The easiest way to access Mt. San Jacinto State Park is by taking the Palm Springs Aerial Tram. It takes you up about 2000ft to a total of 8600 ft at the top of the mountain station. Once you walk out of the mountain station you will be greeted by Mt. San Jacinto State Park entrance sign. The weather up at the state park is usually 30 F cooler than the lower tram station. Mt. San Jacinto State Park a fairly easy place to hike. There are a few different trails you can go on but usually there are less than 5m miles. read more

Mount San Jacinto State Park - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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Ok...I like camping but I'm new to it and have never been to Idyllwild on top of that. I wish someone would have written a review about this place like I'm about to for you. San Jacinto state park has two camp grounds in/near Idyllwild. Stone creek which is about 5-6 miles north of Idyllwild, and the Idyllwild campground which is basically in town. I stayed at the Idyllwild campground. If you're new to camping like me and looking to make a reservation, the internet will most likely take you to reserveamerica.com and you can pick which campgrounds across America you want to camp at. BUT, just know that reserveamerica doesn't show you all campgrounds! So I'll critique the Idyllwild campground first off and then tell you why it gets 4/5 stars. THE GOOD - The campground itself is nice and has lots of big pine trees so there is plenty of shade. It's well kept and has clean bathrooms and a pay shower. The campground isn't large by any means so no matter what camp site you have, you're decently close to the bathrooms. The campground is located right in town literally, so you can walk 5 minutes into town and enjoy all that Idyllwild has to offer (very cool mountain town with lots of shops and eateries). THE BAD - the only downside to the campground being small is that your neighbors are quite close. So if some knucklehead with a guitar wants to play music all night you're for sure going to hear it. Also, the entrance can be missed if you're not looking for it which is what happened to me. Due to my circumstances, I couldn't arrive until after dark and drove past the entrance several times looking for it. Here's the kicker...right next door is a sign that says "Idyllwild Park" which takes you to a COUNTY campgrounds with almost the same name which is where we erroneously spent the first night thinking we were in the right place, only to have to move our tent after finding the entrance to the correct place in daylight. If you're looking for the "Idllywild Campground" of San Jacinto state park, don't go to "Idyllwild Park". They are not the same thing! However, after staying at the county park, it was much bigger and the campers are more spread out. There were also several hiking trails among huge rock formations you can use. Next time we will be trying that location. Apparently reservations can be made at the riverside county website. Btw, I stayed at campsite 23 read more

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After taking the aerial tram to the top, my husband and I embarked on a hike through the Desert view trail. We explored the 5 different "notches" along the way, saw pretty scenery and experienced the sounds of the birds & wildlife. The day was gorgeous but chilly. You'll have fun at this park and be sure to bring water & light jacket! read more

If you like hiking or rock climbing, then this is a great place to be. I've been to the area around Tahquitz and the Suicide Rocks, and it's absolutely gorgeous. I went in March up the Deer Springs trail to do a hike through semi-snow to the top of the Suicide Rocks. My boyfriend and I ate lunch up there and it was so peaceful and the view was amazing. The trail continues on but we just went back, it was a nice little day hike. You need a wilderness permit to go on most of the trails (free, available at any ranger station), and we bought a parking permit as well ($30 for a year, and it applies to several other parks too). So beautiful, I can't get over it! My boyfriend does a lot of rock climbing here over by Tahquitz. They have a lot of good stuff over there, you should check it out! What's nice about this park is that it's very accessible from OC (where I live) without being a compromise in awesomeness. I would like to go back sometime and go to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto. read more

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This is a review of the Idyllwild campground in Mt San Jacinto state Park. I would not recommend people stay at this camp. The campground in the state park is basically on top of highway 243. I heard every single car and truck drive in and out of town. Not what I wanted to experience when escaping Los Angeles for a weekend. The sites are rather small. We were in site 11 or 13 and we would only be able to fit one car to park and I drive a small car. There was only one flat spot to put our tent. It's also within ear shot of the local baseball diamonds so you hear people yelling and cheering all day long. Standard picnic table and fire ring accommodations. Stars come out at night. Still in a pretty forest so that is why this review is at least 3 stars. I would recommend people go tot he Riverside County Idyllwild campground if camping in this area. It is much more secluded. You can still walk to town from the County campground but when you are in camp it's quiet and sites are larger read more

