Idyllwild Town Crier Online

Hiking

More than 275 miles of trails are laced throughout the San Jacinto Mountains. They are varied enough to appeal to the novice, yet sufficiently challenging for the advanced hiker.
    Several areas within the district have been set aside by the U.S. Congress or the California State Legislature to preserve land in its natural glory. Few things top the feeling of appreciating nature by walking through a forest.

    SHOWN AS "WILDERNESS" on maps, the Forest Service manages nearly 35,000 acres locally, and the Mt. San Jacinto State Park administers more than 10,000 acres of designated wilderness lands. Within the two wilderness areas, there are about 80 miles of trails.
    For day use, most hiking trails require a wilderness permit. There is no fee for the permit, available at the Mt. San Jacinto State Park headquarters on Highway 243 or at the Idyllwild Ranger Station, Highway 243 and Pine Crest Avenue.
    Hikers in the San Jacinto Mountains should take precautions before venturing out. Weather in the mountains can change quickly. Be prepared for variations in temperature and the possibility of rain and snow. It’s best to check with the Idyllwild Ranger Station or the Town Crier’s Web site at www.towncrier.com to get the latest weather forecast and up-to-date fire regulations before departing on a hiking trip.

    ALL HIKERS AND campers are advised to treat water in the wilderness area before drinking.
    Horses are allowed on all trails, but no grazing is permitted, so overnight horsemen must bring their own feed. Dogs are allowed on the Forest Service Wilderness trails, but not in the State Wilderness.

    The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail passes through portions of these local mountains.
    Following the crests of the West Coast mountains from Mexico to Canada, the trail is only open for foot and animal travel.
    In the San Jacinto Ranger District of the San Bernardino National Forest, the trail can be picked up to the east at Highway 74, about one mile east of Highway 371, or to the north at the Fuller Ridge Trail at Black Mountain.

     The Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail is often recommended for an easy introduction to hiking in the Idyllwild area. It begins from Humber Park and skirts along a hillside above Idyllwild. A wilderness permit is not required on this trail.

    A brief description of seven trails that do require a wilderness permit and lead into the wilderness follows. Remember that all mileage listed indicates the one-way distance on the trail.
    —Fuller Ridge Trail to San Jacinto Peak: a one-day strenuous hike of 7.5 miles with an elevation gain of 3,000 feet.
    —Seven Pines Trail to Deer Springs: a moderate day hike of 4 miles with an elevation gain of 2,600 feet.
    —Marion Mountain Trail to San Jacinto Peak: a strenuous one-day hike of 5.9 miles with an elevation gain of 4,400 feet.
    —Devil’s Slide Trail to Saddle Junction: a moderate hike of 2.5 miles with an elevation gain of 1,700 feet. Devil’s Slide may be limited to 30 permits for weekends and holidays from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Permits are available in advance by writing to the Forest Service, Box 518, Idyllwild, CA 92549 or sending a fax request to (951) 659-2107. The rest are issued on a first-come basis at the Idyllwild Ranger Station. Each permit allows 12 people.
    —Deer Springs Trail to Suicide Rock: a moderate day hike of 3.3 miles with an elevation gain of 1,700 feet.
    —Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Terminal to Round Valley: an easy day hike of 1.7 miles with an elevation gain of 700 feet.
    —Spitler Peak Trail to Apache Peak: a strenuous 5-mile day hike.

San Jacinto Wilderness
    For people who want to venture farther into the wilds, camping is permitted within zones in the San Jacinto Wilderness.
    Permits, at no cost, are required for camping and day hikes in the wilderness. A total of 400 overnight campers are allowed in the federally administered portion of the wilderness; an additional 400 campers are given access to the state-administered wilderness area.
    A special permit is required for open wood campfires in the National Forest. Fires are allowed only at yellow-post sites. Permits for open wood campfires can be secured in person or by mail through the Forest Service. They are available up to 90 days in advance, but they go fast. Planning ahead is advised. Check with the ranger station for current fire restrictions.

    HERE ARE DESCRIPTIONS of the six wilderness zones:
    —Chinquapin Zone: The best camping area in this zone is along the Chinquapin Flats Trail — Pacific Crest Trail about a quarter mile south of Saddle Junction. There are two yellow-post sites for people with fire permits. The closest water is in Skunk Cabbage. Zone capacity is 75.
    —Skunk Cabbage Zone: This is the most used and, consequently, the most abused area in the wilderness. Camping is not allowed in the meadow because the ecosystem is extremely fragile. There is one yellow-post site for people with fire permits.
Water is available at the north end of Skunk Cabbage Meadow and at Willow Creek. Zone capacity is 75.
    —Tahquitz Zone: Easy access, lots of water and lush vegetation make this zone very popular. There are two yellow-post sites for people with fire permits. Water is available almost year-round in this zone. Zone capacity is 50.
    —North Rim Zone: Although this zone covers a large area, there are few suitable camping areas because of its steep terrain. Because of erosion problems, camping is not allowed at Willow Creek Crossing. Water is available in this zone. Zone capacity is 75.
    —Lower Basin Zone: A lot of beautiful camping areas are on the large plateau in this zone. There are two yellow-post sites for people with fire permits. During the summer, the water does not flow freely and, consequently, the area’s popularity drops. Zone capacity is 75.
    —Desert View Zone: This zone is located at the southernmost end of the wilderness. The vegetation varies from coniferous to high chaparral and scrub brush. Very little water is in this zone. There are two yellow-post sites for people with fire permits. Zone capacity is 50.

Mt. San Jacinto State Wilderness
    Spending the night in the 10,000-acre Mt. San Jacinto State Wilderness also is an option. The wilderness has 49 campsites that can accommodate up to 400 people each night. The camping areas are accessible by a number of trails from the west and via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway from the east.
    Round Valley, at 9,100 feet, is the only camp with piped water. Streams are located at the campgrounds in Tamarack Valley and Little Round Valley, but the water needs to be treated before drinking.
    Camping is not allowed on San Jacinto Peak.

    NO WOOD FIRES are allowed in the wilderness, so bring a backpack stove if you want to cook.
    Although dogs are allowed at the State Park campgrounds, they are not permitted in the State Wilderness.
    A permit is required for wilderness travel. Permits are free but are limited. Weekends in the summer book up quickly. Overnight permits may be reserved by mail or in person up to 56 days in advance of use. Group size on a permit is limited.
    Day hikers also must have a permit. There is no limit on the number issued, except on the Devil’s Slide Trail, for which only a few permits are issued on weekends and holidays.

    DAY-USE PERMITS are available from either the U.S. Forest Service or the State Park and will be honored for hikes in either agency’s jurisdiction. Overnight permits must be issued by the agency which administers the area in which you wish to camp.
    Call the Forest Service at (951) 659-2117 or (909) 382-2921 or the State Park at (951) 659-2607.

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