UPDATE Wednesday 12th March 2025: I am not updating the main report until Saturday 15th given the dramatic changes expected in the next couple of days. I recorded a short video report from Saddle Junction (PCT Mile 179, 8100 ft elevation) this morning, to give a feel for current conditions, discussing the challenging next couple of days, and the encouraging news for thru hikers for the remainder of March (video linked here). The storm over 13th-14th March is expected to be very similar to the one described below last week.
UPDATE Tuesday 11th March 2025: light precipitation most of the day produced 0.29 inch of rain in Idyllwild (at 5550 ft), light snow with no significant accumulation in Pine Cove (6200 ft), two inches of snow at Saddle Junction (8100 ft) and at San Jacinto Peak (10,810 ft).
UPDATE Monday 10th March 2025: As expected, melting has been rapid and judging by our hike on a lengthy section of the PCT today, Miles 151-167 are largely clear of snow. North and east facing slopes, such as the PCT around Spitler Peak, still retain moderate depth snow. Options for nobo PCT hikers would be to leave the trail at Fobes Trail (Mile 166) or at Spitler Peak Trail (Mile 168.5). Miles 169-177 require crampons and ice axe, and the time and energy for miles of postholing. Conditions will change again very soon, with rain and/or snow (depending on elevation) on 11th, and a significant snow storm (similar to the one on 5th-7th described below) on 13th.
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This is a summary of trail conditions following a moderate snow storm spread across nearly 36 hours from the afternoon of Wednesday 5th into the early hours of Friday 7th March. This update is intentionally brief because (i) with a weekend imminent, details of which trails have been traveled may change dramatically in the next day or two, (ii) rapid warming will result in equally rapid snow melt, especially below about 7500 ft, and (iii) further rounds of significant precipitation are forecast for the next ten days, which will change conditions yet again.
Ultimately this latest atmospheric river was cold, with snow dusting as low as 3500 ft, and with 12 inches or more of snow everywhere above 4500 ft elevation. This has obviously had a dramatic impact on all trails in the San Jacinto mountains, including the entire PCT section from Miles 151 (Highway 74 crossing) to 197 (above Snow Creek village).
Details of snow depths for select locations are given below. The final storm total at San Jacinto Peak was 18 inches, for a current total depth of about 27 inches, while snow accumulation in Idyllwild (at 5550 ft) was an impressive 14 inches. Snow depths at almost all other locations above 5000 ft fell somewhere in the range of 14-18 inches.
I recorded a short video (linked here) giving a feel for the gorgeous conditions at San Jacinto Peak early on the morning of Friday 7th.
Initially the storm system was very mild on arrival on Wednesday 5th, with drizzle all the way to San Jacinto Peak, although thankfully it quickly turned to snow. Mid elevations received reasonable rain (0.78 inch in Idyllwild) before it turned to snow around first light on Thursday 6th.
Conditions are currently excellent for snowshoes everywhere above about 5000 ft, potentially lower in places. Rapid melting is already underway, and the next three days are forecast to be relatively warm before further precipitation arrives in the early hours of Tuesday 11th. Consequently conditions for snowshoes will deteriorate quickly below about 7000 ft, despite the snow depths.
Therefore, carrying spikes is recommended everywhere above about 5000 ft for the foreseeable future. Crampons are required on the north side of Tahquitz Peak (details below). At this time the snow is generally too soft to require crampons elsewhere, but that may well change with freeze-thaw cycles and compaction over the coming days.
For anyone interested in snowshoeing (or postholing perhaps) to San Jacinto Peak this weekend from Humber Park, I broke trail on 7th March accurately following the route via Devil’s Slide Trail, a short section of the PCT, and the Wellman, Peak, and East Ridge trails. These tracks should hold up relatively well as strong winds are not forecast again until next week.
Into the second half of March at least, hikers must be prepared for genuine winter conditions in the high country, with temperatures near or below freezing, and generally well (or even far) below freezing when considering wind chill effects (see below for my recent weather observations from San Jacinto Peak).
The USFS gate at Humber Park closed on 5th March. Even when closed there are nine legal parking spaces immediately below the gate. This weekend “road closed” signs will likely be in place at the junction with Forest Drive, further complicating parking. South Ridge Road closed on 10th March due to seasonal conditions, as did Black Mountain Road at the gate 1.7 miles up from Highway 243. Dark Canyon Road (4S02), the access road to the Seven Pines trailhead, is closed long-term from maintenance reasons.
