Mount San Jacinto State Park park
Mount San Jacinto State Park
One of the main attractions of the park is the San Jacinto Peak, which is the second-highest peak in Southern California. Visitors can reach the peak by hiking the popular Skyline Trail, which offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Other popular hiking trails in the park include the Marion Mountain Trail and the Deer Springs Trail.
The park is also home to several campgrounds, including the Idyllwild Campground and the Stone Creek Campground. These campgrounds offer a range of amenities, including fire rings, picnic tables, and restrooms.
In addition to hiking and camping, the park offers a range of other activities, including rock climbing, mountain biking, and fishing. There are also several picnic areas and scenic overlooks throughout the park.
One interesting fact about Mount San Jacinto State Park is that it is home to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which is the world's largest rotating tramcar. The tramway takes visitors from the desert floor to the mountain station, which offers stunning views of the surrounding area.
The best time of year to visit the park depends on your interests and activities. The park is open year-round, but the summer months can be very hot, so it is best to visit in the spring or fall. Winter is also a popular time to visit, as the park offers skiing and snowshoeing opportunities.
Park & land designation reference
A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.
- National Park
- Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
- State Park
- Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
- Local Park
- Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
- Wilderness Area
- The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized motorized access permitted.
- National Recreation Area
- Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing, often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes); may allow more development.
- National Conservation Area (BLM)
- BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
- State Forest
- State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
- Vast federal lands managed for mixed use -- recreation, grazing, mining, conservation -- with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Area campgrounds
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within reach of Mount San Jacinto State Park, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idyllwild - Mount San Jacinto State Park | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Strawberry Junction | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| South Ridge Yellow Post | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Idyllwild County Park | ✗ | ✓ | → |
| Marion Mountain | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Fern Basin | ✓ | ✓ | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, fishing spots, and POIs so a park visit can grow into a full weekend.
Other parks
- Humber Park
- Lawler County Park
- National Wild And Scenic River North Fork San Jacinto, California
- Wilderness San Jacinto
- Wilderness South Fork San Jacinto
Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
- Stay on trail
- Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Mount San Jacinto State Park as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Mount San Jacinto State Park
What can I do at Mount San Jacinto State Park?
Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get to Mount San Jacinto State Park?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other parks near here
Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Mount San Jacinto State Park.