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DESCRIPTION
The
San Jacinto mountains are a personal favorite of mine.
The range's
granite crags, green forests and deep blue skies awoke the nature
lover buried deep inside me. It's where I became addicted to
hiking. Like most people, I made my way up to the summit of
San Jacinto Peak via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway trail.
The steep route up Marion Mountain to Mount San Jacinto is off
most hikers agenda. Despite the lack of notoriety this trail
is a fantastic alternative to the tramway route. October is
the perfect time for this particular hike. The summer heat and
smog have dissipated to tolerable levels and the numerous bracken
fern gardens along the route display a wonderful array of fall
color. If you pick a clear day, the views will be outstanding!
A cool forest of white fir and sugar pine shades much of the
trail. Higher up, lodgepole and limber pine dominate this classic
sub-alpine landscape. On top, you'll be treated to one of the
most beautiful panoramas in all of Southern California. Be in
excellent shape for this one. The well-constructed path climbs
4,600 feet in 5 1/2 miles! Strong hikers will be rewarded with
a host of visual delights and sense of solitude on this excursion
to the highest point in the San Jacinto Wilderness.
THE
TRAIL
Your
hike starts in the pines and cedars as it passes Marion Mtn.
campground and begins one and half miles of steep climbing.
You will then come to a junction with the Deer Springs trail.
Turn left on the Deer Springs trail and continue climbing past
the small meadow known as Little Round Valley. From here you
will switchback steeply for a mile till you reach the trail
sign for San Jacinto Peak. Head east 300-yards, past the stone
shelter, and you will quickly come to the summit. At this point,
you'll have to boulder-hop a short distance to reach the top
of Mount San Jacinto. Return the way you came
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