Hiking Trails In and Around Idyllwild
The Idyllwild area is located about 45 minutes (depends on how fast you drive . . .) from the Palm Springs area. There are several great trails that range from easy to very strenuous.
Some hiking trails are located in the 35,000 acre San Jacinto Wilderness area managed by the US Forest Service. Other trails are within the 10,000 acre Mt San Jacinto State Wilderness, administered by Mt. San Jacinto State Park.
A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for parking at the trailhead and wilderness permits (free) are required for both the National Forest and the State Park Wildernesses. Wilderness permits are available at no cost from the San Jacinto State Park headquarters on Highway 243 or at the Idyllwild Ranger Station at Highway 243 and Pine Crest Drive.
You can also purchase the National Forest Adventure Pass at many Big 5 Sporting Goods store locations, or at many other locations in both in Idyllwild and the Coachella Valley. There is a daily pass which will cost you $5, or you can buy a yearly pass for $30. When purchasing the yearly pass you can also purchase a Secondary Vehicle pass for an additional $5, which is worth it if you are going with several people in two vehicles. For more information on the National Forest Recreation pass click here.
Idyllwild Hiking Trails
To view information on the Hiking trails click the links below
- Ernie Maxwell Trail
- Deer Springs Trail
- Devil's Slide Trail
- Fuller Ridge Trail
- Seven Pines Trail
- Pacific Crest Trail
- More trails to come real soon !
Weather Conditions at The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
While the weather conditions at top of the Tram will not be exactly the same as the weather conditions in Idyllwild, because the elevations are similar and the locations are fairly close, knowing the conditions at the Tram is one way to help you decide what the conditions will be like in the Idyllwild area. Of course this is just one way to gauge what the weather will be like in Idyllwild. The weather conditions in Idyllwild and at the top of The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway may be completely different. Click here for weather conditions at top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
Hiking Books For Palm Springs
Philip Ferranti's books on hiking in Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas are a must have if you are planning on hiking in the area. Amazon.com also has several other books that will make your hiking adventure a great one, including books on hiking and rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park.
Hiking and Outdoor Equipment
Click the hikers for Hiking Tips
For tips on how much WATER you need click above
Hiking In Palm Springs Disclaimer
Any outdoor recreation can be potentially hazardous, and hiking is no exception. All participants must assume responsibility for their own actions and safety, exercise sound judgment, and be prepared for and seek advice on weather and trail conditions.
Although the authors and publisher of Hiking-in-ps.com ("this site") try to make the site as accurate as possible, they disclaim any liability for accident, loss, injury, inconvenience or other damage that may be sustained by anyone using the information contained on the site.
