Hikes from the tram

[feldychi]

Hello,
I will be visiting from Seattle at the middle of October. Plan to take the tram up from PS one day. I hear it is a must!

I am an experienced hiker but my friend is less experienced and conditioned (in moderate condition). How hard is the hike to the summit of San Jacinto Pk?

Are there other suggestions for just one day of hiking---much bang for the buck!

Thanks so much for your help,
Carrie

[Hikin_Jim]

Carrie,

Some hikes are closed due to the recent fires. You might call the ranger station and see if the "high" trail will be open or not the day you intend to hike. You can take the "low" trail to Round Valley and return via the "high" trail for a nice, easy loop. My wife (pretty much a non hiker) has done that loop.

Now, that said, I don't think the peak is that bad from the tram. You go out and come back via the same route, so you could just go until you were too tired. The "destinations" along the way are:
1. Round Valley
2. Wellman Divide
3. Miller Saddle
4. The summit hut
5. The summit itself

You could hike to any of those and if you were "done, you could simply hike back. Wellman Divide has some nice views.

If you get all the way to Miller Saddle, you're pretty close to San Jacinto Peak, but you could just walk out to the rocky promontory that is Miller peak and enjoy the views -- and then call it a day.

HJ

[feldychi]

Hi Jim,
Thanks so much for your thorough reply. That is great. I will keep a check on the fire situation. Are the fires affecting Joshua Tree also? We plan to go there for a few days after the tram day?

Is there a website where fires can be monitored easily in your area?

We have one in WA that is very helpful.

Thanks again for your help,
Carrie

[lilbitmo]

Hi Jim,
Thanks so much for your thorough reply. That is great. I will keep a check on the fire situation. Are the fires affecting Joshua Tree also? We plan to go there for a few days after the tram day?

Is there a website where fires can be monitored easily in your area?

We have one in WA that is very helpful.

Thanks again for your help,
Carrie

Most of the fires in our area have been given the 100 percent contained designation, you can find all the fires and their status at Inci Web Page Here this gives a list of all fires that are going in the US National Forest.

Joshua Tree is not affected at this time with any fires. Our area is under control for now but a good many trails have been closed so just check with the state or federal ranger station that you use to get a permit, they will have up to date information.

Mid-Oct the temps here and in Joshua should be nice but we do get late season hot days so please plan accordingly, it tends to be the one thing that gets under estimated by hikers both locally and those visiting from outside our area.

Hope your visit and hikers are a blast, enjoy.

Patrick/lilbitmo

[Hikin_Jim]

Carrie,

The Mountain Fire is out, and there are currently no active fires (hallelujah) affecting the San Jacinto Mountains or Joshua Tree that I know about.

However, the Mountain Fire did hit a lot of the hiking areas south of where you want to hike. Those trails are still closed. I guess they're repairing them or evaluating them or what-have-you.

Good news: I checked, and the "high" trail is open if you want to make a loop out of a short trip to Round Valley.

HJ

[Hikin_Jim]

Take a look at this map.

A = The upper tram station.
B = The Long Valley ranger station. Stop here to get your day permit. No reservation required.
C = Lower trail junction. Go straight (right) to stay on the "low" trail which is the most direct route to Round Valley.
D = Upper trail junction. Go straight here to continue to Round Valley. On your way back, you could take the "high" trail back to Long Valley -- or you could just go back the same way you came.
E = The trail junction in Round Valley. There is a water pipe here. Treatment recommended although some people drink it without treating it.
F = Wellman Divide. Nice views to the south on a clear day.
G = Old trail junction. Long abandoned trail. Very hard to find. Not recommended for most first timers on the mountain.
H = Miller Saddle
I = Miller Peak
J = Summit Junction
K = Summit hut
L = San Jacinto Peak

Hope that helps.

HJ

[Florian]

Are the fires affecting Joshua Tree also? We plan to go there for a few days after the tram day?

No fires in JT but some of the main roads and campgrounds are closed due to flooding from summer rains. Check the park website for latest info...

http://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm

-Florian

[feldychi]

THANK YOU everyone. I haven't looked at this thread for a bit but did tonight and found many replies.

Thanks so much for all of your help. I am leaving soon for this trip so will spend some time looking at all of this very soon.

Carrie

[feldychi]

Hello,
I am from Seattle and planning a trip out your way next weekend. Plan is to hike San Jacinto Pk from the tram and then go to Joshua Tree. Bummer it is closed and maybe still will be?

Thinking of Anza Borrego instead? Suggestions for hiking/camping there or other suggestions in the area. Don't want to drive more than a couple of hours.

Moderate hikes would be best.

Thanks,
Carrie

[Florian]

Thinking of Anza Borrego instead? Suggestions for hiking/camping there or other suggestions in the area. Don't want to drive more than a couple of hours.

Anza-Borrego is open and lovely this time of year. I was just there yesterday. The main Palm Canyon campground east of Borrego Springs is nice and there are hiking trails there too. About a 90 minute drive from Palm Springs.

-Florian