UPDATE Wednesday 12th February 2025 at 0630: In the early hours of this morning Idyllwild was dusted with 0.25 inch of snow, but it had stopped by first light. The high country and eastern side of the mountains have remained largely above the cloud at this time, with no snow in Long Valley (8500 ft). As the bulk of the storm system moves in, temperatures are forecast to rise, with rain starting at mid elevations around noon and light snow in the high country around dusk. Total snow accumulation estimates for the high country have increased, with up to two feet now possible on Thursday.
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The first substantial storm system of winter 2024/25 to impact Southern California is finally forecast for this coming week. A moderate “atmospheric river” is expected between Wednesday 12th and Friday 14th February, with the first light precipitation possible on the evening of Tuesday 11th. The system will be mild, with a high snow level that may drop close to 5000 ft only briefly at the beginning and end of the storm sequence. Consequently rain is forecast for mid elevations (e.g., Idyllwild), with an impressive 2-4 inches possible. Snow estimates for the highest elevations of the high country have ranged widely from 10-40 inches, although a depth around 12-18 inches is now most likely. Regardless of the final depth, impacts on the trail system could be significant, at least for the remainder of February.
Melting of the light snow from the storm on 26th-27th January has been rapid. We experienced continuous snow cover in the high country for only four days (the late January storm is described in detail in a prior Report linked here). Total snowfall at San Jacinto Peak since September 2024 has been a pitiful 7.6 inches. Most trails are clear of snow (details under Trail Conditions below).
In the early hours of Friday 7th February we caught the southernmost edge of an atmospheric river passing to the north. I hiked to San Jacinto Peak that morning through pleasant misty cloud and periodic drizzle before reaching patchy blue sky right around the Peak. The storm was mild, producing only rain all the way to the highest elevations. Above 9500 ft freezing rain plastered all surfaces with ice but that quickly melted in full sun the following day. Saddle Junction (8100 ft) with 0.51 inch recorded the most rainfall, with 0.41 inch at Wellman’s Cienega (9300 ft), 0.32 inch in Idyllwild, and 0.2 inch at San Jacinto Peak.
Conditions are currently suitable for spikes in places above about 8700 ft on the western slope (e.g., Deer Springs Trail) as the established trails have undergone freeze-thaw cycles and remaining thin snow has become icy due to consolidation by hiker traffic. Recommendations for traction devices are expected to change significantly starting 12th February.
Hikers must be prepared for temperatures below freezing in the high country, and well below freezing when considering wind chill effects, for the foreseeable future (see below for my recent weather observations from San Jacinto Peak).
Survey hikes by the Trail Report every single day throughout the year in the San Jacinto mountains include varied routes to the high peaks including San Jacinto Peak typically 2-3 times per week (more frequently during storms), Tahquitz Peak and area 1-2 times per week, plus a wide variety of other trails on intervening days.
Regardless of how low the snow level drops during the storm this week, access to Forest Service dirt roads may well close due to seasonal conditions, at least temporarily. The USFS gate at Humber Park is currently open. Even when closed there are nine legal parking spaces immediately below the gate. South Ridge Road is currently open and is readily passable with AWD/4WD vehicles.
WEATHER
Following temperatures this past weekend that were again well above seasonal, a rapid cooling will result in temperatures below average on 11th-14th February.
As described above, a moderate storm system is forecast for this coming week, impacting the San Jacinto mountains between Tuesday 11th and Friday 14th February. The system will be relatively mild with several inches of rain forecast for mid elevations, with a possibility for light snow at the beginning of the storm as low as 5000 ft (which will subsequently melt as temperatures rise on 13th and 14th).
Snow estimates for the high country have ranged as high as 40 inches. The most likely final depth is now expected to be 1-2 feet at most. The relative warmth of the system will result in a high snow level, around 7000-8000 ft for much of the storm, with consequently little or no snowfall expected below 6000 ft.
Immediately after passage of the storm, temperatures quickly rise to above seasonal at all elevations starting 15th February, but most strikingly at the highest elevations. Consequently melting of snow may be rapid once again.
