In keeping with the theme of this “winter”, melting of the minor but widespread snowfall from 12th-13th April has been very rapid. The PCT in the San Jacinto mountains, and the high country trails, have been functionally clear of snow since late last week, and spikes are not required on the trail system.
Light precipitation is forecast for mid elevations in the afternoon and overnight on Saturday 25th, accompanied by strong winds at all elevations. The high country is expected to remain above the cloud, with no meaningful precipitation currently forecast above 9000 ft. Note also that temperatures are expected to fluctuate near freezing above 10,000 ft, with persistent windy conditions, until the end of April. This will produce freeze/thaw cycles at upper elevations, and what little snow remains may be firm and icy in the mornings (at least).
The absence of snow depth data in this report does not mean there is no snow in the high country, simply that remnant snow is so patchy and localized to the highest elevations that it no longer justifies detailed measurements.
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 by late March to see that many ephemeral and some “perennial” water sources were already at low flow rates, and two minor precipitation events in April have not significantly improved the medium- and long-term water conditions.
Be rattlesnake aware. This year rattlesnakes became active 1-2 months earlier than normal at both mid and upper elevations. 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 latter unlikely before midsummer).
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 and following storm conditions), Tahquitz Peak and area at least once per week, plus a wide variety of other trails on intervening days.
WEATHER
A weak low pressure system impacted the region on 10th-16th April. Light precipitation fell primarily on the evening of 12th and both afternoon and evening of 13th April. The former resulted in a very consistent accumulation of just 0.5 inch of snow everywhere above 9000 ft elevation, dusting as low as 6700 ft. The latter was heavier, with a freeze level near 5000 ft, but snowfall was still limited to a maximum of three inches at 8500-9500 ft on the east slope, and 9600-9900 ft on the west slope. Snowfall was slightly lower at the highest elevations, as the peaks were above the cloud for large parts of the stormy weather, especially on 13th.
Rainfall in Idyllwild was an impressive 0.67 inch by 0700 on 13th, and another 0.53 inch by the same time on 14th. The mid elevations on the western slope received some intense hail storms on the evening of 13th, down to 5000 ft (locally lower in places).
The last week of April will be somewhat unsettled, with strong winds in the high country and most days being partly or mostly cloudy, with temperatures generally below seasonal. Lifted marine layer cloud is expected to bring light rain to mid elevations in around dusk and overnight on Saturday 25th, and possibly also on 28th-29th April. The high country may remain largely above the cloud, with no meaningful precipitation forecast above 9000 ft. High pressure is tentatively forecast to return in the first week of May, with temperatures starting to rise near to or even above seasonal.
At San Jacinto Peak (10,810 ft/3295 m) on Monday 20th April 2026 at 0840 the air temperature was 41.1°F (5°C), with a windchill temperature of 32.7°F (0°C), 23% relative humidity, and a light SSE wind sustained at 6 mph gusting to 9.4 mph.
At the Peak on Friday 17th April 2026 at 0840 the air temperature was 38.6°F (4°C), with a windchill temperature of 28.2°F (-2°C), 12% relative humidity, and a steady NW wind sustained at 8 mph gusting to 14.5 mph.
TRAIL CONDITIONS
Trails below 9000 ft elevation are now completely clear of snow, with all remaining high country trails now functionally clear of snow. Trails can be assumed to be clear of snow unless discussed below. Spikes are not required anywhere on the PCT or high country trail system at this time.
The Pacific Crest Trail [surveyed 17th and 20th April] is functionally clear throughout the San Jacinto mountains, with some extremely limited, patchy snow in places as follows. Snow cover is 10% between Miles 175-178. Snow cover around Mile 185 includes patches averaging 10% cover. The Fuller Ridge Trail section (Miles 185.5 to 191.5) is now almost completely clear of snow. Tiny, stubborn sections of snow remain around the crossing of the North Fork of the San Jacinto River (Mile 186), and on the northerly slopes (approx. Miles 187.3-187.8 and 188.6-190).
The often-treacherous 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail from Chinquapin Flat to Tahquitz Peak [surveyed 19th April] is now functionally clear of snow and it is easy to pass by the tiny remnant patches (photo above). Spikes are not required.
The Wellman and Peak trails [surveyed 20th April] are functionally clear of snow, with tiny patches persisting only in the most forested areas, but none posing any significant hazard and none requiring spikes. The East Ridge Trail [surveyed 20th April] route above Miller Peak has only 40% snow cover, and a couple of single sets of tracks can be followed through the snow drifts on the upper route.
Deer Springs Trail [surveyed 17th April] is functionally clear of snow to Little Round Valley. A few tiny patches persist lower down, most notably near the Deer Springs crossing. Snow cover is very thin and increasingly patchy at about 20% in Little Round Valley (photo below), but is already functionally clear from there to San Jacinto Peak.
Marion Mountain Trail [surveyed 17th April] is clear of snow to the PCT/Deer Springs Trail.
Seven Pines Trail [surveyed 17th April] is functionally clear of snow, although there are no fresh tracks to follow through the tiny snow patches persisting near the top of the trail.
Spitler Peak Trail is clear of treefall hazards, despite having been decimated by about 65 new blowdowns in strong winds that accompanied mid February storms. In four days of work since late February, the Trail Report cut almost all of these, 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 at the end of 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 from the Forest Service that work to rehabilitate the Caramba Trail may start in 2026, so 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%, with an additional benefit of 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 very much for your support.
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