Snowmelt has been very rapid in the past week with temperatures generally above seasonal. It is now possible to bareboot all of the established trails, including the entire PCT through the San Jacinto mountains. However for many hikers carrying spikes remains a good option above about 8500 ft. Spikes tend to be particularly useful for descending, especially later in the day as the snow structure deteriorates, even when they generally not required for ascending.
Daily survey hikes in the San Jacinto mountains include various routes to San Jacinto Peak multiple times per week (most recently on 13th, 17th, 20th, and 24th May), Tahquitz Peak and area at least once per week (most recently on 19th May), plus a wide variety of other trails on intervening days.
I am no longer providing snow depth data, as very little snow remains below 9000 ft. Please note that this does not mean there is no snow in the high country, only that it is generally too patchy to give meaningful measurements (see photos below). Indeed some sheltered high elevation areas (e.g,, Little Round Valley) still hold pockets with 2-3 feet of snow.
At this time I am not providing detailed updates on water sources, as all major springs, creeks, and pipes (and many ephemeral ones too) are flowing well and reliably. Flow rates are dropping rapidly however – Middle Spring on Devil’s Slide Trail is already down to just 25% of its early May flow – and a long, hot summer is provisionally forecast (see NWS San Diego discussion linked here).
All campgrounds reopened in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Black Mountain Road reopened for the season on Wednesday 22nd May. The boulder in the road about 0.5 mile above that gate was removed last week, and Pinewood residents graded the lower 1.7 miles of the road on 18th May. The entire road is clear of snow.
South Ridge Road reopened for the season on 23rd April. Due to a localized section of mud, the uppermost road is currently best suited to high clearance AWD/4WD vehicles. Dark Canyon Road has been closed almost continuously since February 2019, but reopened on 24th May for the summer. Black Mountain fire lookout reopened on 19th May, and Tahquitz Peak fire lookout will reopen on 26th May.
Be rattlesnake aware. Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes (Crotalus helleri) have been seen on the trail system up to at least 7100 ft elevation already. Initial sightings suggest abundant snake populations this year in the San Jacinto mountains. Rattlesnakes will get increasingly active with warmer weather next week and may be seen anywhere up to about 9300 ft by the end of May.
WEATHER
Temperatures will be near (or even slightly below) seasonal until Sunday 26th May, before again rising to well above seasonal starting around Monday 27th. Snowmelt will be steady and widespread, before accelerating rapidly next week. There is currently no significant precipitation in the forecasts.
At San Jacinto Peak (3295m/10,810ft) on Friday 24th May 2024 at 0800 the air temperature was 35.4°F (2°C), with a windchill temperature of 21.6°F (-6°C), 37% relative humidity, and a fresh due West wind sustained at 16 mph gusting to 22.6 mph.
At the Peak on Monday 20th May 2024 at 0755 the air temperature was 31.9°F (0°C), with a windchill temperature of 16.2°F (-9°C), 28% relative humidity, and a stiff due West wind sustained at 18 mph gusting to 26.2 mph.
TRAIL CONDITIONS
Snowmelt has continued to be very rapid in the past week. Trails below 8000 ft are now clear of snow. Significant snow remains below 9000 ft only in sheltered areas. Sun-exposed trails up to 10,500 ft are now largely clear of snow. Clear patches are increasing as high as San Jacinto Peak, especially on the south flank.
Snow quality has deteriorated with warmer weather in recent weeks. Tracks can still be hard and icy in places especially early morning, but then soften quickly by mid morning, getting sloppy as early as midday.
Carrying spikes remains a good option for most hikers everywhere above about 8500 ft. Icy compacted snow – following many freeze-thaw cycles and now that most trails have been well-traveled – is largely ideal for spikes. Snowshoes are no longer recommended anywhere, and are at best of very limited use away from compacted tracks above about 10,000 ft elevation on warm days later in the day on sunny slopes. I see no recent evidence of hikers using snowshoes anywhere on the mountain.
Devil’s Slide Trail is clear of snow to Saddle Junction. The Trail Report has undertaken extensive trail maintenance work since February to remove many tree limbs in and over the trail damaged by ice storms this winter.
South Ridge Trail (on the south side) is clear of snow to Tahquitz Peak. The Trail Report cleared this winter’s accumulated treefall hazards from South Ridge Trail in April and has also undertaken extensive trail trimming in the past month.
The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT Mile 177 and Tahquitz Peak is largely clear and has an adequate track to follow through the remaining small icy snow patches at this time [surveyed 20th May]. In many places it is possible to hike around remnant snow patches on adjacent rocks. Most hikers will find that spikes are not required, but it is best to turn around if you are not comfortable traversing this type of exposed terrain.
The Peak Trail is now largely clear of snow. As usual the most persistent lengthy sections of snow remain around 9900-10,100 ft elevation. Where there is a snow track it roughly follows the true trail route. The most heavily-traveled track above 10,400 ft now follows the true Peak Trail route through very sparse snow patches. The area immediately around San Jacinto Peak is still largely snow-covered on the east approach. The East Ridge trail route remains 95% snow-covered, and is increasingly lumpy (due to melting) and unclear (as most hikers now use the Peak Trail proper).
Wellman Trail is now clear of snow where it is outside of forest cover, with only patchy 60% snow cover on the forested first 0.25 mile north of Annie’s Junction.
