Location: Riverside County, about 9 miles west of Palm Springs, 112 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Auto Club: Riverside County, Los Angeles and Vicinity

Forest Service: San Bernardino National Forest

USGS Topo: San Jacinto Peak 7½

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

Nearby Peaks: Jean Peak, Marion Mountain

Distance: 10 miles round trip on trail and cross-country

Gain: 3800'

Time: 7 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, strenuous

Original: Joe Young, January 2000

DRIVING ROUTE 1

• Take I-10 to Banning. Exit at 8th Street (SR 243 to Idyllwild). Turn right at end of off-ramp. Note odometer and go as follows:
• At 0.2 mile, turn left.
• At 0.7 mile, turn right on to San Gorgonio Avenue.
• At 1.4 miles, keep left on SR 243.
• Drive south on SR 243 for 19 miles to a junction with a paved road, Azalea Trail (NF-4S02).
• Turn left and proceed 1.6 miles to a wide dirt parking area just before the Marion Mountain Campground entrance. Trailhead is signed "Marion Mtn Trail." Park here.

HIKING ROUTE 1

• From the parking area (6300'), proceed east up the very steep Marion Mountain Trail to a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in 2 miles.
• Turn left. In about 0.4 mile there is a junction with the Seven Pines Trail. Continue straight (east) toward the Deer Spring Camp.
• In another 0.4 mile meet the junction with the Fuller Ridge Trail (PCT). Continue straight on the Deer Spring Trail.
• Proceed 1 1/2 miles to Little Round Valley (9600').
• Upon entering the campground, head SSE and hike about 0.3 mile cross-country to the saddle just east of Drury peak.
• Turn west and hike up a gentle rocky slope. The summit block is attained via an easy second-class scramble.