A minor low pressure system is forecast to bring light precipitation on 10th-12th April, with the bulk of the rain at mid elevations expected on Saturday 11th, while snow at higher elevations may be more evenly spread across 11th and 12th April. Roughly 0.5-0.75 inch of rain is expected below 7000 ft, with a freeze level around near 8000 ft throughout the storm. Snow forecasts for the high country have ranged from 4-8 inches above 10,000 ft, with 1-4 inches of snow expected at the upper elevations of the PCT in these mountains (8000-9000 ft, potentially impacting PCT Miles 170-190).
All hikers, notably Pacific Crest Trail hikers, must be prepared for winter storm conditions on 10th-13th April (at least). Temperatures are tentatively forecast to fluctuate near freezing above 9000 ft into late April.
In contrast, temperatures more typical of June-September persisted for most of March, resulting in an unprecedented rate of snowmelt (of snow dating back to storms on mid February). The high country trail system was functionally clear of snow by the end of March for the first time on record.
At this time all of the main springs and creeks are flowing and water availability is not an issue for campers or long distance hikers. It was disconcerting to see as early as late March that many ephemeral, and some “perennial”, water sources were already at low flow rates (more akin to early summer) and some may start to dry in the next month or two (depending upon whether there is further significant precipitation).
Be rattlesnake aware. Due to exceptionally early summer temperatures, reliable sightings of rattlesnakes as high as 6000 ft on the Ernie Maxwell Trail started on 19th March, and on Devil’s Slide Trail at least to 7200 ft from 24th March. Activity will be suppressed by colder weather, but at this time rattlesnakes could be observed on any sunny, relatively warm, day. Above about 5000 ft elevation, the venom of Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus helleri) in the San Jacinto mountains is predominantly neurotoxic, almost always fatal for dogs and sometimes for humans (see my long read article linked here for further information describing our dogs’ survival after a July 2020 neurotoxic bite). Devil’s Slide Trail, lower Deer Springs and lower Marion Mountain trails, Suicide Rock, near Strawberry Cienega, and trails around Tahquitz Peak are frequent higher elevation locations for sightings, but rattlesnakes have been recorded up to 9350 ft.
The gate 1.7 miles up from Highway 243 on Black Mountain Road (4S01) remains closed. Following superficial grading late in 2025 the road is in better condition than last summer, but remains far rougher than in June 2020, the last time it was thoroughly graded. Picnic benches at many of the yellow post sites were replaced with new, modern, immovable models in March.
Daily survey hikes by the Trail Report year-round in the San Jacinto mountains include multiple routes to the highest peaks including San Jacinto Peak typically 2-3 times per week (but almost daily during storm conditions), Tahquitz Peak and area at least once per week, plus a wide variety of other trails on intervening days.
WEATHER
Weak low pressure replaced the persistent high pressure (“heat dome”), that brought weeks of exceptional warmth, over Southern California starting 30th March.
Limited precipitation overnight on 31st March produced one inch of snow above 8900 ft, with a sparse dusting down to 8300 ft, and 0.13 inch of rain in Idyllwild. However by late morning on 1st April, snow had almost entirely melted below 9000 ft, and by 2nd April remnant snow had rapidly melted from sun-exposed trails (photos below). The low pressure was once again briefly replaced by weak high pressure on 4th-8th April, with temperatures rising to slightly above seasonal.
As described in more detail above, another relatively weak low pressure system impacts the region starting 10th April. Light precipitation is expected primarily on 11th and 12th April, with a relatively high freeze level confining a few inches of snow to above 7000 ft, and with moderate rainfall at mid elevations (e.g., Idyllwild), perhaps as much as 0.5 inch on Saturday 11th, and roughly half that amount on Sunday 12th.
At San Jacinto Peak (10,810 ft/3295 m) on Saturday 4th April 2026 at 1040 the air temperature was 41.0°F (5°C), with a windchill temperature of 32.2°F (0°C), 36% relative humidity, and a light due East wind sustained at 3 mph gusting to 5.9 mph.
At the Peak on Wednesday 1st April 2026 at 0855 the air temperature was 22.4°F (-5°C), with a windchill temperature of 3.0°F (-16°C), 64% relative humidity, and a bitter WNW wind sustained at 13 mph gusting to 25.7 mph.