I can't believe I waited so many years to do this hike! It's definitely in competition for one of my favorite hikes in Socal now. I did this hike with a few friends last month on 7/8 and I have to admit that I was nervous because the temperatures in Palm Springs were close to 115. Everyone kept telling me that San Jacinto would be 20ish degrees cooler due to the elevation, but I kept thinking... that's still 95 degrees! Still hot! But actually we were very fortunate in that it was a really nice 70 degrees when we started the hike and ended in the low 80s, with a nice breeze blowing the whole time. We did the hike on a Saturday, and saw that the first tram started running at 8am. I tried to book advance tickets for the 8am tram online, and called the tramway office when I was unable to do so. They informed me that the 8am tram was first-come-first-service on the weekends, but that the tram would come every 10 minutes as long as there was still demand for it. We arrived in the tram parking lot at 7:15am and were able to snag a parking spot right next to the tram office. However by the time we got in line a few minutes later, there were already 20-30 people in front of us, and the line was moving at snails pace with only 2 people processing tickets. However it didn't really matter how fast the line was moving, since the 8am ticketholders were sent to the tram waiting area around 7:50am so there was a bottleneck while waiting for the next tram anyways. We managed to get on the second tram up which left around 8:10am. Once we got to the top of the tram (which moved at surprisingly fast speeds), we went straight to the ranger station where we filled out a (free) permit form. They were extremely helpful and gave us a map and warned us about bear sightings and expected rain/thunderstorm starting around 2pm. We looked at the clear blue skies and scoffed at the idea of rain, but we should have given them more credence because around darker clouds started rolling in around noon, and we got some mild sprinkling as we were wrapping up our hike! We did the hike to San Jacinto Peak, which was a lovely hike with a lot of shade until you get towards the end of the hike. It was a relatively steady upward climb, but never at a steep incline so it was a good overall experience. Toward the last mile or two, all of us started feeling the elevation to some degree. I got a tad bit dizzy when I moved my head too fast, and one of my friends complained about a headache. read more

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This review is strictly for the Mt. San Jacinto State Park Campground (Idyllwild site). This was by far the cleanest, friendliest, "not too far from civilization" campground that we have ever stayed at. The coin operated showers and flush toilets are literally cleaner than most public restrooms I've been to. The campgrounds are spacious enough for the max. 8 people. What I love is that if you have an excess of 2 cars on your site, you can pay and extra $8 to park the excess car in a public lot. There are plenty of water spigots around the site so you don't have to make a mike out of washing your dishes and getting water. If you want to stay an extra night, go to the ranger station by 9am to check out what sites are available for the next day, if any. I've learned this is extremely popular, so reserve ahead of time! There is a cute town about a 3 minute drive away that has crystal shops, ice cream shops, misc. shops, markets, and even a tiny theater! I'll be back soon (: P.S. Tmobile and Sprint gets cell service and 4G! and Pokemon are aplenty (; read more

Mount San Jacinto State Park - Page 1 of campsite info. I stayed at the Idyllwild side. Site 21 & site 28 (ADA site) - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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This is by far my favorite campground ever!!!! I can go there every other weekend and still enjoy all the hikes. CAMPGROUND: The only down side to this campground is that it is right next to the highway. So if you stay on the edge, it gets pretty loud in the morning with all the cars that are passing by... I stayed in campground #4 and that is right next to the freeway. #21 and #29 is a great spot There restrooms and showers are really clean... The park rangers are really nice and super friendly. They do make you feel at home. They gave me free tokens for the shower (I guess they think I really needed it), we owe them $2 cause they didn't have any change for the fire wood and just gave it to us for $5. Picnic Tables, fire pits.. all you need is that. HIKING TRAILS: Most popular is the Deer Springs Hike (7 miles round trip) and has great, great views. We went both during the summer and when it was snowing right on top of the mountain and it was just heavenly Devil's Slide... a harder trail. The length is longer and the incline is higher. Make sure you get on the right hiking trail towards the end. But it still has great views. I still have to conquer this whole trail read more

Had a great time! not sure about the ranger guy with the power trip reviewers mention, but all the rangers from the front office are the nicest I have ever met. beautiful trees and campsites. cleanest bathroom and showers too. only cons would be lack of an rv dump station. read more

