mount san jacinto state park and wilderness

Went on a beautiful hike up Devils Slide through the snow. Gorgeous 5 mile round trip hike.The views where amazing, as well as the fresh air

We drove up to Idylwild to escape the heat of Palm Springs, at 6300 feet it can be much coolerWe. Looked for a short day hike and got good information at the park office. We took a trail on USFS land so our senior pass worked as a permit, nothing is free in California it seemsGreat hike, great drive up and around the mountain. Great views

On the weekends during peak season make sure you get a hiking permit as early in the morning as you can stand before they run out. You will also need to get a forest adventure parking pass. I recommend south ridge trail as it is much less crowded but it can be difficult to get to if road conditions are bad.

Took the Devils Slide hike to Saddle Junction and had great photo opportunities all the way up and back. This whole area is beautifully scenic and rugged as well. The hiking can be as easy or as challenging as you want. The road going up to the town is not too windy or steep, prettty easy drive. Downtown Idyllwild is great for a bite to eat after your hike. Lots of restaurants to choose from along with a gazillion little shops. Great way to spend a weekend, I recommend stopping for a day or a weekend.

I could not believe the park behind the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. It looks so much like Yosemite, yet we were just standing in the desert near Palm Springs. What a transition!Once you exit the tramway, steep paved walkways with handrails lead you to the liking trips on a plateau below the 8,516 foot terminus building. The loop trails on this plateau are flat and easy walking. However, there are steeper trails available for your ascent back to the tram building that are much more challenging. Hiking shoes/boots or other comfortable non-slid footwear is essential due to the steep grade. Bring your own water, and use the restrooms before you begin your hike, as there are no facilities. A hat and sunscreen will protect your from the sun.All our information had indicated that the temperatures at the top were about 30 degrees cooler than in Palm Springs below, and I was not disappointed.

The hike from Deer Park Springs to Suicide Rock outside of Idyllwild is worth the climb, but not the easiest of hikes. It is mostly uphill from the parking lot all the way to the top. We really enjoyed the climb, taking in the beauty - stately trees, granite boulders, peeks of mountain vistas. It felt like a real accomplishment to reach the top (3.3 miles) and spread out across the rock surfaces and take in a well deserved rest. The views at the top are beautiful overlooking Tahquitz Peak and the surrounding Coachella valley. It took us about 5 hours to do this hike, including our time resting at the top.

The crisp, clean mountain air and terrain reminded us of Yosemite. Unlike Yosemite, though, your starting point is the desert and then, thanks to the tram, you're at 84000 feet, surrounded by tall trees and much cooler air. We took the hike to Wellman's Divide, which was fairly strenuous. The biggest challenge was the thin mountain air. We weren't used to hiking at this altitude. Take your time and rest as needed. Wear sturdy shoes or boots; sandals won't cut it. The ranger suggested a different trail on the return trip but we were confused by the signage at the fork and came back the same way. The view is worth the effort!

it was all good, born and raised here and never knew that Idlewild was such a beautiful place. I drove 300 miles to the white mountains of Arizona and they do not compare!!!

As a city boy, a capitalise on any opportunity to visit rural or wild areas, as there are only some much concrete a person can take. It was an amazing park to visit, even though it was only to a few hours. As it was right at the top, we were able to look down and the see the whole Coachella Valley and the cities (Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Cathederal City) that's within it. I certainly got my money's worth!

Great hike - on the upper end of difficult, just below strenuous. I had a few issues with the altitude, so we took it really slow on the way up. Great view once you reach the top. Busy trail. Gorgeous groves of manzanitas.

The place was safe, we were two women: mom and daughter and we have fallen safe all times. If you love quiet forest and nice granite peaks this is the place to visit. Also, this is the second highest peak in California.

It’s just the basics at Stone Creek Campground. The space is tight between campers, but the pine and manzanita trees are beautiful and help to provide privacy between sites. There’s no showers and the bathrooms are basically outhouses. You can use the showers at Idyllwild campground by the ranger station in town. The San Jacinto Mountains are gorgeous with plenty of hiking trails to experience the wilderness. There are a few trails that start right at the campground, including The Panorama Point Trail; a 1 mile loop to a scenic viewpoint. We drove into town and hiked the Devil’s Slide Trail to Tahquitz Peak (8,800 ft, 8.6 miles, 5 hours round trip). We started our hike at 7am and had very little company on the trail. A permit is required for Devil’s Slide so make sure to plan ahead. We arrived in Idyllwild at 5:30pm and were able to get our permit at the Idyllwild campground (the ranger station closes at 4pm). The permit is for your safety and includes your license plate number and intended hike so that in the event you go missing, the rangers know exactly where to start the search. We were extremely lucky and had a clear starry night followed by a mid-day July rain, and a beautiful cloudy sunset sky.

The spectacular views, wonderful earthy smells, and wildlife on the trail to the top were incredible! Great trails, easy to maneuver, and you can turn around at any time if you get tired. Photos taken from the top were amazing. Good idea to go in the morning before it gets too hot but watch for rattlesnakes that might be sunning themselves on the trail. They leave quickly when they detect humans so no worries!

What a hike! Gave me a good cardio workout. Awesome scenery with a lot of shady places to rest and catch your breath or take photos.

Mt. San Jacinto Wilderness is truly amazing. The best part is the Tramway takes you to an elevation of 9000ft so you don't have to experience the scorching heat of Palm Springs desert while hiking. Once into the Wilderness its pretty cool and you can do Round Valley or Little Round valley round trip in one day. We went to the Round valley campground (Lotus). I would say the campsites are quite far from each other to give you a true feel of wilderness. The view from Lotus campsite was very nice. Plan your camping for 2 days atleast to explore the nearby area.