Suicide Rock Saddle?

[Hikin_Jim]

Has anyone ever been to the saddle just north of Suicide Rock? Are there any decent flat spots there suitable for camping? I'm taking Joycie out, but I'm not sure she can make it all the way to Cienega Ridge (6.3 miles) where I had originally planned to go. I was thinking that Suicide Rock Saddle (3.3 miles) might be a more realistic option. I've marked Suicide Rock Saddle on a map.

Of course Strawberry Junction (4.1 miles) would be a nice option, but that's State Park land, and I have a US Forest Service permit.

HJ

[Norris]

Hi HJ, I was there in mid-April. I hiked the lower part of Devil's Slide trail and took the turn-off for Suicide rock, and went to the top of Suicide and then returned. I recall crossing water once. The terrain at the top is very flat, plenty of places you could camp if allowed.

[Hikin_Jim]

Norris,

Do you mean the Deer Springs Trail or the Devils Slide Trail? I don't recall anything leading from the Devils Slide Trail to Suicide Rock. I wonder if the water you passed was Marion Creek.

Suicide Rock is part of the USFS jurisdiction. The USFS permits "at large" camping, so presumably camping near Suicide Rock is allowed. It's the state portion of the San Jacintos that allows camping in designated campgrounds only.

HJ

[Ulysses]

Jim. I've never camped there, but I know the spot. Probably be a nice place to camp. I've thought of camping on Suicide Mtn itself. There are some nice spots, but depending upon when you went you might have company. It's been a month or so since I was over there but there, but the last time there was good water flowing in Marion Creek. Even last fall. I'd be surprised if there isn't water flowing considering the recent precipitation.

[Norris]

Norris,

Do you mean the Deer Springs Trail or the Devils Slide Trail? I don't recall anything leading from the Devils Slide Trail to Suicide Rock. I wonder if the water you passed was Marion Creek.

Suicide Rock is part of the USFS jurisdiction. The USFS permits "at large" camping, so presumably camping near Suicide Rock is allowed. It's the state portion of the San Jacintos that allows camping in designated campgrounds only.

HJ

Sorry, I meant the Deer Springs trail.

[Hikin_Jim]

Jim. I've never camped there, but I know the spot. Probably be a nice place to camp. I've thought of camping on Suicide Mtn itself. There are some nice spots, but depending upon when you went you might have company. It's been a month or so since I was over there but there, but the last time there was good water flowing in Marion Creek. Even last fall. I'd be surprised if there isn't water flowing considering the recent precipitation.

I'm going to have to check that out some time. I wasn't sure if Marion Creek would have water or not. At the PCT, it was dry at last report, but of course the Suicide Rock Trail is further down.

We wound up going to Strawberry Camp. Nice, but of course no water. The little spring about 1/2 mile to the NNW along the PCT was flowing.

HJ