permit question

[drinkbrew]

We are putting off our C2C hike that we were planing on Oct 3rd due to tram being closed. I think we have decided to do devils slide that day instead and C2C at a later date. I have been reading a few things about permits and just want to make sure I understand it correctly. From what I have found you have to have a parking permit to park at the trail head in Idyllwild, I'm fine with that. It sounds like devils slide has limited permits on the weekends, some of what i read say you just get a permit on the trail. Can anyone clarify this for me and should I worry about getting a permit ahead of time of just get one at the ranger station that day?

[Nick-SJM]

You are correct, there are two items you need to obtain.

First, you do need an "Adventure Pass" to park in certain Forest Service areas for recreational purposes. This includes Humber Park, where the Devil's Slide Trail begins. You can get a daily pass or buy an annual pass. It depends how much you will be parking to hike in the Forest Service area. These can be obtained at the Forest Service office in Idyllwild (unfortunately it opens at 8:00 am). These are also available at numerous stores in the mountain area. I'm not advising it, but I've heard people say that IF you get cited for not having the Adventure Pass, the only thing that happens is that you need to pay a fine equal to what the permit would have cost anyway.

The day use permit is obtained from the Forest Service. If you will be hiking in both the Forest Service and State Park area, you only need to get the day use permit from one of the agencies. The Devil's Slide trail has some unique rules. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the number of permits is limited to hike UP the Devil's Slide Trail (going down, assuming you came in a different way is not limited). You must get a permit from the Forest Service office in Idyllwild. The rest of the year the number of permits is not limited, but you still need a day use permit.

The Devil's Slide Trail is a good initial trail to use to get to San Jacinto Peak. It's about 16 miles round trip.

Have fun.

Nick

[Norris]

Hi, the Devil's Slide permits are self-issue (for day hikes) at the ranger station in Idyllwild, but (at least during the summer) there is a quota so they are limited in number and very popular. I recommend getting to the ranger station well before 7:00 am day of hike for best results. I have shown up there many a Saturday morning at 6:45 or 7:00 am to get a Marion Mountain permit and noticed the Devil's slide permits all gone, or maybe just 1 left. You can't use a blank intended for some other trail because the Devil's slide ones are pre-stamped with the name of the trail in red. You might be able to get one via phone/mail ahead of time, but I never tried this.

[Hikin_Jim]

Something to note: the parking permit (called an "Adventure pass" which sounds ever so much nicer than "parking permit") is good at all Southern California National Forests: Cleveland, Los Padres, San Bernardino, and Angeles. It's not just for the San Jacintos or just for the SBNF.

HJ

[neverwashasbeen]

If you have the AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL Annual Pass to the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands (http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm), you can get a free mirror hanger for your car and you don't need to purchase the adventure pass.

[drndr]

And don't forget to get the permit in order to acquire the permit to have the ability to reserve a permit in order to.......... oh nevermind

[kyledickerson]

If you have the AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL Annual Pass to the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands (http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm), you can get a free mirror hanger for your car and you don't need to purchase the adventure pass.

WOW! I totally didn't realize that. Guess I've been wasting $35 for the last couple years buying the annual adventure pass AND the America the Beautiful pass. Oh well. Now I know, and knowing is half the battle. GI JOE

Kyle.

[Norris]

Update regarding Devil's slide permits: Yesterday there were a TON of self-issue permits for Devil's slide at the ranger station, never saw so many. Perhaps the quota is higher now that summer is officially over?