Deer Springs Trailhead to Strawberry Junction to San Jacinto Peak Jeff Bozanic (714-747-2727)

Meeting Time Friday, April 21, 2013, 8:00 am at the trailhead

Distance 4.1 miles each way to Strawberry Junction, 5.4 miles each way from start to top of Mt. San Jacinto. We will probably drop our backpacks and continue a bit further to gain sufficient elevation to do additional map and compass work, so a small daypack might be advised.

What to Bring 10 Essentials, overnight backpacking equipment (Topographic map, sleeping bag and pad, tent (pair up as desired), chemical stove (for each team within our group), food (as discussed during our day hike), warm clothing, rain gear, boots, extra socks, 2-3 liters water, cord to hang food at night), $6 wilderness use fee, Adventure Pass for parking, HAT exams, and blue card. I will have a wilderness use permit for the group, as well as both gravity feed and ultraviolet sterilization equipment.

Topographic Map: USGS 7.5’ San Jacinto Peak

Weather Forecast is for daytime temperatures in the low 60s, dropping to about 30o at night. Rain and snow are not expected at this time, but may arise unexpectedly this time of year. Bring appropriate clothing and sleeping gear.

Activities We will backpack in, establish camp, and eat lunch. Then we will hike to a location where we can work with maps and compass again. Afterwards we will review the exams, and discuss various gear being used by the group. We will practice bear avoidance procedures. Finally, if there is time, we may walk a little more for those who are interested. In the morning we will eat breakfast, break camp, and walk out. The goal is to be back at the vehicles by noon, and home early afternoon.

Driving Directions From Banning- If you are on Interstate 10, take the 8th Street exit and head south. Take a left on Lincoln Street and head west. Take a right on San Gorgonio Ave (which becomes Hwy 243). Take this road for about 25 miles. There will be a sign along the road telling you where the trailhead is at. It will be on the left side and there will be two turnouts.

From Idyllwild- Head north on the Hwy 243 for about 1.1 miles beyond the ranger station. Trail head will be on the right side of the roads with a sign telling you where it is at.

Parking The parking lot across the street from the trailhead is now enforcing their fees. Because it is owned by Riverside County Visitors Center, it is $2 per day per person. The trailhead parking on the other side is USFS and you need an Adventure Pass if you park on that side of the road.

General Overview The Deer Springs Trail is one of the more underused and is definitely an underrated trail in the Mt San Jacinto State Park Wilderness. The Deer Springs Trail is one of four maintained trails that climb up the west face of San Jacinto Peak. The others being Marion Mountain Trail, Seven Pines Trail, and the Fuller Ridge Trail. However, all these trails converge into the Pacific Crest Trail at one time or another. The PCT takes up about 2.8 miles of the trail when taking this route to San Jacinto Peak. This trail is very well maintained and is an excellent alternative to the crowded trails that go up the backside of San Jacinto Peak.

San Jacinto Peak, 10,834 feet (3,302 m), is the highest peak of the , and of Riverside County, . It lies within Mount San Jacinto State Park. Naturalist wrote of San Jacinto Peak, “The view from San Jacinto is the most sublime spectacle to be found anywhere on this earth!”

San Jacinto Peak is one of the most topographically prominent peaks in the . It is ranked sixth among peaks in the 48 contiguous states. Mount San Jacinto is one of the “Three Saints,” a name occasionally used to describe the high points of the three tallest mountain ranges in : San Jacinto Peak, Mount San Gorgonio (high point of the ), and (high point of the ).

To the Indians, the peak was known as I a kitch (or Aya Kaich), meaning “smooth cliffs.” It was the home of Dakush, the meteor and legendary founder of the Cahuilla.

Route Description The Deer Springs trail starts at around 5,620 ft in San Bernardino National Forest. After going less then 0.5 mile, you cross in into Mt. San Jacinto State Park. The first 2.3 miles gains around 1,280 ft in elevation and is very dry (after spring that is). After hiking this section, you reach a junction to Suicide Rock (which is one mile from this junction). There is no water between the trailhead and the campground (except water can usually be found about 0.5 mile down the side trail to Suicide Rock). Head NE (don't take the Suicide Rock Trail). After this, you hike upwards about 1,140 ft and then you arrive at Strawberry Junction (about 8,800 ft elevation). We will be camping here.

In order to continue working on map and compass skills, we will probably continue hiking from this point with day packs. The PCT merges with the trail here. We will likely head north following the PCT. The rest of this route description describes going to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto, although we will probably climb Marion Mountain or one of the other closer peaks instead.

The PCT portion of the trail is around 2.8 miles, as said in the overview. From Strawberry Junction the to the Marion Mountain and Seven Pines Trail junction, you gain around 600 ft in 2.3 miles. This section of the trail is very undulating and almost becomes annoying knowing that you still have to gain lots of elevation. From this junction, you head east and gain around 300 ft of elevation over 0.5 miles. You then reach the last segment of the PCT (which becomes the Fuller Ridge Trail), which keeps running NW along the mountain.

With the departure of the PCT, the Deer Springs Trail begins again. The real elevation gain begins here. This part of the trail is around 1 mile and gains about 860 feet to Little Round Valley. After reaching Little Round Valley, keep heading upwards (east). There is almost always water at Little Round Valley. It is about 1.3 miles to San Jacinto Peak Junction with about 800 feet of elevation gain along the way. At the junction, head north about 0.3 miles and gain almost 200 more feet in elevation. After this, you reach the summit, which is very rewarding.

Mileage Note

The trailhead to Strawberry Junction is about 4.1 miles. Little Round Valley is an additional 4 miles, then 1.6 miles more to the summit. The trail mileage on the signs do not quite add up the same depending on which signs you look at so these mileages are approximate.