An outdoors social network for the traveling & outdoors enthusiast - MyOutdoorAdventure.com
 

Devil's Slide Trail- Mt. San Jacinto

Posted on November 16, 2008 by: Traveler

  • San Gorgonio as seen on the initial rise up the 243.
  • On North Circle Drive about to make the right turn onto South Circle Drive. Look for the Humber Park sign.
  • On South Circle Drive about to make the left turn onto Fern Valley Road.
  • After about two miles on Fern Valley Road, you will see the official sign for Humber Park of the San Bernardino National Forest.
  • Turn right onto the one-way circle drive through Humber Park. This is looing down at a picnic table and the bottom portion of the one-way loop road.
  • Parking area at top of one-way loop road through Humber Park.
  • Public restrooms at top of one-way loop road through Humber Park.
  • Trailhead of the Devil's Slide Trail heading to the summit of Mount San Jacinto. Tahquitz Peak (8,846 ft.), also reached from this trailhead, looms high overhead. By the end of the day, hikers on San Jacinto will have been 1,988 ft. higher than this
  • Warning signs of the Devil's Slide Trail.
  • Sign at entry into the San Jacinto Wilderness. All rules of any other wilderness area applies at this point. Once you reach the junction of the PCT at San Jacinto State Park (different manager / different rules) you can no longer have a dog (not even on a
  • It is the National Forest Ranger who still patrol this area and they have standing orders to turn around or cite / release and then turn around any violators. Civilians (owners of the tram station and state park) cannot issue civilians (hikers) citations.
  • The first portion of the trail has long sweeping switchbacks (none terribly steep).
  • Typical switchback turn of the Devil's Slide Trail. Not too steep coming up nor on the upswing. The total length of the trail at 16 miles and an altitude of 10,834 ft are what make this mountain part of the butt kickers club of So Cal peaks.
  • This tree with it's two large limbs cut off by a chainsaw are toward the beginning and not of much concern on the way up. On the way down though... after almost 16 miles this beacon indicates closure!
  • The canyon to the left is the upper reaches of Strawberry Valley. Strawberry Creek flows through the bottom. The PCT is on the opposite ridge.
  • Suicide Rock (7,528 ft.)
  • Good reference point to go by on the way down. This pancake looking formation of rock is within the first mile of the trailhead.
  • At this switchback (during the spring run-off) there would be a small cascade. In November, it is all but dry with only green moss on the rock tucked in the right side corner as evidence that water should be flowing.
  • Just past (looking back at) the corner where the small cascade would be.
  • Almost at the top of Strawberry Canyon looking down on Suicide Rock.
  • First snows of the season. Hikers will probably need snowshoes within a month... if wildfires don't keep the area toasty that is.
  • This pine tree sapling found it's footing.
  • Strawberry Valley and Suicide Rock.
  • The PCT passes just to the opposite side of this unnamed peak that tops out just above 9,000 ft.
  • At a left turning switchback this arch formed by a fallen rock will be upslope and to the right side. The trail rising up before the left turn heads straight toward it, so it would be hard to miss (not impossible, just hard to miss).
  • From the upturn of this switchback, it is a couple hundred yards to Saddle Junction at 8,100 ft.
  • Hiker approaching Saddle Junction. Go left to continue up the Devil's Slide Trail of San Jacinto. Go right to head up Tahquitz Peak.
  • Look up in the trees to see the signs pointing in all directiions.
  • Once you figure out the next direction, it is always wise to look back and see what the junction will look like on your return.
  • The trail passes in-between these rocks.
  • Tahquitz Peak's 8,846 ft. summit. I've heard there is excellent climbing on this peak. Maybe the face to the lower right is the wall my climbing buddies referred to.
  • The trail from Saddle Junction, now part of the PCT until the next junction at the state park boundary, has shorter (read that as steeper) switchbacks.
  • The post near this large tree is part of the PCT marking system. You will also see the markers (blazes) posted on trees.
  • Approaching the San Jacinto State Park boundary. The PCT heads left.
  • This junction with the state park and PCT is at approximately 9,000 ft.
  • If that ridgeline looks too high, turn around, because you will be up and over it soon.
  • San Jacinto Peak and the surrounding wilderness are basically a forest island surrounded by California's desert. Views above the PCT junction now include the desert below... way below.
  • The Wellman Cienega area crossing. There is water flow here (cienega translates to: a spring and it's surrounding marsh) and you can barely make out a large tree that has formed around the boulder.
  • Large tree just past Wellma Cienega. The trail is just off to the left side.
  • Sign junction at Wellman Divide (9,720 ft. on the map).
  • You can see only 9,700 ft. here though... anyway, Round Valley and Long Valley are to the right. Long Valley is near where the Palm Springs Ariel Tram's mountain station is located.
  • Still living tree near the Wellman Divide junction. The base has been scoured (pretty sure it would have been from fire).
  • Round Valley below with the surrounding desert waaayyy below. Mountain Station of the Palm Spring's Ariel Tramway is in the background.
  • View toward the Miller and Cornell (9,750 ft.) Peaks. An 8,000 ft. drop begins on the opposite side.
  • Distinctive tree before semi-open area below Newton Drury Peak... possibly looking like the horns of a devil?
  • Semi-open area below Jean Peak (10,670 ft.). the trail begins the final switchback climb here. San Jacinto Peak is just over the rise in the background.
  • Large stump just past the open area from the previous pic. Jean Peak is directly behind.
  • Jean Peak (10,670 ft.)
  • Whew! Almost there.
  • The trail points directly at this behemoth trunk of a tree... and switchbacks up to the left.
  • This rock shelter will be visible just after you pass the large trunked tree from the previous pic.
  • This shelter was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is up to all of us (as the sign says) to continue the upkeep of the shelter.
  • The box on the wall is for emergency rations. If you open it, please ensure it is properly secured before moving on.
  • It's a party up high with bunk space for four.
  • Yeah, you still have some scrambling to do to reach the summit of Southern California's second highest peak.
  • There it is!
  • The rock to the right was just a little higher than this sign... so i had to stand up top and almost got blown off.
  • Across the valley that the I-10 rolls through is the San Gorgonio's 11,499 ft. summit. That's over 650 ft. higher than where you now stand!
  • Wind turbines almost 9,000 ft. below.
  • Looking southeast.
  • With the shorter days, the sun began to set while I was driving down the mountain. Then I looked behind and saw the full moon had already risen over the horizon. Indian Vista offered the ideal location to view both.
  • Indian Vista has a small parking lot.
  • I couldn't get a good view of both from the first viewing area of Indian Vista.
  • A walkway leads to the second viewing area where I was able to see both the sun setting (west) and moon rising (east).
  • At the end of the Indian Vista walkway I could see the sun setting in the west...
  • ... as the moon began rising over the eastern horizon.

