of the more clean of the state park restrooms I have been in. It is very close (walking distance) to the cute little town in Idyllwild. The ranger we met at check-in was kind and even nice to the kids. The town that it is near to has about 50 or more little privately owned shops. I highly recommend leaving the campground and taking a walk around and into some of the amazing shops in this amazing place. I suggest going more towards summer though. It stays around 40 degrees throughout the day and 30 at night during October through March. read more

The easiest way to access Mt. San Jacinto State Park is by taking the Palm Springs Aerial Tram. It takes you up about 2000ft to a total of 8600 ft at the top of the mountain station. Once you walk out of the mountain station you will be greeted by Mt. San Jacinto State Park entrance sign. The weather up at the state park is usually 30 F cooler than the lower tram station. Mt. San Jacinto State Park a fairly easy place to hike. There are a few different trails you can go on but usually there are less than 5m miles. read more

Mount San Jacinto State Park - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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