San Jacinto Peak Loop via Deer Springs Trail and Pacific Crest Trail
17.9 mi
Distance
8 hrs 38 min
Time
terrain
5,121 ft
Elev Gain
Overview
This is a difficult loop trail to San Jacinto Peak in Mount San Jacinto State Wilderness.
This trail goes by Little Round Valley, Wellman Divide, and Strawberry Junction.
This is an alternate route for San Jacinto Peak via Deer Springs Trail.
Rate this Hike
★★★★★
Solo hiked Thurs 08/10/2023 – Deer Springs / PCT trails to San Jacinto Peak, down to San Jacinto Azimuth Benchmark rock pile, Peak Trail to Miller Peak, down to Wellman Divide, out Round Valley Trail to High Trail, direct ascents of Landells/Luella Todd and Divide Peaks, Hidden Lake view. Some passing dark clouds with full sun in the afternoon - very nice, cool weather for hiking. One docile Southern Pacific snake trailside in the early morning just above Strawberry JCT – surprised there weren’t more out during the day. First strong water on Deer Springs for filtering at the 6.5 mile mark (North Fork San Jacinto River). First time locating the actual SJ Azimuth survey marker high up in the rocks. First ascents of Landells and Divide peaks out of Round Valley were a lot of fun with Class2/3 summit blocks- many different ways up with great holds. Water pipe at Round Valley Ranger Station, Wellman’s Cienega, and Strawberry Cienega all flowing well. Not too many people out with the tram closed. A few Western Gray squirrels approaching the size of my youngest cat. Long day but great time to hike SJ in great weather with a still vibrant backdrop. Seems like the bird population has notably increased this year but then so has the bug population (only a problem on the last 2 miles down to the Deer Springs trailhead). Recommend checking Jon King's detailed and always up to date trail reports at https://sanjacjon.com/ before heading out. Logged 26.1 miles/6688 vertical ft. with Gaia
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I’m sorry I underestimated you :( Definitely more climbing and scrambling and less switchbacks than I anticipated. Started at 8am and went clockwise by accident but that’s ok. You’ll encounter beautiful manzanita trees for the first 3 or 4 miles going up Deer Springs trail. Encountered four man children at mile 6 blocking the trail with all their shit, farting and burping and as my friend and I were taking a break out of sight off trail we overhead them fantasizing over us doing obscene sexual things to each other at the top of San Jacinto (can a man and woman not be platonic friends?). Toxic masculinity is real and I feel sorry for them assuming they don’t have any close friends that are women in their lives. Wish I had another opportunity to confront them but oh well it’s probably better I didn’t. We tried to not let that ruin the rest of our day though. Aside from the summit view toward the Mojave, the section of the PCT going through San Jacinto Wilderness was the highlight for me. Grateful for these humbling SoCal mountains. Next time Cactus to Clouds.
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Almost empty on a Monday with the Palm Springs tram shut down due to Covid. Started at 430 am to beat some of the sun. The assent has great shade and gorgeous forests on the way up. It’s a long day but if you can create some shade on the exposed descent loop, the views over the valley are really something. One of my new fav hikes.
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Public Tracks
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Hiking San Jacinto Peak via Idyllwild and the PCT
Hiking San Jacinto peak is a southern California hiking rite of passage. John Muir called the views from San Jacinto peak "the most sublime spectacle to be found anywhere on this earth!" On a clear day, you can see from Catalina Island to Southern Utah. It's a tough hike but the payoff makes it worth it. This route includes a stretch on the famous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).
Hiking San Jacinto Peak via Idyllwild and the PCT
Hiking San Jacinto peak is a southern California hiking rite of passage. John Muir called the views from San Jacinto peak "the most sublime spectacle to be found anywhere on this earth!" On a clear day, you can see from Catalina Island to Southern Utah. It's a tough hike but the payoff makes it worth it. This route includes a stretch on the famous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).
Mt. San Jacinto
April 3-4, 2018, with Joseph Preissman and Nick Rhead.
Nick slowed us down a ton, so it was much easier on my body than the trip up Jacinto last summer with dad.
