The deeply weathered summit of Mount San Jacinto stands 10,834 feet above sea level, and is the second highest mountain range in Southern California. No more than a two hour drive from either Los Angeles or San Diego, the mountain's magnificent granite peaks, subalpine forests, and fern-bordered mountain meadows offer a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy a scenic, high-country wilderness area. The park offers two drive-in campgrounds near the town of Idyllwild. Most of the park is a designated wilderness area enjoyed by hikers and backpackers.

Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
A majority of Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness is part of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. From Desert oases to granite peaks, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument is a land of contrast with stories of adaptation.
For more information, and a color brochure got to:
www.palmspringslife.com/santarosa

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway http://pstramway.com/ 
Starting in Chino Canyon near Palm Springs, the tram takes passengers from Valley Station at 2,643 feet elevation to Mountain Station on the edge of the wilderness, elevation 8,516 feet. The Mountain Station features a restaurant, gift shop, snack bar, and the state park visitor center. In Long Valley, a short walk from the station, you will find the Long Valley Ranger Station, a picnic area with barbecue stoves and restrooms, a ski center, a self-guiding nature trail, and Desert View Trail which offers panoramas of the high country including several peaks over 10,000 feet in elevation. You can also enter the hiking trail system from this point. The tram closure for maintenance in 2011 is scheduled for September 12th through September 25th.

Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is the jewel in the crown of America’s scenic trails, spanning 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada through three western states. The trail passes through five California State Parks: Castle Crags and McArthur-Burney Falls in Northern California; and Silverwood Lake, Anza Borrego Desert and Mt San Jacinto in Southern California.

Location-Directions
From Riverside, take Interstate 10 East to Hwy 243 South to the park. From San Diego, take Interstate 15 North to 215 North, exit Hwy 74 east to Hwy 243 north to the park.

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Wilderness Permit Information
Mount San Jacinto is located at a high altitude where the growing season is short. Plant life has little opportunity to recover from overuse from one season to the next, and unless we take the steps to protect these areas they could be lost to us forever.

To ensure the preservation of the natural environment and assure the visitor of a quality visitor experience, the Department of Parks and Recreation has instituted a Wilderness Permit system; everyone entering the wilderness area for the day or for camping must have a permit in their possession.  Day use wilderness permits are free and are available at the State Park Headquarters in Idyllwild or at the Long Valley Ranger Station.  Applications for overnight permits will be accepted up to 56 days (8 weeks) in advance; if you apply by mail, send your request in at least 10 days in advance. Sorry, no telephone or FAX requests can be accepted.

Groups must be limited to 15 people, and juvenile groups must have at least one adult leader for each 14 juveniles. Dogs are not permitted in wilderness areas of the State Park System.

For groups camping, access is limited to prevent overuse and provide everyone an opportunity for solitude. Carrying capacities have been established for the wilderness area campgrounds. These campgrounds are Round Valley, Tamarack Valley, Little Round Valley, and Strawberry Junction. On summer weekends these campgrounds fill to capacity four or more weeks in advance. It is essential that campers plan ahead to avoid being turned away on these weekends.

The United States Forest Service has a similar permit system in effect for wilderness areas in national forests; these permits are issued at U.S.F.S. Headquarters, P.O. Box 518, Idyllwild, California 92549. The U.S.F.S. phone number is: (951) 659-2117.

Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA)

The Pacific Crest Trail was built with the sweat and determination of volunteers and agency partners, all sharing the same passion for a superior backcountry experience, and the idea that building a trail from Mexico to Canada would benefit generations to come. Volunteers on the 2,650 mile long Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) can participate in the adopt-a-trail program or take part in regularly scheduled weekend projects (1-3 days) and volunteer vacations (5-10 days). While the PCTA acts as a primary source for information regarding the PCT, the PCTA is in partnership with the US Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and California State Parks in maintaining the PCT. For information about the PCTA and PCT volunteer opportunities please go to www.pcta.org.