This review is for the hike to the summit of San Jacinto peak (10,834 feet). This is a great hike! It's fairly strenuous but if you allow yourself plenty of time you should be able to get to the summit. The scenery is awesome and there is a fair amount of shade since you will be hiking through a wooded area. There are several different paths to the top of San Jacinto peak (10,834 feet) but we decided on taking trail that starts off at 8,500 feet at the end of the Palm Springs tram ($22.25 or $20.10 with AAA discount, first car up on weekends is 8am, last car down is 9:45pm). Don't forget that your group will need to obtain a free wilderness permit at the ranger station on the trail. Total elevation gain/loss is about 2,300 feet and should take about 6 hours round-trip. Don't forget to bring a light jacket because the temperature drops quickly on the mountain (it snowed/hailed on us on our trip off the summit). read more

Great day hike and a beautiful view of Southern California from the peak of Mt San Jacinto. It's nice to remind yourself that this peak is rated 6th amongst peaks in the contiguous US, so feel free to be extremely proud of yourself once you get to the top. ;-) A group of friends and I took the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for around $23.00 to Mountain Station, and then hiked the 11 mile round trip trail to the top. You can look up ticket information here: http://www.pstramway.com/ The tram by itself is worth it. It climbs approximately 6000 ft in 15 minutes, and it rotates 360 degrees throughout the ride. Once you get to Mountain Station, a Wilderness permit is required for hiking but is free. Mountain Station is at 8516 ft., and elevation gain to peak is approximately 2300 ft. Climb is gradual, and moderate in difficulty. There's plenty of scenery and wildlife to enjoy along the hike, so just relax and have fun! At the top there's a little bit of bouldering to do and plenty of opportunities for goofing around. We took tiny bottles of rum, vodka and tequila with us to celebrate when we got to the top. I'm happy to say that this has officially become my new tradition to celebrate reaching a new peak! Now... go conquer the world! read more

We came here on Dec 1st, our second time visiting this beautiful serene place. If you come to Palm Springs, it is a must visit to Mount San Jacinto. The tram ride is somewhat pricey but the visit at the top is definitely worth it. You can reserve tickets online. The tram comes every 30 mins. The tram takes passengers from Valley Station at 2,643 feet elevation to Mountain Station on the edge of the wilderness, elevation 8,516 feet. The Mountain Station features a restaurant, gift shop, snack bar, and the state park visitor center. Be sure to check it out. In Long Valley, a short walk from the station, you will find the Long Valley Ranger Station, there is a picnic area with barbecue stoves and restrooms, a ski center, a self-guiding nature trail, and Desert View Trail which offers beautiful panoramas of the high country including several peaks over 10,000 feet in elevation. You can also enter the hiking trail system from this point. It was very cold at the top of the tram so plan on bringing a jacket. The mountain's magnificent granite peaks, subalpine forests, and fern-bordered mountain meadows is a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy a scenic, high-country wilderness area. The park offers two drive-in campgrounds near the town of Idyllwild. Most of the park is a designated wilderness area but you can also walk the 3/4 mile alpine loop. read more

One of the best hiking areas in Calif. beautiful spot. The weather is awesome in the spring and fall. Picturesque, stunning areas everywhere. Worth the drive from San Diego, not that far and an enjoyable ride. Come here and stay for awhile. read more

This is one of the best campgrounds in Southern California and pretty much sets the bar for others. Super-clean, modern, well-maintained, and hot showers to boot! The best aspect of this campground is however its natural beauty as you are right in the middle of the action being surrounded by majestic trees and the surrounding wildlife while camping here. read more

Mount San Jacinto State Park - View from CS#3 - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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Mount San Jacinto is located at a high altitude where the growing season is short. Plant life has little opportunity to recover from overuse from one season to the next, and unless we take the steps to protect these areas they could be lost to us forever. To ensure the preservation of the natural environment and assure the visitor of a quality visitor experience, the Department of Parks and Recreation has instituted a Wilderness Permit system; everyone entering the wilderness area for the day or for camping must have a permit in their possession. Day use wilderness permits are free and are available 24 hours a day at the State Park Headquarters office in Idyllwild, Stone Creek campground, or at the Long Valley Ranger Station. Applications for overnight permits will be accepted up to 56 days (8 weeks) in advance; if you apply by mail, send your request in at least 10 days in advance. Sorry, no telephone or FAX requests can be accepted. Groups must be limited to 15 people, and juvenile groups must have at least one adult leader for each 14 juveniles. Dogs are not permitted in wilderness areas of the State Park System. For groups camping, access is limited to prevent overuse and provide everyone an opportunity for solitude. Carrying capacities have been established for the wilderness area campgrounds. These campgrounds are Round Valley, Tamarack Valley, Little Round Valley, and Strawberry Junction. On summer weekends these campgrounds fill to capacity four or more weeks in advance. It is essential that campers plan ahead to avoid being turned away on these weekends. read more