Best Time To Visit: Year-round
Closest City: Idyllwild
State: California
Country: United States

DIRECTIONS: At the I-15 / I-10 interchange in Riverside County, take the I-10 east to the city of Banning. If coming from Orange and San Diego Counties, take the 91 Freeway east. You will have two options for connecting with the I-10 east. Either stay on the 91 Freeway traveling east and it will automatically become the 215 Freeway (at the 60 Freeway interchange). Or, at the 91 / 60 Freeway interchange, take the 60 Freeway east to connect with the I-10. Coming from the north (L.A. County area), you can take the 210 Freeway all the way east until it merges with the I-10 Freeway. Of all these options, you ending freeway exit is the 8th Street exit in the city of Banning, CA. Look for the Junction 243 signs.

Turn right onto 8th Street from the I-10 exit off-ramp. NOTE: If you have traveled from the I-10 heading west, simply exit at the 8th Street exit and turn left. At the first stop sign (a perpendicular "T" bone intersection), a sign pointing left will direct you to the 243. Turn left here. Just ahead will be another stop sign (4-way) intersection. Follow the sign pointing to the 243 by turning right at this 4-way stop sign intersection. You are now on the 243 heading up to the mountain enclave that is Idyllwild. The road ahead will cross over a bridge and then begin it's climb up the mountain. At some of the initial switchbacks of the road, you will be able to see the valley down below which the I-10 Freeway passes through (don't look too long). Directly across the valley will be the San Gorgonio Wilderness of the San Bernardino National Forest. Mount San Gorgonio's 11,499 ft. summit (Southern California's highest) will be the highest point.

The 243 rises quickly through the foothills with only an occasional scattering of vegetation. Past fire burns still scar the area, but all that will be left behind as the road enters a healthy forest ecosystem. For first time visitors to this area, you will quickly see that there are many options for outdoor recreation. You will pass many overlooks, picnic areas and trailheads while driving up to your destination trailhead at Humber Park. For instance, at mile 15 (from the I-10) will be Fern Spring, which you may see locals filling up water at. At about the 16.8 mile mark, you will pass the Lake Fulmer Picnic Area. The Pacific Crest Trail (which travels over 2,600 miles from the Mexican border in Southern California to Washington State's Canadian border) intersects the 243 at about the 18.5 mile point from the I-10 Freeway. In the city of Idyllwild (approximately 25 miles from the I-10 Freeway), bear left at the North Circle Drive. A Chevron gas station will be on the right. Follow North Circle Drive for less than a mile before turning right onto South Circle Drive. At this intersection of North and South Circle Drives, you will see the signs indicating Humber Park (Devil's Slide trailhead parking lot) is coming up. The next turn will be left onto Fern Valley Road. Again, there will be a sign indicating Humber Park. Follow Fern Valley Road for approximately two miles until it ends at Humber Park. The road travelling through Humber Park is a one-way counter-clockwise road. Drive up to the top just past the public restrooms and park. You will have just seen the trailhead in the upper right corner of Humber Park.

NOTE: The trailhead use for the Devil's Slide Trail is by permit only.    

 

Back To Locations  

Related Activities:

*Click on an activity to search for more related locations.

Tags

Mount San Jacinto, San Bernardino National Forest, San Jacinto Wilderness, San Jacinto State Park, Devil's Slide Trail, Southern California hiking, Humber Park, Palm Springs Ariel Tram, Round Valley, PCT, Pacific Crest Trail, Indian Springs Overlook,

*Click on a tag to search for more related locations.

Links

Location Notes:

No Notes Available

Login or Sign Up to leave a note.