At the Peak on Tuesday 24th March 2026 at 0900 the air temperature was 61.1°F (16°C), with a “windchill” temperature of 58.5°F (15°C), 31% relative humidity, and a barely discernable SSE breeze sustained at 1 mph gusting to 4.0 mph. The air temperature broke the all-time record high for the Peak in March, set multiple times in the preceding ten days, by more than 15 degrees Fahrenheit compared to the pre-2026 record.
TRAIL CONDITIONS
With a couple of very minor exceptions mentioned below, trails are now snow-free. Traction devices are no longer required on the trail system, although hikers venturing off-trail to 10,000+ ft peaks other than San Jacinto may find spikes useful for the next few days as remnant north slope snow fields firm up in the colder conditions.
Very light precipitation overnight on 31st March produced an average depth of one inch of snow above 8900 ft, however by 2nd April new snow had rapidly melted from sun-exposed trails (example photo below), and the fresh snow has now functionally all melted.
The Pacific Crest Trail is currently clear of snow throughout the San Jacinto mountains. A few snow patches persist between Miles 175-177 but spikes are not required. The Fuller Ridge Trail section (Miles 185.5 to 191.5) has completely cleared of snow extremely rapidly in the past two weeks.
The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail from Chinquapin Flat to Tahquitz Peak is now functionally clear of icy snow. Spikes are no longer required.
Wellman Trail [surveyed 30th March] is clear of snow.
The Peak Trail [surveyed 4th March] is functionally clear of snow, with only about 10% snow cover remaining in one 0.25 mile section around 10,000 ft elevation, but spikes are not required. Immediately around San Jacinto Peak patchy snow cover persists in drifts, but it is now possible to avoid almost all snow by rock-hopping.
The East Ridge Trail route [surveyed 4th April] now has no discernable track due to melting, but on the plus side snow cover from near the Miller switchback (10,400 ft) to San Jacinto Peak averages only 50%. Drifted snow here is still up to 18 inches deep in places, and is locally very soft by late morning.
Deer Springs Trail [surveyed 4th April] is functionally clear of snow to San Jacinto Peak. The few tiny snow patches in the trail through and above Little Round Valley pose no hazards. Spikes are no longer required. The remarkably small number of blowdowns on this trail this winter have already been removed by the Trail Report.
Fuller Ridge Trail [surveyed 30th March] is clear of snow. Two new large blowdowns from this winter are easily passed, at PCT Miles 188.9 and 189.9.
South Ridge Trail to Tahquitz Peak [surveyed 27th March] is clear of snow to Tahquitz Peak. Four new blowdowns that came down on this trail in the mid February storms have already been removed by the Trail Report.
Spitler Peak Trail is now clear of treefall hazards, despite having been decimated by about 65 new blowdowns in strong winds that accompanied the mid February storms. In four days of work since late February, the Trail Report cut almost all of these (example photo below), bringing to 235 the number of trees we have removed from this trail in the past seven years. The remaining four large cedars were removed by Forest Service on 31st March.
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 arguably dangerously) described by the Forest Service as “not maintained”. In reality both trails have been abandoned for more than a decade 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 any particular app).
An informal use trail to Laws is much more direct, generally well maintained, and avoids the bushwhacking of the abandoned 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 following former deer trails for 1.2 miles, meeting Willow Creek about 0.15 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 pine tree fell in late 2024 across the King Trail about midway down that requires a minor scramble underneath, but most additional blowdowns from this winter have already been removed. There is some optimism that the Forest Service, in collaboration with the Trail Report and other volunteers, will work to rehabilitate the former Caramba Trail in 2026, likely starting with the lower section from Laws down to Caramba camp. If you see any flagging in this area please leave it in place.
The San Jacinto Trail Report celebrates ten years of operation in 2026. The Report has helped tens of thousands of hikers, and saved multiple lives, both directly and indirectly. Since the Report became established online, snow/ice rescues in the San Jacinto Mountains have dropped 82%, likely saving Riverside County hundreds of thousands of dollars. While all time is volunteered, the Report uses small private donations to help cover operating costs. Donations keep the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. Thank you for your support.
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