I know that there are some who are inclined to hike up this mountain. While I admire the fitness of such people, my husband and I would never dream of doing such a thing. Instead, we take the tramway to the peak and hike around at the top. You have many hiking options here (marked trails). There is an easy scenic hike at the base of the station with a number of picture perfect look out points. Just hang a left when you get down from the ramp. If you would like a more substantial hike, hang a right and head to the ranger's station. There you are asked to fill out a card which lets them know you are going further afoot. That way, if you don't make it back they'll come and fetch you. (I've been told that it does happen). You will also find a map of the various trails and a list of recommended safety gear/supplies and other considerations for those planning an extensive hike. Camping is also an option. For example, on our first visit to Mount Jacinto, I remember being quite perplexed at the size of the mattresses some of the campers were carrying on their backs. So much so that I just had to ask one of them why they didn't choose a more compact bed roll. Well I learned that thing was no mattress. It's a saftey device designed to protect you in the event you were to fall backwards off a rock wall. Any experienced rock climbers who happen to be reading this can go ahead and have a chuckle at my ignorance here! We only venture up here once on winter vacations to enjoy the scenery and throw a few snow balls. Snow is not a novelty to us as we see plenty of it back home. However, when we come here in the summer, hiking up in the mountain is pretty much a part of our daily routine to esape the heat of Palm Springs during the hottest point in the day. We walk for 2-2 1/2 hours with our traditional picnic break of fruit, nuts, and water. By the end of a summer trip to Palm Springs I always feel in better physical shape that when I arrive. Tip 1-If this is your first visit here I would explore the mountain station. You can check out the souvenir shop, the dining options and watch a short video about the park. From there I would suggest that you start with the shorter scenic hike and possibly take advantage at the quided tours that are sometimes offered early in the day. Tip 2-Find out the mountain conditions before you go up and dress appropriately. Some type of hat is always a good idea along with comfortable walking shoes/boots. Just don't expect that your white shoes will still be white at the end of the day. Tip 3-If you are interested in camping, I think it would be neat to hike all the way to Idyllwild-a quaint mountain village full of various treats (little shops and restaurants) that attract tourists to the area. Note: While the Tramway and the mountain station have a number of wheel chair accessible features, it would not be an easy task for a physically disabled person to get down to the valley. I keep thinking that it would be nice to see some kind of lift constructed so that the beauty of the wilderness trails would be accessible to all. Finally, while I am not sure about this, I believe that Mount Jacinto was named after a certain chocolate cake that can be had at Sherman's Deli down in Palm Springs ; ) read more

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Went here for Veteran's day. My friend and I went to San Jacinto Peak roughly 11~12 miles round trip. We got the 10:15am tram and started the trail at about 10:30~10:45 am. Reached the peak at around 1:15pm. Weather was a bit chilly. I'm a big buy so I was able to handle it. They say your return path is a bit faster but that's assuming you still have some energy left. We got back at around 4:13pm. I wasn't physically exhausted just my feet was killing me. Loved the hike. My friend and I were in decent shape but it still took us a while. I would suggest starting at 8am on the weekends if you straggle a bit. read more

