Mount San Jacinto State Park
Mount San Jacinto State Park
Mount San Jacinto stands 10,804 feet above sea level, the highest point in the San Jacinto Range and second highest in Southern California. It is the southern section of the San Bernardino National Forest. The mountain’s magnificent granite peaks, forests, and fern-bordered mountain meadows offer high-country exploration and a scenic, high-country wilderness area. Most of the park is a designated wilderness area enjoyed by hikers and backpackers.
Unlike other wilderness adventures Mount San Jacinto is also accessible by the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Starting in Chino Canyon near Palm Springs, 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.
At the top of the tram, is a restaurant, gift shop, snack bar, and the state park visitor center. In Long Valley, a short walk from the station, you will find the Long Valley Ranger Station, a picnic area with barbecue stoves and restrooms, a ski center, a self-guiding nature trail, and Desert View Trail which offers panoramas of the high country including several peaks over 10,000 feet in elevation.The tram operates year-round, except for a maintenance closure in August.
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is of America’s great scenic trail systems, spanning 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada through three western states. The trail passes through five California State Parks: Castle Crags and McArthur-Burney Falls in Northern California; and Silverwood Lake, Anza Borrego Desert and Mt San Jacinto in Southern California.
More information on the Pacific Crest Trail
Location-Directions
From Riverside, take Interstate 10 East to Hwy 243 South to the park. From San Diego, take Interstate 15 North to 215 North, exit Hwy 74 east to Hwy 243 north to the park
