Although strictly speaking the first snowfall of the season was the fraction of an inch that impacted that highest elevations on 12th October, the past two days have seen the first meaningful snow storm of the season for the San Jacinto mountains. A low pressure system moving steadily eastwards across California drew additional tropical moisture northwards (some from the remnants of Tropical Storm Trudy). The circulating air mass, and hence precipitation type, grew steadily colder during the three day period. This first produced light rain on Tuesday 20th with 0.08 inch at San Jacinto Peak, but interestingly no measurable precipitation at nearby Wellman’s Cienega (9300 ft).
Light rain fell on 21st-22nd (totaling 0.25 inch in Idyllwild at 5500 ft), which then turned to light snow on the afternoon of 22nd at higher elevations. We ascended San Jacinto Peak on both 23rd and 24th, the former via Marion Mountain and Deer Springs trails, descending Devil’s Slide Trail, and the latter using the Wellman and Peak trails.
With cloud pushing up onto the western slope of the mountains, snow was more widespread than forecast on that side of the range on 22nd, with a dusting down to 6400 ft on Marion Mountain Trail visible early on 23rd and a consistent one inch depth everywhere above about 9000 ft. Snow was much more sparse on the sun-exposed eastern and southern slopes, with the dusting only down to 8400 ft. I uploaded a short video report from San Jacinto Peak at 0900 on the morning of Friday 23rd (linked here).
By the late afternoon of 23rd, the movement of the low pressure system across the state resulted in further storm cells, this time originating from the north rather than south-west. Consequently the San Jacintos were in the “shadow” of the San Bernardino Mountains, the latter receiving far more snow as a result. A dusting of 0.25 inch was evident in the early morning of 24th down to about 9800 ft, with a scant 0.5 inch above 10,500 ft.
With temperatures rising steadily in the wake of the low pressure system, and with the snow so thin especially on the less sheltered east slope, melting has been very rapid. Almost all trails are already functionally clear of snow, with only a few persistent sections on upper Deer Springs Trail.
Precipitation events in September and October have had a positive impact on the water situation at all elevations. Consequently I do not anticipate detailing water availability and flow rates for springs, creeks and pipes for the remainder of the year.
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.
Tropical Storm (formerly Hurricane) Rachel passed across Southern California on 10th-11th October, with remnant precipitation persisting into 12th. The pattern of rainfall was detailed in the previous Report, 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). 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. Even the highest elevations were functionally clear by Thursday 15th.
Strong Santa Ana winds were a feature of high and mid elevations on 15th-17th October. The wind gust of 41.5 mph recorded at San Jacinto Peak on 15th October is the twelfth strongest I have ever recorded at that location.
The minor rain and snow storm on 20th-23rd October is described above. Total snow accumulation at San Jacinto Peak was 1.5 inches, with up to about one inch consistently down to 9000 ft on the western side of the mountain range. Total rain in Idyllwild was 0.25 inch, although locations to the immediate west and north recorded much greater rainfall (e.g., 1.06 inches at Vista Grande at 4700 ft; NWS data).
The first possible seasonal jet stream flow across our region is tentatively forecast for 30th October to 3rd November. At this time light precipitation (rain at mid elevations, a few inches of snow in the high country) is possible on one or more days throughout that period. This section will be updated daily as forecasts improve over the course of the next week.
At San Jacinto Peak (10,809 ft/3295 m) on Saturday 24th October 2026 at 0900 the air temperature was 25.4°F (-4°C), with a windchill temperature of 7.9°F (-13°C), 87% relative humidity, and a frigid NNE wind sustained at 17 mph gusting to 22.2 mph.
At the Peak on Friday 23rd October 2026 at 0850 the air temperature was 28.1°F (-2°C), with a windchill temperature of 17.6°F (-8°C), 100% relative humidity, and a light WSW wind sustained at 4 mph gusting to 7.3 mph.
At the Peak on Wednesday 21st October 2026 at 0830 the air temperature was 37.7°F (3°C), with a windchill temperature of 23.2°F (-5°C), 37% relative humidity, and a stiff due South wind sustained at 16 mph gusting to 24.9 mph.
TRAIL CONDITIONS
Trails have already largely cleared of the light snowfall that accumulated on 22nd-23rd. All trails below 9000 ft are clear, and on the eastern side high country routes (e.g., Wellman and Peak trails) only the most sheltered sections retain very limited patches, which will have largely melted by Monday 26th. Only upper Deer Springs Trail, which is more heavily forested and less sun-exposed, may retain limited, very thin, snow patches for the next few days.
It is possible that some hikers may find spikes are useful for the next day or two on uppermost Deer Springs Trail. Otherwise traction devices are not recommended at this time.
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. After five months of work, almost the entire 0.5 mile section of trail between 10,000 ft and the Miller Peak switchback has been widened to 2-4 feet by mid October. Unmanaged chinquapin overgrowth had narrowed the trail to just 10-15 inches wide in many places, which was problematic year-round, but especially in winter conditions and for pole users (example before-and-after photos in several prior reports since June).
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.
Deer Springs Trail from the trailhead to Little Round Valley was cleared of the handful of blowdowns from last winter by the Trail Report.
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.