To write about this state park, I first needed to determine its boundaries. It was hard to figure out what park is which part or which part is which park. The San Bernardino National Forest covers two major areas, the mountains north of I-10 from Rancho Cucamonga to Cabazon and the mountains south of I-10 from Banning to Indian Wells. This southern section is controlled by the San Jacinto Ranger District which includes the more protected Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument on the northern side facing the Coachella Valley and the less protected San Bernardino National Forest filling most of the rest towards the south. Mount San Jacinto State Park is partially in the National Monument and the National Forest. Confused yet? Mount San Jacinto State Park is a pocket of land that stretches from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway upper station to almost Idyllwild. It contains Mount San Jacinto, Tamarack Valley, Round Valley, Long Valley, Wellman Divide, and Deer Springs. We took a 12-mile roundtrip hike from the tram station, through the Round Valley to Wellman Divide and then to the summit of Mount San Jacinto. There were signs at every junction to guide us to the correct trail. The Round Valley is just common forest and unfortunately, most of the hike was spent in this area. The hike gets better at Wellman Divide with a view towards the south. The trail from Wellman to San Jacinto has nice views of the Coachella Valley. Since Mount San Jacinto is a giant pile of granite slabs, the very end of the hike involves a tiny bit of rock scrambling. The peak has a 360 degree view. Although it wasn't cloudy during our visit, the view was hazy. This was the shortest and easiest way to the summit. There are many other routes like from Humber Park crossing the Saddle, from Idyllwild along Deer Springs Trail, and the insanely difficult Cactus-to-Clouds Hike that begins next to the Palm Springs Art Museum. read more

The hiking here is awesome. We did two hikes, with the first being to Suicide Rock via Deer Springs trail. Parking for the trailhead is very close to the Idyllwild campground, and you do not need an Adventure Pass to park in this area. The hike is 3.3 miles each way, although our GPS said we went about 3.9 miles to the top. The elevation gain is about 1,500 feet, so this hike is more than moderate in difficulty. It took us about 3 hours to get up, and 2 hours to get down. The view at the end is exceptional. You will need a permit to hike this trail, but it is free and available at the Forest Service Station across the street from the campground. The second hike, more strenuous but with a bigger payoff, was our hike to Tahquitz Peak. Park you car at Humber Park. You will need a permit for the Devil's Slide Trail for this hike, and an Adventure Pass($5), both available at the Forest Service Station. This hike has an elevation gain of about 2,600ft, and ends at an elevation of 8,800ft. The path is well groomed, and most of the hike is only difficult because of the elevation gain. The view is incredible. Seeing SoCal 360 degrees at 8,800ft is only describable by John Muir. This hike took us about 3.5hrs up and about 2.5 hrs down. We brought a jetboil and some mountain houses with us and had lunch on the peak. It is one of the most memorable lunches I have had in this state. DOGS ARE ALLOWED ON THIS HIKE! Dogs are only allowed in the San Bernardino National Forest, and not in San Jacinto State Park. If you plan on bringing your dog, and want to hike with it, avoid the trails in the SP. Instead hike the numerous trails nearby that are in the national forest. Idyllwild is a small town, but cute. It made me nostalgic of small towns in the midwest. There are a few bars, a general store, and some of the other lovely boutique, artisanal shops that make a town like this the all-around package. read more

Brilliant. Sierras without the drive. The hike from Idyllwild is super steep and hard. Bring water. 1/2 mile before Little Round Valley Campground is a nice stream if you have a filter. The days we went were perfect weather with an absolutely gorgeous sunset at the campground. If you hike San Jacinto peak from the tram it is still a challenge but easier than the Marion Mountain route. After the trip good pizza in Idyllwild. read more

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One of the nicest parks in Southern California! I imagine this park is what a lot of California must have been like generations ago. I spent about 8 hours hiking through the park on the weekend, and had an amazing time. I think hiking to the top of San Jacinto peak is a bit overrated -- the views are nice up there, but you'll get nicer and less crowded views from many other parks of the park. Wellmans Divide is a nice spot to sit, chill for a bit and take it all in. Looking forward to coming back in the winter. read more

We got to the trail head at Marion trail by 6am. This hike is amazingly challenging. I am only a recreational hiker and was very proud to say I completed it. It's a very rough hike on the Marion trail but worth it when it's over. We hiked over 9 hours and felt all the aches and pains upon returning to our car. It's day 4 and my calves are still very much a reminder of how much stepping up and down you will do. Recommended for anyone looking to challenge them selves. read more

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Beautiful wooded hiking area. Some intriguing rustic buildings. Trails well marked. Great way to get out and get fresh cool air in Palm Springs during the summer.. read more

