Tahquitz Peak via South Ridge Trail
6.5 mi
Distance
3 hrs 1 min
Time
terrain
2,253 ft
Elev Gain
Overview
This is a moderate out and back trail to Tahquitz Peak in San Jacinto Wilderness.
This trail goes by Lily Rock.
Sights to See
Rate this Hike
★★★★★
Solo day hiked Fri 1/3/25 – This is a nice out and back route on the longer side that starts by taking the South Ridge Trail up to Tahquitz Peak, offering a very scenic, more direct and less traveled alternative to the Devil’s Slide route. Since the weather was nice, I started from Tahquitz View Drive instead of the South Ridge Trailhead to add a few extra miles. Shortly after passing the fire lookout, there is a nice stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail that provided great sunrise views on the way to Saddle Junction with brilliant reflections off the surface of the Salton Sea. From here to San Jacinto Peak, the Chinquapin and Whitethorn bushes along the Wellman’s Cienega and Peak trails have been clipped back nicely by the San Jacinto Trail Report and other volunteers to allow a snag-free passage. I met a few backpackers coming back from a stay in Little Round Valley who were surprised by the lack of snow (like the rest of us) which is amazing for January. From the San Jacinto peak summit, the views were very clear and panoramic, most notably in the northern direction toward San Gorgonio Mountain and the Whitewater/North Palm Springs area. Heading down the Peak Trail, the views toward Cornell Peak and Round Valley were on par with those from the summit. Stopping at strongly flowing Wellman Cienega for some very cold, refreshing water was a nice break before returning to Tahquitz Peak. While the fire lookout was closed, it provided the perfect platform for a lunch break with even more stellar views to the south and east. After trading a few stories with some climbers, I headed back down the South Ridge Trail which is even nicer in the afternoon sun with South Peak and Antsell Rock brightly lit. If you hike in the San Jacinto Wilderness area, I strongly recommend checking the San Jacinto Trail Report (https://sanjacjon.com/) before going for the latest trail conditions, especially in winter. Logged 22.7 miles / 6355 vertical ft with Gaia
★
★
★
★
★
Public Tracks
South Ridge Trail to Tahquitz Peak
64F degrees. No bugs, snakes, or snow. No toilets. Parked along Tahquitz View Dr. for more distance and elevation. Parking to trailhead was 1mi.
May Valley Trails Hike
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/19504538768
