Tropical Storm (formerly Hurricane) Rachel passed across Southern California on 10th-11th October, with remnant precipitation persisting into 12th. The pattern of rainfall is detailed in the Weather section below, but cumulative storm totals included 3.31 inches at San Jacinto Peak (plus 0.25 inch of snow), 4.02 inches at Wellman’s Cienega (9300 ft), and 3.77 inches in Idyllwild (at 5500 ft). Generally mid elevations on the western side of the mountain range received the most rain, with Vista Grande (4700 ft) leading the way with an impressive 5.88 inches (based on NWS data), but almost all locations in the Riverside County mountains recorded at least two inches, even as low as 2500 ft at Sage.
With such a mild, subtropical origin, Rachel was not expected to generate significant snowfall. Temperatures finally fell markedly in the early hours of 12th October, by which time the bulk of the precipitation had passed. Nevertheless, we received the first snow of the season, with a dusting down to 9400 ft, and 0.25 inch of snow above 9900 ft, the bulk of which had melted by 13th. Trails were generally unaffected, other than uppermost Deer Springs Trail (photo below), and some of the rocks immediately around San Jacinto Peak.
Obviously, this event had a very positive impact on the water situation at both mid and upper elevations. Consequently, at this time I am not detailing water availability and flow rates for springs and pipes, until there is evidence that rates are declining to the point of being problematic once again.
Be bear aware. Although rarely reported, up to six individually identifiable Black Bears have been observed in the San Jacinto mountains in the past decade. Of these, one with an ear tag has been here since 2017 and was seen repeatedly in 2025 (see, for example, my video from 14th September 2025 linked here). Another individual was fitted with a satellite collar in April 2026, and has ranged widely in the San Jacinto and northern Santa Rosa mountains (per CDFW). Most recently this individual was in the Dark Canyon area. There have been no reports of negative interactions with humans in the high country, at or near wilderness campsites, or on trails.
Dark Canyon campground did not reopen in 2026 due to staffing/budget issues, although Dark Canyon Road (the access to Seven Pines trailhead) has remained open all year. Following superficial grading late last year, Black Mountain Road (4S01) is in slightly better condition than in 2025, but remains far rougher than in June 2020, the last time it was comprehensively graded. South Ridge Road is in poor condition (although not as bad as 2019) and generally requires a high clearance and/or AWD/4WD vehicle to reach the South Ridge trailhead at the top of the road.
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
Temperatures in the first nine days of October were far above seasonal at mid elevations, more typical of midsummer conditions. In contrast, temperatures at the highest elevations were distinctly autumnal, especially on the breeziest days.
With the arrival of Tropical Storm Rachel, periodic light rain started just after 1300 on Saturday 10th October, but then turned persistently heavy from dusk onwards. By 0700 on Sunday 11th October, 2.19 inches of rain had fallen in Idyllwild (at 5500 ft), with 1.5-2.2 inches recorded at almost all mid and upper elevation locations throughout the San Jacinto mountains. I hiked to San Jacinto Peak in the afternoon of Sunday 11th initially through light rain to 9000 ft, above which the cloud was patchy at best. Rainfall largely stopped at all elevations by early afternoon. Unsurprisingly it was too warm for snow, but rainfall totals in the preceding 24 hours were impressive, with 3.55 inches at Wellman’s Cienega (9300 ft) and 3.04 inches at San Jacinto Peak.
Further showers overnight transitioned into steady drizzle in Idyllwild on the morning of Monday 12th October, with an additional 0.45 inch of rain increasing the storm total at 5500 ft to 3.57 inches by 0700. The high country had been largely above the cloud (or at least above the rain) since midday on 11th, with a storm total of about 2.6 inches in Long Valley (8500 ft). During the course of the three day event, temperatures dropped markedly, and the highest peaks (>10,000 ft) received a dusting of 0.25 inch of snow in the early hours of Monday 12th, before further light rain fell on the snow, largely encasing it in ice. Most snow melted later on 12th, with little remaining on trails by the next day.
There is a tentative forecast for further very light precipitation on 20th-21st October, this time from the first seasonal frontal (i.e. non-tropical) system of the winter. Although rainfall is expected to be minimal at mid elevations, strong westerly winds and a possible dusting of snow are provisionally forecast as low as 7000 ft.
