Location: Riverside County, about 8 miles west of Palm Springs, 112 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Auto Club: Riverside County

Forest Service: San Bernardino National Forest

USGS Topo: San Jacinto Peak 7½

HPS: Route(s), waypoints and explanation of usage

Nearby Peaks: Folly Peak, Cornell Peak, Jean Peak, San Jacinto Peak

Distance: 9 miles round trip on trail and cross-country

Gain: 2000'

Time: 6-7 hours round trip

Rating: Class 3, moderate

Original: Charlie Knapke, July 1993

DRIVING ROUTE 1

• Take I-10 east past Banning to the junction with SR 111.
• Take SR 111 southeast 8.5 miles to the Palm Springs Tramway Road. Turn right.
• Go up this road 3.7 miles to its end at the tramway terminal. Park where indicated by the signs in this area.

HIKING ROUTE 1

• Take the tram (fee required) to the upper station at 8560'.
• Go downstairs and exit the building. Follow the concrete sidewalk as it descends to the valley below.
• Continue straight ahead to a ranger station.
• Continue about 1/4 mile to a trail junction with a sign "Round Valley - 2".
• Keep right and continue to Round Valley Campground.
• Keep left here at a junction and continue up to Wellman Divide (9700').
• Keep left at this junction and follow the trail southwest (downhill) through some switchbacks about 1/2 mile to Wellman Cienega.
• Leave the trail on the right and hike cross-country up to the saddle northeast of Marion Mountain.
• Turn left (south) and go up to the summit block. This is on the west end of the ridge.
• To climb the summit block, start at an upright dead tree on the northeast side. Go up a crack for about 10'. Turn right for another 10'. Turn left into another crack that leads to the summit.