San Jacinto Peak via Palm Springs Tram

A tram-assisted but still demanding climb from 8,400-foot Long Valley to the 10,834-foot summit above Palm Springs.

11.6 milesDistance2,400 feetElevation gainVery strenuousDifficulty

San Jacinto Peak rising above the surrounding Southern California landscape

CONDITIONS DESK

Read the sky.
Pack the water.

Use this as planning context, then open the live point forecast on the morning of your hike. Weather and natural water can change faster than a guide page.

WXLIVE CHECK

WEATHER

What to watch

Check the 10,834-foot summit forecast separately from Palm Springs. Wind chill, snow level, lightning, and overnight lows are the useful signals; the desert-floor temperature is not a mountain forecast.

OPEN NWS POINT FORECAST ↗San Jacinto Peak

CLSEASONAL PATTERN

CLIMATE

How the year behaves

San Jacinto is a high mountain island above the desert, with snowy winters, cool forested summers, and fast weather shifts. Freezing conditions can persist while the Coachella Valley is hot.

Best season: Snow-free months; winter only with appropriate skills

H₂OSUPPLY PLAN

WATER SOURCE

Seasonal, treat before use

Backcountry sources around Round Valley are seasonal, can be shut off, and require treatment. Day hikers should carry their full supply from Mountain Station or Long Valley instead of relying on a source.

Seasonal, treat before use

Forecasts are informational. Check official closures, alerts, fire restrictions, and the managing agency before every trip.

The aerial tram removes thousands of desert feet, not the mountain challenge. From Long Valley the route crosses pine forest, Round Valley, Wellman Divide, and high granite country before the final summit scramble.

ROUTE WALKTHROUGH

What the hike is like

Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to Mountain Station and descend the steep paved walkway into Long Valley.
Obtain the required day-use permit, then follow signed trails through Round Valley and Wellman Divide toward San Jacinto Peak.
Complete the short rock-and-trail finish to the summit, then return the same way with enough time for the tram schedule.

BEFORE YOU DRIVE

Planning the day

California State Parks currently lists the tram route at 11.6 miles round trip with 2,400 feet of gain.
Check the tram schedule, ticket availability, mountain weather, and wilderness alerts as separate planning steps.
Carry a map. The network around Round Valley connects to multiple backcountry destinations.

TURN-AROUND JUDGMENT

Safety that matters here

High altitude, snow, ice, wind, and cold can persist long after Palm Springs feels like summer.
Turn around for altitude symptoms, worsening weather, or a pace that threatens your tram return time.
Winter conditions may require mountaineering judgment and equipment beyond ordinary hiking traction.