At San Jacinto Peak (10,809 ft/3295 m) on Tuesday 13th October 2026 at 0850 the air temperature was 36.3°F (3°C), with a windchill temperature of 22.3°F (-5°C), 14% relative humidity, and a moderate NW wind sustained at 15 mph gusting to 22.9 mph.
At the Peak on Sunday 11th October 2026 at 1430 the air temperature was 32.5°F (0°C), with a windchill temperature of 14.7°F (-10°C), 100% relative humidity, and a steady WSW wind sustained at 22 mph gusting to 31.0 mph.
At the Peak on Monday 5th October 2026 at 0810 the air temperature was 46.7°F (8°C), with a windchill temperature of 35.6°F (2°C), 82% relative humidity, and a cool ESE wind sustained at 11 mph gusting to 17.9 mph.
TRAIL CONDITIONS
The first snowfall of the season on 12th October was so thin (0.25 inch) that most had melted by later that day, especially from trails. However, the snow was rained on after it fell, causing it to ice up, and in the least sun-exposed areas it persisted throughout Tuesday 13th (photo above). The only notable impact was on uppermost Deer Springs Trail, but much of this will have melted off by later on 13th. Some hikers may find spikes are useful for the next day or two.
As discussed in the introduction, established springs and pipes are flowing steadily (or stronger) at this time, and hence flow rates and availability are not currently detailed.
Significant sections of the Pacific Crest Trail in the San Jacinto mountains, although largely clear of blowdowns, remain in urgent need of brushing despite repeated reporting to USFS and PCTA. This includes Miles 155-157, 169-170 (Apache Peak area), 171-173, 179-183 (Saddle Junction to Strawberry Junction), and 185.5-190 (Fuller Ridge).
The first comprehensive trail trimming in decades is being undertaken by the Trail Report this year on the upper Peak Trail. About 90% of the 0.5 mile section of trail between 10,000 ft and the Miller Peak switchback had been widened to 2-4 feet by early October. Unmanaged chinquapin overgrowth had narrowed the trail to just 10-15 inches wide in many places, which was problematic year-round for pole users but especially in winter conditions (example before-and-after photos in most prior reports since June).
Deer Springs Trail from the trailhead to Little Round Valley was cleared of the handful of blowdowns from last winter by the Trail Report.
Trail maintenance work by USFS and State Park volunteers earlier this year cleared Willow Creek Trail of blowdowns from last winter. Brush trimming work was undertaken on both the USFS and State Park sections of the trail in late July, although it was much more limited on the State Park section, and the upper switchbacks closer to Hidden Divide remain badly overgrown in places.
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 perhaps 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 several hundred 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 is marked with cairns (and subtle flagging to aid USFS work crews) and 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). Blowdowns from this winter have already been removed by the Trail Report, and the huge pine tree that fell in late 2024 was kindly removed by Forest Service volunteers in May 2026.
East from Laws the old Caramba Trail is initially heavily obscured by blowdowns and thick regrowth, but the easternmost 1.5 miles closest to Caramba camp is often well marked with cairns placed by myself and others. Much of the old trail rock work is visible in places. The first mile east of Laws is currently marked largely along the former trail route with orange flagging (for use by USFS work crews), although it is not recommended to follow this in some areas as it goes directly through blowdowns and obstructive vegetation, not around them.
Work to rehabilitate the original Caramba Trail started in June this year – combining the Trail Report, other volunteers, and Forest Service employees – almost exactly 13 years after it burned in the Mountain Fire. Unsurprisingly it is proving to be a very slow process and it is possible that 2-3 years of work may be required to fully rehabilitate the old trail routes. Please do not remove, move, or (as described above) attempt to follow, flagging in this area which has been placed to guide USFS work crews.
The Trail Report “adopted” Seven Pines Trail as a priority for maintenance work due to a disproportionate number of lost hiker rescues (with the agencies evidently no longer maintaining the route). In the past seven years we have removed 101 downed trees and the trail is largely trimmed and cleared annually. Thankfully only two large blowdowns affected the trail this past winter, and both now have very easy workarounds. Although our work has restored this delightful trail to its best condition in decades, Seven Pines remains a genuine wilderness trail very unlike the wider, bare, obvious routes of, for example, Devil’s Slide or Marion Mountain trails. Cautious navigation remains invaluable for those without extensive experience of hiking this trail.
Spitler Peak Trail is functionally clear of treefall hazards, despite having been decimated by about 65 new blowdowns in February storms. By March the Trail Report had 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 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.
