Trail update 18th April 2025

With temperatures well above seasonal on 6th-15th April at all elevations, melting of snow has been predictably rapid and widespread. Trails below 9000 ft have generally cleared (except the most sheltered areas) and even the highest peaks are largely clear on sun-exposed slopes. The air temperature of 50.3°F (10°C) recorded at San Jacinto Peak on Friday 11th was the highest ever reported for the Peak in April, and was more typical of midsummer months.

The PCT-specific section has now been incorporated into Trail Conditions and abbreviated due to the speed of melting and the relative ease of conditions at this time. The Pacific Crest Trail has very well-traveled tracks in the limited areas (described below) where snow remains on the trail in the San Jacinto mountains. Spikes provide ample traction, but are no longer needed on most of the PCT.

Below-seasonal temperatures on 17th-18th April may be accompanied by light rain (<0.3 inch) at mid elevations, and a decreasing possibility of a dusting of snow (<0.5 inch) in the high country. Temperatures will briefly be well below freezing at the highest elevations on 17th-19th. Trail conditions are not expected to be significantly altered by this brief change in weather.

Spikes remain useful above about 9000 ft (lower in places) although with reliable grippy footwear, hikers very experienced on icy snow will find spikes are generally no longer required on established tracks. Crampons remain an option on the north side of Tahquitz Peak for another week or so, although spikes are now sufficient (details below). Crampons are otherwise of very limited use elsewhere on the trail system. Snow depths and conditions are unsuitable for snowshoes.

Snow depths are no longer detailed below. This does not imply that there is no snow in the high country, simply that snow cover is generally too thin and so patchy in most areas to provide meaningful measurements or change hiking conditions. Forecast mild and sunny weather (with the exception noted above) will lead to further steady snowmelt.

Black Mountain Road remains closed (to vehicle traffic only) at the gate 1.7 miles up from Highway 243. USFS expects to reopen the road by the end of April. Dark Canyon Road (4S02), the access road to the Seven Pines trailhead, is expected to be closed for the year due to staffing/budget reasons (the trail and road remain open for hikers however). USFS gates at Humber Park and South Ridge Road both reopened in late March after brief closures due to winter conditions.

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.

WEATHER

Unseasonably warm weather arrived on 5th April, and temperatures rose far above seasonal on 9th-11th, more typical of June, or even a mild midsummer day. The air temperature of 50.3°F (10°C) that I recorded at San Jacinto Peak on Friday 11th was the highest ever observed at the Peak in April.

Temperatures briefly drop closer to seasonal starting Wednesday 16th. A rising marine layer penetrating well inland will bring below-seasonal temperatures on 17th-18th April accompanied by light rain (<0.3 inch) at mid elevations, and the possibility of a dusting of snow (<1.0 inch) in the high country. Temperatures will briefly be well below freezing at the highest elevations on 17th-19th.

Temperatures quickly rise again above seasonal for the remainder of April from 19th onward, with no significant further precipitation in the forecasts.

At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Thursday 17th April 2025 at 0850 the air temperature was 31.1°F (-1°C), with a windchill temperature of 20.5°F (-6°C), 25% relative humidity, and a light WNW wind sustained at 4 mph gusting to 9.6 mph.

At the Peak on Wednesday 16th April 2025 at 0815 the air temperature was 36.9°F (3°C), with a windchill temperature of 25.0°F (-4°C), 17% relative humidity, and a fresh SSW wind sustained at 7 mph gusting to 12.0 mph.

At the Peak on Friday 11th April 2025 at 0835 the air temperature was 50.3°F (10°C), with a “windchill” temperature of 44.8°F (7°C), 10% relative humidity, and a light SW breeze sustained at 2 mph gusting to 6.6 mph.

TRAIL CONDITIONS

Snowmelt has been rapid since the last significant storm in mid March, and is expected to continue to be steady throughout the remainder of April. Snow depths and trail conditions in the first half of April more closely resemble May (or even early June in a good snow year).

Everywhere above about 9000 ft carrying spikes is recommended as established trails have been consolidated by hiker traffic. As always, spikes tend to be most useful for descending, even when they are not necessarily required for ascending. Hikers with considerable experience on snow and ice will find that spikes are now generally not required on the tracks of the established trail system.

The entire Pacific Crest Trail through the San Jacinto mountains is readily passable. The trail is clear of snow from Miles 151 (Highway 74) to about Mile 175. Snow cover averages 70% from Miles 175 (Red Tahquitz) to 177.7 (Chinquapin Flat). Snow cover is very patchy between Miles 177.7 to Saddle Junction (about Mile 179). The south-facing slope of Miles 179-180 is clear, but from Mile 180 (elevation 8900 ft) to about Mile 181 just past Annie’s Junction snow cover is about 90%. Miles 181-184 are sun-exposed and clear. There is a well-traveled boot track through variable snow cover on the PCT along Fuller Ridge (Miles 185.5-191). This track does not accurately follow the trail in places. Miles 186-186.5 and 187.5-188.3 are now snow-free. Most hikers will find spikes are useful in places throughout this section, but they are not required. The trail is functionally clear of snow from Mile 190 northwards.

