A very minor storm impacted the San Jacinto mountains for the third time this month, this time overnight on Saturday 25th April, with light precipitation persisting into mid morning on Sunday 26th. I surveyed from Idyllwild to the highest peaks that morning, ascending in light rain to 7700 ft, then periodic very light snow for the remainder of the morning.
Snow was largely limited to about one inch depth from 8000 ft to San Jacinto Peak, but locally averaging 1.5 inches deep between 9000-10,000 ft, indicating that the highest peaks were probably above the cloud for part of the storm. Snow dusted as low as 6400 ft in Fern Valley. Rainfall in Idyllwild (at 5550 ft) was an impressive 0.83 inch.
I recorded a short video report mid morning on the Peak Trail descending from 10,400 ft, to give a feel for conditions at the highest elevations at that time (linked here).
The impact on the PCT was limited; by the afternoon of 26th there was already a continuous track to follow through very thin snow on the the PCT route throughout the San Jacinto mountains, and most hikers will find that spikes are not required given the minimal snow depths from Miles 174-189. There were reports of considerable icing of the overgrown vegetation along the PCT around Miles 168-170.
By late morning on 26th, melting was already well underway especially on the cloud-free eastern slopes, with, for example, Long Valley already completely clear of the dusting of snow it received. However, even Devil’s Slide Trail was also functionally clear of snow despite cloudy skies and minimal warming,
Melting has so far been slower than in prior storms earlier this month due to widespread cloud at varying elevations. With snow so thin, melting will however be very rapid as soon as there is any direct sunlight and temperatures rise slightly, both of which are expected in the remaining days of April. Within 2-3 days, trail conditions will largely return to those described in the previous Report (linked here).
Note that temperatures are forecast to fluctuate near freezing above 10,000 ft until the end of April. This will result in freeze/thaw cycles at upper elevations, and remnant snow will be firm and icy in the mornings (at least).
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 very weak low pressure system impacted the region starting 25th April. Light precipitation fell primarily on the evening of 25th continuing into the early morning of 26th April. A very consistent accumulation of just one inch of snow fell everywhere above 8000 ft elevation, with a dusting as low as 6400 ft. Snowfall reached a maximum of 1.5 inches at 8900-10,100 ft on the east slope. Snowfall was slightly lower at the highest elevations, as the peaks were above the cloud for large parts of the stormy weather. Rainfall in Idyllwild was an impressive 0.83 inch, almost all of which fell prior to 0700 on 26th.
Steady warming is expected for the remainder of April, peaking with slightly above seasonal temperatures on 1st-2nd May. Temperatures then drop again rapidly as another minor low pressure system passes over the region on 4th-6th May, although at this time there is no significant further precipitation in the forecasts.
At San Jacinto Peak (10,810 ft/3295 m) on Sunday 26th April 2026 at 0920 the air temperature was 19.9°F (-7°C), with a windchill temperature of 0.1°F (-18°C), 100% relative humidity, and a stiff due West wind sustained at 19 mph gusting to 25.8 mph.
TRAIL CONDITIONS
Trails below 8000 ft elevation are now functionally clear of snow (trails above 7000 ft were entirely under light snow cover as of the morning of 26th April, although nowhere was the average depth greater than 1.5 inches). Increasingly patchy, very thin, icy snow generally persists everywhere else above that elevation, but melting will be rapid over the next 2-3 days.
Spikes are not generally required anywhere on the PCT or high country trail system at this time. In my interactions with more than a dozen PCT hikers during lengthy high country survey hikes on 26th and 27th April, none were using traction devices. Of course hikers must make their own decisions regarding the need for spikes, based on knowledge of their own expertise, and their comfort level hiking on patchy, thin, icy snow.
The Pacific Crest Trail currently has increasingly patchy, thin snow throughout Miles 175-189 in the San Jacinto mountains. However melting will continue to be rapid, and excellent tracks are already in place throughout remnant snow patches, so conditions are not notably hazardous anywhere, and few if any hikers are using spikes. Snow cover is 80% between Miles 175-178 but with a well-defined track. Snow cover is then only 20% to Mile 180.5, but 100% just south of Annie’s Junction at about Mile 180.8. Miles 181-185 are now functionally clear of snow. Snow cover increases to near 100% around Mile 185, although spikes are not generally required. The Fuller Ridge Trail section (Miles 185.5 to 191.5) averages 70% snow cover. Short, patchy, 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), but nowhere are spikes required. North of Mile 190, the trail is clear of snow.
The often-treacherous 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail from Chinquapin Flat to Tahquitz Peak [surveyed 27th April] has an extremely thin but largely continuous cover of icy snow (photo above). Spikes are not generally required.
South Ridge Trail [surveyed 27th April] south from Tahquitz Peak is clear of snow from the trailhead to Old Lookout Flat at 7600 ft. Very thin icy snow cover is almost continuous thereafter, but melting will be almost complete within 1-2 days.
Devil’s Slide Trail [surveyed 26th April] was functionally clear of snow by the afternoon of Sunday 26th.
The Wellman and Peak trails [surveyed 26th April] are largely under continuous thin snow cover, but nowhere poses any significant hazard and few if any hikers are requiring spikes. The East Ridge Trail [surveyed 26th April] route above Miller Peak had continuous snow cover at that time, with the remaining 40% cover of thicker snow from earlier in the season now obscured under the fresh dusting.
Deer Springs Trail [surveyed 27th April] is functionally clear of snow to Strawberry Junction (8050 ft). Snow cover is very thin and increasingly patchy from there to Little Round Valley, and then onward to San Jacinto Peak, but melting will be very rapid this week.
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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