Summit San Jacinto Peak, California

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Near the city of Palm Springs, California just east of Los Angeles, Mount San Jacinto rises from the desert floor at near sea level to its 10,834 ft (3,302 meter) peak, the 6th highest mountain peak in the 48 contiguous United States. Although the summit is within close reach when accessed by way of the Palm Spring Aerial Tramway, the mountain presents a number of hiking trails with numerous options for duration, starting points and difficulty including those that start at the floor of the Coachella Valley. While temperatures on the valley floor can range upwards of 40C (110F) the temps on the mountain rarely exceed 18C (75F) providing a cool respite from the hot summer temperatures in the desert but also making the need for alternative clothing mandatory. The view from the summit of Mt. San Jacinto is nothing short of magical with distant Mexico, the glistening Pacific Ocean, the expansive L.A. basin and the massive desert laid before the beholder. From the mountain stations of the Tramway, the peak can be reached by using the Round Valley Trail, a moderate hike of approximately 12.5 miles (20 kilometers) with an elevation gain of about 700 meters and the most popular route to the summit. The Marion Mountain Trail accessed from the nearby mountain town of Idyllwild is also popular with hikers providing the shortest (but by no means quickest or easiest) route. It’s 19 kilometers, round trip, with an over 1,400 meter vertical ascent. The challenging “Cactus to Clouds” trail from the downtown area of Palm Springs which takes hikers all the way from the valley floor to the peak utilizes parts of the popular Museum and Skyline trails. This challenging trek, which stretches to over 12.5 miles (20 kilometers) one-way, can be completed in a single day, but most choose the return via the Tramway rather than hike back down. Alternatively, hikers can spend the night on the mountain and return another day the way they came. For the truly adventurous there is also a mountaineering route from the town of Snow Creek that will provide an extreme challenge and access to the summit. Your dream to Hike to the Top of San Jacinto Peak can be realized when you combine it with a trip to the California desert resort city of Palm Springs and can even include a ride on the aerial tramway that provides the World’s Largest Rotating Tramcars. Add it to your list and start planning the adventure today to make sure you have all the appropriate permits and gear necessary to make this trek one you will remember for the rest of your life.

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