At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Monday 10th February 2025 at 0845 the air temperature was 24.9°F (-4°C), with a windchill temperature of 8.2°F (-13°C), 44% relative humidity, and a cool due West wind sustained at 13 mph gusting to 18..7 mph.
At the Peak on Sunday 9th February 2025 at 0835 the air temperature was 29.4°F (-1°C), with a windchill temperature of 14.5°F (-10°C), 12% relative humidity, and a steady WSW wind sustained at 14 mph gusting to 18.9 mph.
At the Peak on Friday 7th February 2025 at 0940 the air temperature was 27.4°F (-3°C), with a windchill temperature of 8.8°F (-13°C), 100% relative humidity, and a bitter WSW wind sustained at 18 mph gusting to 28.4 mph.
TRAIL CONDITIONS
There is currently no continuous settled snow in the San Jacinto mountains, an unprecedented situation in recorded history this late into the winter. The thin covering above 9000 ft that fell on 7th January only lasted for a few days despite cold temperatures, while the 4-6 inches of snow from the minor storm on 26th-27th January has already largely melted. Obviously this situation is expected to change starting Wednesday 12th February, and hikers must be fully prepared for winter conditions thereafter.
Most hikers will find that traction devices are not widely required on the trail system at this time, although conditions are currently suitable for spikes in places above about 8700 ft on the western slope (Deer Springs Trail and short parts of the PCT) as the established trails have undergone freeze-thaw cycles and the thin snow has become icy due to consolidation by hiker traffic. Spikes tend to be much more valuable for descending trails than ascending.
There is functionally no snow on trails on the eastern side trails, e.g., the Peak Trail is almost completely clear. Tiny patches persist in the most sheltered areas above 9000 ft, notably either side of Annie’s Junction (PCT Mile 180.8), then again at 9900-10,100 ft on the Peak Trail and above 10,500 ft around San Jacinto Peak.
The East Ridge Trail (between Miller-San Jacinto peaks) is still 50% snow-covered, but only one inch deep and with a well-traveled (but icy) track accurately following the old trail route.
Deer Springs Trail is clear of snow from the trailhead to Strawberry Junction, and then beyond for about 1.5 miles to near 8600 ft elevation. From just south of the junction with Marion Mountain Trail snow cover is a patchy 60% in the trail to San Jacinto Peak, although much of the sun-exposed route above Little Round Valley is now clear. Snow is thin and patchy in the trail, but due to hiker compaction it is icy. Some hikers will find spikes useful on the upper part of this trail.
On the section of Deer Springs Trail between Strawberry Junction and the top of Marion Mountain Trail (roughly PCT Miles 183-185) six significant treefall hazards remain, mostly from high winds in January. Three more came down in a concentrated area just north of the top of Seven Pines Trail (near Mile 185.2). About ten further trees on the upper trail (above Fuller Ridge) have been down and reported repeatedly for more than a decade but with no action from the State Park. Two significant obstructions are down across the trail between the Suicide Rock Trail junction and Strawberry Junction.
South Ridge Trail is clear of snow from the top of South Ridge Road to Tahquitz Peak (updated 3rd Feb). Four treefall hazards that came down in the trail in strong winds in January were removed by the Trail Report in early February.
There is a well-traveled track through patchy thin snow on the short section of South Ridge Trail on the north side of Tahquitz Peak to Chinquapin Flat. This is icy in places and hikers may find spikes are useful here.
Although the situation has improved somewhat in recent months, treefall hazards remain a significant problem along parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, most notably between Antsell Rock and South Peak. Some 56 trees are down across the trail between PCT Miles 170.5-174, with 37 of these, including several serious obstructions that make for slow-going, between Miles 172.5-174 (around and immediately south of South Peak). A further nine smaller obstructions are down from Miles 168.5-170.5 (Spitler Peak Trail to Zen Center Trail). Significant sections of Miles 168.5-175 are also badly overgrown with brush and are in urgent need of major trimming work (surveyed January 2025).