PCT hikers should not attempt to use South Ridge Trail from the PCT at Chinquapin Flat (roughly Mile 177.7) to Idyllwild via Tahquitz Peak, even though this looks temptingly short and simple on apps and maps (photo above, further details below).

Although the situation improved somewhat in 2024, treefall hazards remain a significant problem along parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, most notably between Antsell Rock and South Peak. About 60 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.

PCT hikers are asked to respect that overnight stays are not permitted at or near San Jacinto Peak, including in the historic shelter, to minimize impacts to a sensitive subalpine environment. Officially Mt. San Jacinto State Park permits overnight stays only in established campgrounds (Little Round Valley and Strawberry Junction are good options for thru-hikers).

Devil’s Slide Trail [surveyed 17th April] is clear of snow.

The Ernie Maxwell Trail is clear of snow. The couple of minor downed trees on this trail have been reported to the Forest Service.

The PCT heading north from Saddle Junction (a.k.a. “Angel’s Glide”) is functionally clear of snow to 9000 ft.

Snow cover on the Wellman Trail [surveyed 17th April] is only 20% and is almost entirely confined the forested 0.3 mile section immediately north of Annie’s Junction. Wellman’s Cienega is unfrozen and flowing well.

The Peak Trail [surveyed 17th April] now averages only 40% snow cover, almost all of which is above 10,000 ft elevation. Snow cover is continuous in the north-facing and sheltered section at 9900-10,100 ft that is always slow to clear in spring. There is a well-traveled compacted posthole track on the uppermost part of the Peak Trail.

The East Ridge Trail route [surveyed 17th April] to San Jacinto Peak starting at 10,400 ft near Miller Peak remains almost fully snow-covered. The route has been much less-traveled with the recent clearing of the upper Peak Trail, but a posthole track through shallow snow remains.

South Ridge Trail [surveyed 14th and 18th April] from the top of South Ridge Road is clear of snow to Tahquitz Peak. Spikes are not required. South Ridge Road is lumpy but readily passable in any moderate clearance vehicle.

The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT Mile 177 and Tahquitz Peak [surveyed 14th and 18th April] has a single postholing boot track to follow through the steeply angled snow (photo above), which in its steepest section does not accurately follow the trail route and has considerable underlying ice. These slopes comprise some of the most consequential terrain in winter in these mountains, and this route is still not recommended for most hikers at this time. Although the track is passable without spikes for the most experienced hikers, spikes at a minimum are strongly recommended, should be accompanied by hiking poles or ideally an ice axe, and, critically, adequate experience and knowledge of how to use this equipment in such terrain.

Spitler Peak Trail is clear of snow [multiple surveys in March/April]. Storms in February-March brought down another 34 trees across this trail, but all but one were removed in late March (bringing to 162 the total number of trees removed by the Trail Report from this route in the past six years). A very large burned cedar remains which can be a little tricky to pass, next to the first crossing of Spitler Creek (3.2 miles up from the trailhead, 1.6 miles down from the PCT).

Round Valley Trail is largely clear of snow from Long Valley to Round Valley. There is a well-traveled track through the very thin and patchy snow from there to Wellman Divide.

Marion Mountain Trail [surveyed 16th April] is clear of snow, other than a limited patch right at the PCT junction.

Deer Springs Trail [surveyed 16th April] is clear of snow to just south of the junction with Marion Mountain Trail (about 1.5 miles north of Strawberry Junction). Thereafter thin snow cover averages 90% to San Jacinto Peak although many patches of trail, lengthy in places, are clear now in the most sun-exposed sections. The well-traveled track is generally easy to follow to Little Round Valley. Above Little Round Valley the trail is increasingly clear of snow (roughly 50%) but both the trail and the remaining posthole tracks are tricky to follow, with the latter frequently running into patches of cleared bushes and rocks. Spikes remain generally useful at least for descending upper Deer Springs Trail, but especially on mornings when the icy snow is crisp and dry, they are no longer required.

Seven Pines Trail [surveyed 9th and 12th April] is functionally clear of snow to 8200 ft, with about 50% cover of soft snow drifts from there to the PCT/Deer Springs Trail. Thirteen downed trees have been removed so far this month, and significant progress made on removal of accumulated winter debris in the trail up to about 8000 ft. The Trail Report “adopted” Seven Pines as a priority for maintenance work due to a disproportionate number of lost hiker rescues in the past decade, with neither State Park nor Forest Service having shown significant interest in maintaining the route for many years. Since 2019 we have removed 88 downed trees and the trail is trimmed and raked regularly. About ten trees remain to be cut above the current snow line, with one large one lower down. Although our work has hugely improved the condition of the trail, Seven Pines remains a genuine wilderness trail unlike the wider, bare, and much more obvious routes of, for example, Devil’s Slide or Marion Mountain trails. Cautious navigation remains invaluable for those without considerable experience of hiking this trail. Note the trail becomes most obscure in its uppermost mile, closest to the Deer Springs Trail/PCT junction.

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