How Early To Get A Permit

[rws]

A few weeks back we hiked San Jacinto via the Tram route and now we're planning to hike San Jacinto via the Devil's Slide Trail. We need to go on a Saturday this month (July) and I was wondering what time we need to be at the Ranger Station in Idyllwild to successfully snag a permit? 7:00am? If the permits that they put out overnight run out, are there more available when they open?

Thanks in advance for the education!

- Randy

[zippetydude]

If you're coming up from the north on the 243, you don't have to wait at all.

I usually get the permit at the campground that you see as you turn off the 243 on the way to the Marion Mountain trailhead.

I believe it's the Stone Creek campground. It's a little self issue stand right at the front of the campground.

Unless you live in Idyllwild this will probably be much more convenient. Here's a link for a map of the wilderness.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/636/files ... oSPmap.pdf

Zoom to about 100% and look at the left edge of the map, roughly in the center vertically. You'll see where I mean.

z

[rws]

Thanks for the info on the Marion Mountain trailhead... I am going to be coming up from the south and want to do the Devil's Slide Trail out of Humber Park... Are the permits good for either route? I thought that I had to get a Devil'ls Slide Trail specific permit.

- Randy

[zippetydude]

Randy: The permit is good for whatever you put on it. If you put Devil's Slide to San J Peak, that's what it's good for. And, if you get it there, it's good as of 4:00 a.m. or 5:00 a.m. or whenever you sign up so you don't have to wait for the office to open. Many of us go up at first light or even a little before, so the system is perfectly designed for us. Hope you have a great time - the wilderness is such a beautiful place, you really can't go wrong.

z

[madmxe]

Don't forget an Adventure Pass for your car. The Shell station in the middle of town had them last year. May want to get one before hand however.

[rws]

Thanks for the clarification on the permits, and the reminder on the adventure pass. I've already got an annual adventure pass (I did Baldy a couple of weeks ago).

- Randy

[Lermo]

Randy,

I'm not sure I understand your question, but here's what I do:

The Ranger station in Idyllwild has 2 permits. One is the regular permit, and the other has "Devils Slide Trail" stamped in RED at the top of the form. I take one (1) extra permit of each and keep them in my glove box. That way, I always have a permit handy. So if I get to Idyllwild at 6:00AM, I just fill out the extra permit and place it in the self-serve box right outside to the left of the Ranger Station front door.

Hope this helps.