Mid week

[magikwalt]

I was searching Google a few months back and found someone had listed a few of the camp sites with geo markers. During a off trail adventure we verified a few of them as accurate. I don't know if the Rangers have a coordinates for them or not.

[Hikin_Jim]

I thought LRV was the main camp site during the summer months?

Actually Round Valley is the popular one not Little Round Valley. Round Valley is easily accessed from the tram and has piped water which was still flowing last I heard. LRV is a little tougher to get to and is less used, although it still sees its share of visitors. Doesn't seem to get much attention from the State Park Service. Lots of outhouses in RV only one delapidated one in LRV.

HJ

[Jman]

Here's a totaly newby question but how far is Round Valley from the Tram? I was so focused on my own little hike that I didn't really study the map very much except for the stuff that had to do with me.

[phydeux]

Round Valley's about 2 miles from the Tram. Another one mile (uphill) and you're at Wellman's Divide. Another 2.5 miles and you'll be at the summit.

(All distances are approximations - your individual mileage may vary depending on hiking conditions )

[Hikin_Jim]

This map from the state park service, http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/636/files/MtSanJacintoSPmap.pdf, has a lot of good mileage info.

[Rob]

HJ, that map is indeed the best trail map I've seen for San Jacinto trails. I printed it multi-page at 100%, taped the pages together, and can read the map and mileage without fishing through pockets for my reading glasses.

[Hikin_Jim]

Yeah, it's a good one. Not much detail in terms of topography, but handy for planning. I print copies for my trips and bring them along with my regular USGS topos. They make a pretty good pair.

Wish more agencies would put together maps of that quality. The USFS does have, for example, a Guide to the SG Wilderness, which is worth having, but there are a lot of errors.

[Rob]

HJ, I have USDA-Forest Service "A Guide to the San Gorgonio Wilderness." It shows trail numbers (e.g., 1E05) and some unmaintained trails (e.g., Manzanita Springs to Johns Meadow), but it does not show other unmaintained trails (e.g., Dobbs Cabin to Forest Falls). What errors should I beware of?

[Hikin_Jim]

HJ, I have USDA-Forest Service "A Guide to the San Gorgonio Wilderness." It shows trail numbers (e.g., 1E05) and some unmaintained trails (e.g., Manzanita Springs to Johns Meadow), but it does not show other unmaintained trails (e.g., Dobbs Cabin to Forest Falls). What errors should I beware of?

Hmm. Don't have the map in front of me, but here's a couple off the top of my head:
-The Parking Area shown for Aspen Grove is in the wrong spot.
-The Trail Camp for Alger Creek is in the wrong spot (shows on ridge not next to creek).
I'll take another look when I get the map in front of me. Please note that my copy is several years old.

By the way, the Lower Falls Creek trail isn't quite from Dobbs Cabin. It goes from a point West of the Alger Creek Trail/Upper Falls Creek Trail junction. There is a "V" shape in the trail on the topo pointing mostly South is where the Lower Falls Creek Trail takes off.

Another note:
Some old trails are trace trails, hard to follow due to the ravages of time and disuse.
-Trail from Lodgepole to Fish Creek Saddle
-Trail from Lodgepole to Mineshaft Saddle
-Mountain Home Flats Trail
-Wildwood direct trail
Some trails are pretty easy to follow but are simply unmaintained.
-Upper Momyer Creek Trail (the portion above the junction with the Alger Cr Trail).
-Upper Forsee Basin Trail (the portion between Johns Meadow and the Manzanita Spring Junction).
Others were closed because the USFS didn't want people on them for various reasons.
-Lower Dollar Lake foot trail
-Upper Dollar Lake foot trail
-Lower Falls Creek Trail

[Rob]

HJ, thanks for excellent information, as usual.

Please note that my copy is several years old.

The date on my recently-purchased SGW Forest Service Guide is 1989.