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want to escape the palm springs desert heat, go up! minus one star because no pets allowed at this park. shame on you California. the "new" tram is awesome. 360 rotating view of the area. Hike to the top is amazing, 11mi round trip, and I swear I saw NO trash/debris on the trail. Major props to all you hikers. try and make it to the top, start before noon if you don't want to race the sun back down. The views from the peak are worth it. They say you can see the Pacific Ocean/Catalina/Colorodo and Mexico, not sure about that. 2nd highest peak in all of socal, over 10,000 feet, amazing. and the plants/trees/brush are different up there, kinda felt east-coast-ish ps - make note of your turns, the trail isn't marked so great on the way back to the tram. Kinda important if you don't have warm overnight stuff. read more

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One of the best spots in California for some nice all day hiking trails. Remember to get as pass at the liquor stores.

A great place to hike and or spend time with the family. as a child we use to bring an RV here and spend out school breaks swimming at the rec center, hiking, and or goofing off to gather with my brothers and sisters. It is cold right now as I can tell you first hand, but simply beautiful. You're above the clouds and the falls are flowing. Very cold water mind you. It's also such a drive getting up here. There's a small town to do a little shopping and or dinning. Bring a camera and sunscreen, good shoes to hike with and a bathing suit if you feel bold! read more

Great camping. We camped during record heat, but this place could be amazing minus the heat. Great for young family, easy 1 mile trail off of backside of the camp ground. Would recommend for anyone who wants to try camping without going to far out of town. read more

A ride up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway puts you on one end of the Mount San Jacinto State Park. There are all kinds of trails from easy to difficult as well as the ability to rock climb. The area is literally breathtaking the elevation may have something to do with that, but really, it's just the sheer beauty of nature that those of us living in the city don't always get to experience. Whether you head up the mountain via tram, or through Idyllwild you'll enjoy this encounter with the earth as it was created (for the most part, I'm sure the ranger stations and whatnot didn't just appear from the sky.) read more

Beautiful state park. Must do activity if you're ever in Palm Springs. I would love to come back and hike without snow. read more

Mount San Jacinto State Park - Parks Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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We did this last minute with 2 little ones!! It was pretty easy to climb, nothing to strenuous or dangerous and the views are spectacular. They keep the park/mountains free of garbage and the path clear of debris and trees. It is a very well maintained hike and beautiful area. We went in the summer so not sure Id do this hike in the winter with kids (snow and ice) and the hike was somewhat shaded also so did not get overheated. Its an awesome hike! My 3 year old did it no problem (she is a good listener) and we had baby in carrier. read more

Beautiful Saturday scenic hike with snow & slippery ice above 7000ft. I'm going to keep it real "this was a Tough one, it was difficult for me to catch my breath at times". The elevation is All Up Hill & gets very Rocky but worth it ALL on the descend. read more

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Had a great experience at Mount San Jacinto State Park! My boyfriend and I did snowshoeing on New Years day. I called ahead and they let me know since they are extremely busy during the holidays, you need to show up early in order to avoid long waits. We arrived at around 7:20 am and successfully purchased tickets for the 8:10 am tram ride up. The tram ride was very quick, if you are afraid of heights I can understand how it seems a bit scary- however in my opinion it's not too bad at all. Now, the only slightly confusing part was locating the Adventure Center (where you can rent snow boots, snow shoes, etc). Since it had just snowed the night before the top of the mountain was completely covered in snow. We couldn't' seem to locate where the Adventure center was, nor did we see any signs. You will see signs for the Ranger Station- You can go there first and get a back country permit then ask them for directions to the Adventure Center (They can explain it a lot easier than I can on this review ;)) Hope this helps! read more