On the Fuller Ridge Trail section of the PCT there are 12 trees down on the State Park section of the trail (Miles 185.5-189, which have not been maintained by that agency for many years). Several of these pose quite significant hazards for hikers. On the Forest Service section (Miles 189.3-190.5) five significant treefall hazards were removed by USFS late in 2024. Snow cover on Fuller Ridge Trail averages only 50%, but is very localized with sun-exposed sections completely clear and shaded sections still with 1-2 inches depth of snow in the trail.
Trees down on the Strawberry Trail section of the PCT (Annie’s Junction to Strawberry Junction, Miles 180.8-183) have remained uncut by the Forest Service for nearly a decade. About six hazards on this section are thankfully all relatively easy for hikers to negotiate.
The Trail Report heavily trimmed the formerly overgrown Wellman Trail (Annie’s Junction to Wellman Divide) from September 2024-January 2025. The Wellman Trail currently averages about 20% snow cover, confined to the sections that are sheltered under the forest canopy.
In February 2025 the Trail Report cleared Spitler Peak Trail of the six trees that came down in Santa Ana winds in January (bringing to 129 the total number of trees removed by the Report from this trail in recent years). We also removed most of the whitethorn from the central portion of the trail in December 2024. While more brush trimming work is always required, in general the trail is currently in its best condition since at least mid 2023. Spitler Creek continues to flow gently at its various crossings in the upper switchbacks, and Antsell Rock Creek starting flowing gently again in November 2024 (but will dry again this spring without significant further precipitation).
The Trail Report removed the only two new small trees down across Fobes Trail last week. The trail is otherwise largely clear, with only a few minor branch hazards mainly along the lower trail. Snow was gone from this trail (all below 6000 ft) by 31st January.
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 (and potentially dangerously) described by the Forest Service as “not maintained”. In reality both trails have been abandoned and no longer exist. They are so heavily overgrown, largely with dense whitethorn, which obscures dozens of downed trees, that hikers should not attempt to follow them (regardless of how much you may trust an app). An informal use trail to Laws is much more direct, well maintained, and avoids the bushwhacking of the unmaintained trails (some 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 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). One huge tree fell in late 2024 across the King Trail about midway down and requires a minor scramble underneath (that tree will not be cut soon), while another fell in January 2025 close to the bottom of the trail that is relatively easy to cross over. Another five recently downed trees were either removed or worked around in January 2025, when the trail was thoroughly trimmed and cleared. From Laws east to Caramba the route of the original Caramba Trail has been cairned by myself and others and can largely be followed with careful route-finding. My February 2025 survey counted about 120 trees down on this 2.1 miles of trail. It is extremely obscure for the first 0.5 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.
In late 2024 Willow Creek Trail was nearing its 2020 condition, the last time the original trail route was fully cleared and passable. Four new trees came down on the Forest Service section in January, two of which are large and tricky for hikers to pass. In addition to trees being cut in 2024, whitethorn trimming was largely completed, mainly by volunteers, on the Forest Service side in late summer. On the State Park side localized trimming of the worst patches was undertaken in 2024, and the minor treefall hazards new in 2023/24 were removed, leaving just two major long term downed trees (both easy to pass for hikers).
The Trail Report “adopted” Seven Pines Trail as a priority for maintenance work as the trail had a disproportionate number of lost hiker rescues in the past decade, and both State Park and Forest Service have shown no interest in maintaining the route for years. Since 2020 we have removed 75 downed trees and the trail is trimmed and cleared multiple times annually. As of late 2024 the trail is largely clear of treefall hazards, with three down across the trail in its upper section, all easily passable for hikers. A further half-a-dozen downed trees close to the PCT junction would need to be removed to fully restore the original route of the trail. Although the condition of the trail is hugely improved, Seven Pines remains a genuine wilderness trail unlike the wider, bare, 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. Be aware in particular that Seven Pines Trail becomes most obscure in the mile closest to its junction with Deer Springs Trail/PCT.
The Zen Center Trail continues its serious deterioration that started following the 2013 Mountain Fire, with a combination of vigorous regrowth and treefall hazards further obscuring the route with each passing season. The lower and upper thirds of this trail are partially cairned and not too bad for those who are very familiar with the former route, but even the experienced find navigating the central section tricky. Long trousers, scrambling gloves, and an enjoyment of bush-whacking are all strongly recommended.
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