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 (even more frequently during storms), Tahquitz Peak and area 1-3 times per week, plus a wide variety of other trails on intervening days.
WEATHER
After seasonally warm days on 9th and 10th, which will stimulate significant melting, a minor storm is forecast for Tuesday 11th, starting pre-dawn and lasting for most of the day. A relatively warm system will likely produce mainly light rain (<0.5 inch) at mid elevations, with a tentative forecast for 1-3 inches of snow in the high country.
That brief minor storm will run almost seamlessly into a moderate storm forecast for 12th-13th March. This will be a colder atmospheric river, similar to the storm of 5th-7th March, with a snow level potentially down to 4000 ft again. Mid elevations (e.g., Idyllwild) are currently expected to receive 4-8 inches of snow. High country snow estimates have ranged from 15-30 inches, with the lower end of that range currently favored by most recent forecasts.
Yet another storm system is tentatively forecast for 17th-18th March. Precipitation amounts and exact timing are uncertain this far in advance, but 6-18 inches of snow are again possible for the high country.
At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Friday 7th March 2025 at 0620 the air temperature was 12.8°F (-11°C), with a windchill temperature of -6.0°F (-21°C), 100% relative humidity, and a light due North wind sustained at 3 mph gusting to 9.8 mph.
At the Peak on Wednesday 5th March 2025 at 1550 the air temperature was 29.8°F (-1°C), with a windchill temperature of 15.4°F (-9°C), 98% relative humidity, and a frigid SW wind sustained at 8 mph gusting to 18.6 mph.
TRAIL CONDITIONS
Trails are obscured by moderate depth snow everywhere above about 4500 ft. Most of the established trails do not have tracks to follow at this time. Cautious navigation is critical everywhere.
Snow depths and conditions are excellent for snowshoeing everywhere in the high country, and, at least temporarily, at mid elevations also. Melting was already underway by late morning on 7th below about 8500 ft, and it was noticeable on sun-exposed slopes that the powder was already softening and becoming “weighty”, making for slower and less enjoyable snowshoeing. The same would be true for postholing.
Everywhere above about 5000 ft carrying spikes is recommended as established trails become consolidated by hiker traffic and as they undergo freeze-thaw cycles. As always, spikes tend to be especially useful for descending, even when they are not necessarily required for ascending.
For details of specifics of downed trees, prior to this latest snow storm, see an earlier Report (linked here).
Details of snow depths measured at a few sample locations on the trail system are given below. Note however that snow depth itself is very rarely indicative of the difficulty (or ease) of hiking a particular track or trail. For example a firm, well-compacted track across deep snow is often much easier hiking than a poorly defined track across just a few inches depth of angled icy snow.
Devil’s Slide Trail has a well-traveled track through moderate depth snow to about 7500 ft, beyond which, at the time of writing, only my snowshoe tracks continue to Saddle Junction.
The Ernie Maxwell Trail did not have a track through the moderate depth snow at its upper end (near Humber Park) as of Saturday 8th March.
From Saddle Junction northbound a posthole track continues to San Jacinto Peak via Annie’s Junction (PCT Mile 180.8) and Wellman Divide, via the Wellman, Peak, and East Ridge trails. Due to spindrift, the tracks may be obscure on some exposed slopes closest to the Peak.
The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT Mile 177 and Tahquitz Peak, that has attracted much media attention recently, has no track to follow through the steeply angled snow, with substantial underlying ice. These slopes comprise some of the most consequential terrain in winter in these mountains, and this route is not recommended for most hikers at this time. Crampons are required, always accompanied by an ice axe, and, critically, adequate knowledge of how to use this equipment. Snowshoes are not recommended due to the underlying angled ice.
SNOW DEPTHS
Measured on 7th March 2025. The first number gives total average depth. Due to very strong winds accompanying the most recent storm system there was extensive drifting. The number in parentheses indicates the new snowfall in the storm on 5th-7th March. Altitudes and PCT Miles are approximate.
San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 27 inches (17.5 inches new snow, drifts in places to 40 inches deep)
Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 17 inches (14 inches new snow)
Annie’s Junction/approx. PCT Mile 180.8 (9020 ft): 28 inches (17 inches new snow)
Saddle Junction/approx. PCT Mile 179 (8070 ft): 14 inches (13 inches new snow)
Devil’s Slide Trail at Humber Park (6550 ft): 15 inches (15 inches new snow, already rapidly melting by noon on 7th)
Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 14 inches (14 inches new snow, already melting on 7th)
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