Mt. San Jacinto Outdoor Recreation
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What's a good beginner trail for Mt. San Jacinto
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What's a good beginner trail for Mt. San Jacinto
by upnx » Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:19 pm
Hello EVeryone! I'm new to the board and have been wanting to do some hiking for a looong time but never had the chance. Hiking will most definitely be new to me tho I am in good shape and know I'm up for the challenge (distance runner). Any info anyone can give will be greatly appreciated. I want to do a trail hike in the Mt. San Jacinto area as I am local from the Banning Pass. Any beginner/easy trails recommended?
- upnx
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:14 pm
- Location: Inland Empire
by zippetydude » Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:59 pm
Hi upnx. Welcome to the board!
Best beginning hike / trail run IMO would be the tram to the peak. Relatively mild elevation gain, moderately thin air at that elevation, pretty short distance (5.5 each way.) If you don't have an annual pass, though, it's twenty-some dollars for a tram ride up and down, which would be expensive.
If you don't have a pass or if you're not used to elevation gain, you can try the PCT going south from Snow Creek - it's a gentle uphill - or you could try it in the other direction, going north from the Cottonwood trailhead (on the other side of the 10 fwy). Either way, since you're a runner, you'll be able to run any of these three, so of course you could hike them as well.
Just a brief aside from one runner to another: Being a distance runner will definitely help, as I imagine you already know. Here's a couple of things I learned when I switched from marathons to trail runs:
Trails are way more fun, and times on trail runs are best compared only to times on the exact same trail. For me, doing Skyline (tough trail, 9 miles, 8k elevation gain) is roughly the same as a marathon (26 miles, but run on roads at near sea level) and pretty much the same as Mt. Whitney (11 miles to the peak and gaining about 6k but ending up at high elevation of 14,500 ft). The distances vary by more than 100%, the elevation gain and finishing elevation are completely different, but the times work out to about the same - you can see the huge impact these variables have.
Have fun exploring all the trails out here. I like the San G trails just as much as the San J trails, so you really can't go wrong. Hope to run into you out there!
z
Best beginning hike / trail run IMO would be the tram to the peak. Relatively mild elevation gain, moderately thin air at that elevation, pretty short distance (5.5 each way.) If you don't have an annual pass, though, it's twenty-some dollars for a tram ride up and down, which would be expensive.
If you don't have a pass or if you're not used to elevation gain, you can try the PCT going south from Snow Creek - it's a gentle uphill - or you could try it in the other direction, going north from the Cottonwood trailhead (on the other side of the 10 fwy). Either way, since you're a runner, you'll be able to run any of these three, so of course you could hike them as well.
Just a brief aside from one runner to another: Being a distance runner will definitely help, as I imagine you already know. Here's a couple of things I learned when I switched from marathons to trail runs:
Trails are way more fun, and times on trail runs are best compared only to times on the exact same trail. For me, doing Skyline (tough trail, 9 miles, 8k elevation gain) is roughly the same as a marathon (26 miles, but run on roads at near sea level) and pretty much the same as Mt. Whitney (11 miles to the peak and gaining about 6k but ending up at high elevation of 14,500 ft). The distances vary by more than 100%, the elevation gain and finishing elevation are completely different, but the times work out to about the same - you can see the huge impact these variables have.
Have fun exploring all the trails out here. I like the San G trails just as much as the San J trails, so you really can't go wrong. Hope to run into you out there!
z
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zippetydude - Posts: 2751
- Joined: Tue May 09, 2006 5:40 am
by magikwalt » Tue Sep 21, 2010 4:58 am
Hi upnx,
When someone asks me to take them on an easy hike I usually go to one of two with them. The Garstin Trail in South Canyon and the Mesquite entrance to the Lykken Trail. Each have easy road access, move up steadily and present great views. My favorite is the Garstin Trail for beginners and family visiting the area. In 1 hour most people can make it to "the top" and see the entire southern end of Palm Springs. In 30 minutes they can make it to the overlook and see golf courses and beautiful homes.
When someone asks me to take them on an easy hike I usually go to one of two with them. The Garstin Trail in South Canyon and the Mesquite entrance to the Lykken Trail. Each have easy road access, move up steadily and present great views. My favorite is the Garstin Trail for beginners and family visiting the area. In 1 hour most people can make it to "the top" and see the entire southern end of Palm Springs. In 30 minutes they can make it to the overlook and see golf courses and beautiful homes.
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magikwalt - Posts: 766
- Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2006 3:18 pm
- Location: Palm Springs
by Nick-SJM » Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:00 am
I would definitely start off by going over to Idyllwild and hiking up the Devil's Slide Trail. Go to the Forest Service Ranger Station in Idyllwild first (Highway 243 and Pinecrest) and get a trail map for the area. Once you get up the 2 and 1/2 mile Devil's Slide Trail there are a lot of options.
- Nick-SJM
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- Location: Hemet
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