If you come to the desert, and specifically Palm Springs, it would be a mistake to NOT visit Mount San Jacinto. Yes, it's somewhat pricey and yes, it's usually busy, but the tram ride and visit at the top is definitely worth it. We made the mistake of not reserving our tickets online during the weekend, so when we arrived at the tram around noon we had to wait just over an hour to take the tram up. There aren't a lot of sitting spaces to wait for the tram that aren't busy, but we found the patio on the 2nd level of the lower visitor center to be quieter and luckily some shade from the umbrellas. We stopped at the café on the main level to grab some cold beverages and snacks while we waited. Be prepared to get a group photo before corralling into lineups for the tram - you get a claim ticket to view your photo at the top (ours wasn't a keeper). The tram ride itself is super awesome and everyone gets a perfect view - twice! The slow rotation of the trams allows you to see a variety of views to the top of Mount San Jacinto. I would suggest if you want to get a spot by the window to watch (versus in the 2nd row behind those closest to the window) to load onto the tram last... that way people have to make room for you and you end up usually getting a good spot. Once at the top you have an absolutely stunning view of the Coachella valley from Palm Springs to Indio and beyond. It's a lot cooler (literally) at the top of the tram so unless you plan ahead and bring a jacket you might find yourself chilled. Like any good tourist attraction, there are gift stores at the top with any goodies you need - and don't need. We pretty much just hung out at the visitor center at the top taking in the views and watching the different films. I would have liked to done the 3/4 mile alpine loop but didn't wear the proper footwear for that. Will we be back? Definitely - it's a must visit each and every time and it never gets old. read more

My knees are screaming from the 6 mile Deer Springs Trail to Suicide Rock hike yesterday, but the pain is well worth it. It's a steep climb for the first 2 miles but then it levels off and you can actually enjoy the trail. The viewpoint at Suicide Rock is breathtaking. Mount San Jacinto State Park is an excellent place for Alpine style hiking in So Cal. It's comparable to, dare I say it, gulp, Yosemite. In that there are dramatic granite boulders and a reliable snow pack that creates pretty dripping creeks and small waterfalls. Idywild is a cute mountain town that luckily does not get that trashy vibe that Big Bear has going on. If you plan to hike be sure to stop by the ranger station and get your free day pass, every time I've been hiking in the area I have been asked to produce the pass. It takes 5 minutes and it's free, no excuses. read more

Probably one of the prettiest hikes I've done. You can hike with your dog and even if you don't make it to the top, there are breath-taking views along the way. We hiked from Idyllwild to the trailhead for San Jacinto Peak, which added about 4 miles round-trip, so we only made it a few miles in but it was spectacular. read more

Mt. San Jacinto park is stunningly beautiful, especially when compared to the climate of the hot desert below. The mountain and trails are most easily accessible via the tramway which reaches the top in about 15 minutes, offering panoramic views of the valley. The trails at the top are beautiful for the alpine climate that contrasts so sharply with that below. It isn't uncommon to see patches of snow on the ground. The trails are incredibly quiet and serene as well. There are several overlooks from the rocks that look across the valley and over the desert as well. There are miles of hiking trails available, or a quick loop through the woods from the tram station. read more

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All I gotta say is, I am going back! What a great place to go camping in short distance from heart of LA read more

Very clean. Has showers one dollar for 5 Minutes TOKENS . Nature center a few miles away . They did have a interactive show with kids . Only complaint is that there hours for generators are odd .I believe they were around 8.pm. for turn off and on again at 9.00 a.m . I had a very quite one and the sheriffs came by exactly on time and respectfully said to shut it down . They also had a automated service call to make us aware of no wood or charcoal fires due to current restrictions . I was the only one with a propane campfire pit cameo 80 dollars on amazon. That is allowed since there is no embers . read more

Great great area.best place to breath ur stress out! Good for picnic and hike including camping!

what a spiritual experience. you start at the top of the san jacinto valley, at 8,516 feet above sea level (the highest peak is 10,843, making it the second highest point in southern california), you are surrounded by some very old trees and are privy to the most amazing sights and smells. yes, smells. some of these trees have scents. the most common is vanilla and butterscotch. sights include the valley belows (palm springs, coachella among others) and the nature around the valley itself. beautiful birds, beautiful rock formations and big trees all around. the contrast of weather between the san jacinto valley and the desert nature below is so far removed it makes for a far more impressive sight. there are ranger stations throughout the trail hikes and the trails themselves are very well kept. the main ranger station, also called mountain station, has shops, a restaurant and cafe and plenty of restrooms. temperatures are pretty cool even in the summer. at night it can get hold. there are definite items to take in your hike here but the most important of all is your camera. there are so many photo ops you can spend days here and feel like you've only scratched the surface of possibilities. no pets allowed. the address to the park shows idyllwild, however i recommend entering through palm springs through the aerial tramway. it's the easiest and most accessible: http://www.pstramway.com/index.asp not to mention most beautiful. also, make sure you check the website for permits and other pertinent weather information. read more