Deer Springs Trail is clear of snow to Strawberry Junction. Above Strawberry Junction snow cover is now very sparse (averaging only 20%) to the Marion Mountain Trail junction. A well-traveled but largely uneven posthole track, that does not accurately follow the trail route in places, continues through about 40% snow cover thereafter. Above the Fuller Ridge Trail junction (8900 ft) the trail is largely clear and snow cover is now only averages 10%. However in sheltered sections at 9300-9600 ft the track(s) are a mess in places, only roughly following the trail route, and at times diverging into two or even three options. There are places where more than one track passes through Little Round Valley, where snow cover averages 50%. From the upper end of Little Round Valley to San Jacinto Peak snow cover is now only 10% with most of the trail exposed. However in the central part of this section (roughly 10,100-10,300 ft) the icy drifts are more continuous and the trail is obscure in places. Spikes are generally no longer required but some hikers will find them helpful, along with cautious navigation.
Marion Mountain Trail is clear of snow. A couple of tiny icy snow patches remain close to the Deer Springs/PCT junction. Spikes no longer required.
The State Park section of Skyline Trail reopened on Tuesday 7th May. The trail is clear of ice and spikes are not required.
Spitler Peak Trail suffered badly during ice storms in early February, and I found 34 new treefall hazards down during my surveys in late winter, almost all in the upper half. Most are relatively small and readily passable, but a few are larger, and the combined effect is to make for a slower and scrappier hike.
On the PCT treefall hazards remain a problem in many places, most notably between Apache Peak and Red Tahquitz, with at least 110 down in my most recent survey. Large downed trees make for especially slow-going around Miles 172-175 (a section severely burned in the July 2013 Mountain Fire).
The Caramba Trail from near Reeds Meadow through Laws Camp and on to Caramba, and the Cedar Trail from Willow Creek Trail to Laws, are euphemistically described by the Forest Service as “not maintained”. In reality both trails have been abandoned and functionally no longer exist. They are so heavily overgrown with dense whitethorn, which obscures dozens of downed trees, that I strongly advise hikers do not attempt to follow them (regardless of how much you may trust a certain app). An informal use trail to Laws is much more direct, well maintained, and avoids the challenging bushwhacking of the unmaintained trails (local Idyllwild hikers dubbed it the “King Trail” when I established the route in 2019). It leaves Willow Creek Trail exactly 1.0 mile from Saddle Junction, 0.46 mile from the Skunk Cabbage turning (trailhead at lat/long N 33.7796, W 116.6590). The route descends largely following established deer trails for 1.2 miles, meeting Willow Creek about 0.2 mile upstream from the site of the historic Laws Camp (the remains of which were destroyed by the 2013 Mountain Fire and subsequent flood and treefall damage). The 11 trees down on the King Trail after this winter were removed in June-July 2023. The tread of the trail received some minor damage from Tropical Storm Hilary. From Laws east to Caramba the route of the original Caramba Trail has been well-cairned by myself and others and can largely be followed with very careful route-finding. My August 2023 survey counted about 110 trees down on this 2.1 miles of trail. It is especially obscure for the first 0.3 mile east of the Willow Creek crossing, becoming more obvious (but still subtle) as it descends towards Caramba. Very cautious navigation is advised throughout the area.
Seven Pines Trail is largely (by its low standards) clear of treefall hazards, with about ten down across the trail, most in the central mile, but they are easily passable for hikers. Be advised that the trail in general becomes more obscure in the mile closest to its junction with the PCT. The Trail Report has “adopted” Seven Pines Trail as a priority for maintenance work as the trail has had a disproportionate number of lost hiker rescues in the past decade. Since November 2021, about 70 downed trees have been removed and the trail is thoroughly trimmed and cleared regularly (but not yet in 2024). Nevertheless Seven Pines remains a genuine wilderness trail unlike the relatively wide, bare, and obvious routes of, for example, Devil’s Slide or Marion Mountain trails. Cautious navigation remains essential for those without considerable experience of hiking this trail.
PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
The PCT is now largely clear of snow through the San Jacinto mountains, but hikers less experienced with patchy icy snow will continue to find spikes useful.
The trail is clear from Miles 151 (Highway 74) to about 174.5. A handful of tiny patches remain on some north-facing slopes. Apache Peak (Mile 169.5) is now clear of snow.
The track on the north side of Red Tahquitz (Miles 175-177) does not accurately follow the PCT route in a few minor places, through an average of 30% snow cover. Snow cover declines to only about 10% between Miles 178-179. The south-facing slopes at Miles 179-180.3 and 181-183 are now clear of snow, with the exception of a handful of tiny patches.
Snow cover is then locally significant, but with snow-free patches increasing every day, between Miles 184.5-190. There is a well-traveled and reliable posthole track to follow on the remaining snow-covered sections of Fuller Ridge (Miles 185.5-191), averaging about 40% snow cover. Large sections of this trail, especially on top of the ridge and on south- and west-facing slopes, are now clear. Although the posthole track does not always accurately the PCT route in places, following the main track is the safest way to traverse these miles. Traversing this section is now possible barebooting but carrying spikes will continue to be preferred by some hikers.
Hikers wanting to avoid Fuller Ridge can use the Black Mountain Road alternate. Black Mountain Road is open to hikers but not to vehicle traffic at this time. Spikes are not required on Black Mountain Road.
On the PCT treefall hazards remain a problem in many places, most notably between Apache Peak and Red Tahquitz, with at least 110 down in my most recent survey. Large downed trees make for especially slow-going around Miles 172-175 (a section severely burned in the July 2013 Mountain Fire).
PCT hikers are politely reminded that overnight stays are not permitted at or near San Jacinto Peak, including in the historic shelter. Mt. San Jacinto State Park regulations do not permit overnight stays in the shelter, which is dedicated for emergency, SAR, and ranger use.
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