Tips: –wear pants –hiking boots –trekking poles -+/-crampons –start early I did this hike yesterday. The weather report for idyllwild said 40s-50s but it must have been in the 30s on the mountain and there was a LOT of ice. I’m a casual hiker and me and my buddies all wore shorts, hoodies, and running sneakers. With that said, it was doable but I was sliding all over the place until I found some branches to use as walking sticks. Most of the trail is steep and relentless but there are a few areas where it flattens out and opens up to great views. About halfway up there’s a section of switchbacks in a field of prickly bushes which encroach on the trail… I got a ton of scratches on my legs from those. The altitude held us back a bit toward the top and it took us about 4.5hrs to the peak. However our buddy literally ran up it in 2hrs… At the top there’s an amazing 360 view of so cal definitely worth the effort. Going down took longer than expected especially with all the ice but we caught a spectacular sunset.
Ron W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Anaheim, CA
Why do I seem to end up on the harder trail to the peak? Oh yes, that someone…(Sammy) who I can’t mention because there are no dogs allowed on San Jacinto, always insists on the more challenging route. I should have deducted 1 star for that but, this was such a great trail, I couldn’t. This less travelled Marion Mountain Trail to the San Jacinto summit is a 12.6 mile round trip with an elevation gain of 4,534 feet. The trailhead begins a few miles north of Idyllwild. If you take the Palm Springs Tram hike, you gain only 2,384 feet. The Marion Mtn Trail starts off steep right away and keeps going up… as you navigate the switchbacks around the huge boulders. On this trail there is a LOT of high stepping up and over these rocky steps. Even though this is a well defined trail, I still managed to get off the trail. But instead of retracing my steps backwards, I used my GPS Garmin Oregon 450t. Oh, it’s nice to have the tools of the trade. In 2.8 miles the Marion Mtn Trail becomes the Pacific Crest Trail. Then at 3.3 miles that becomes the Deer Springs Trail. But don’t worry, there are very good trail signs at each junction. Instead of having a long 6.3 mile goal to the summit, I like to have short distance LANDMARKS to keep me motivated… 1) Marion Mountain trailhead — 6,300 feet 2) Go 2.8 miles — to 2.8 miles /8,640 feet * Follow the San Jacinto Peak sign to the Right. * This is now the Pacific Crest Trail. * The junction for the Seven Pines Trail & the Strawberry Trail is here. 3) Go 0.5 miles — to 3.3 miles /8,940 feet * Stay Right on the main trail at the Fuller Ridge Trail junction sign. * This trail is now the Deer Springs Trail. 4) Go 1.0 miles — to 4.3 miles /9,800 feet * Little Round Valley. The trail levels off here. * There are 5 campsites and an outhouse here. 5) Go 1.3 miles — to 5.8 miles /10,600 feet * Go Left at the Wellman Divide(Tram) Trail to head towards the San Jacinto summit. 6) Go 0.3 miles — to 6.18 miles /10,713 feet * 6.1 miles you will see the Stone Hut to your right, but stay on the trail. * You reach the Hut at 6.18 miles. * The Stone Hut was built in 1935. 7) Go 0.15 miles — to 6.25 miles * Boulder up to the 10,834 San Jacinto summit. * 12.6 miles round trip /4,534 ft of elevation gain. WHATANAMAZINGVIEWFROMTHESUMMIT!!! **************************************************** TRAILHEADDIRECTIONS from Orange County… 1) 91⁄60 East(towards Indigo) 2) 10 East — go 6 miles 3) Right at S. 8th Street exit — go 1 block 4) Left at Lincoln — go 2 blocks 5) Right at San Gorgonio Ave /243 — go 19 miles 6) Left at Azalea Trails Road sign(Alandale Station is on the right) a) Follow brown Campsite Trails sign(go left) b) Go 0.1 miles 7) Left at 4S02 at the Fern Basin /Marion Mtn sign — go 1 mile 8) Stay Right and follow sign towards Marion Mountain Trailhead a) The trailhead is on the right, 0.3 miles after Fern Basin Campsite b) Trailhead is on the right, between Fern Basin and the Marion Mtn Campgrounds. c) Parking is on the left across from the Marion Mountain Trailhead. There is No restroom here. 9) There is no Wilderness parking permit required here. *** To pick up a free required hiking Day Use Permit: * Continue north on Hwy 243, 4.5 miles past the Alandale Station. The ranger station will be on the right side. Fill out the 2-part permit. One part goes in the drop box and you take the other part with you. WEATHER: CAMPINGAPPLICATION: San Jacinto State Park(951) 659‑2607. Need a hiking permit.
