Permit Requirements

[bdreese2]

Hello All,
I'm vacationing and plan to dayhike the San Jacinto Peak starting at the Marion Mountain Trailhead. I have a pretty good grasp of all I want to do for this hike, but am a bit confused by the permit requirements. I appreciate any help.

Earlier today I called San Jacinto State Park, they told me the following:
1. I'm required to pick-up a free wilderness permit from them, but you can get the permits and place them in a drop box before they're open.
2. I need to purchase a National Park Parking Pass, $5, and that these can be purchased from the ranger station in Idyllwild, or any gas station in the town.

Are the two items above correct? Is it true that "any" gas station in town will have the parking passes? Does the town have gas stations open early? I would like to start before or at sunrise.

Any information related to the permit system, or any other aspects of this hike are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Brad
Hickory, NC

[Hikin_Jim]

Brad,

1. You don't need a parking pass if you're just going hiking. That's per a decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Marion Mountain Trailhead has no amenities, and they can't legally charge you for parking there.
2. The Marion Mountain Trailhead is in the US Forest Service portion of the San Jacinto Mountains. You do need to get a wilderness permit from them. The USFS permit will be acceptable within the San Jacincto State Park portion of the San Jacinto Mountains -- for day hikes only. If you're planing to spend the night camped out, you will need a state park permit.

Note: there are two ranger stations in Idyllwild, one for the state park, and one for the US Forest Service. You want the one that is the US Forest Service.

HJ

[bdreese2]

HJ,
Thank you for your response. I followed up by calling the USFS Ranger Station in Idyllwild, they more or less said the same thing you did. For a little more information to someone who may look here in the future. For the Marion Mountain trail no parking pass is needed. Only a wilderness permit from the USFS is required, and it is free. The ranger I spoke to said the permits were at a kiosk in front of the USFS ranger station that is accessible 24/7, so there is no need to wait for the ranger station to be open.

Thanks again,
Brad

[Hikin_Jim]

Thanks, Brad.

One thing to note is that some or all (I think all) of the trails have a daily quota. If you show up at the ranger station and there's no permit in the slot for your trail, then that typically means that all permits for that day for that trail are gone.

For overnight trips, I definitely would plan ahead and have my permit in hand before I ever left home.

My $0.02.

HJ