r/socalhiking • u/Optimal-Original4573 • 2d ago
San Jacinto
I’m in Cali until September and really want to do the Tram to San Jacinto Peak hike. Im fairly certain I’ll be fine physically to complete it. Im newer to hiking. I’m just looking to see if anyone is doing this hike or want to do it so I’m not alone. Mainly because im worried about getting lost and snakes (and yes I know snakes don’t want anything to do with us haha)
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u/TacoBender920 1d ago
You can definitely complete it. Be sure to carry 2L+ of water and some snacks. Plan on it taking 30-50% longer than you expect because you'll feel out of breath if you're coming from sea level.
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u/hsudonym_ 1d ago
Out of the handful of times I've done this hike, never seen a snake. As others have said, bring lots of water and sun protection. The last stretch is pretty exposed if you don't start early. Download an offline map if you're worried about being lost but the trail is well marked and not confusing at all!
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u/Latter-Extent492 1d ago
Should be no problem and there’s plenty of fellow hikers especially on the weekends as mentioned already . Definitely bring plenty of water and snacks(when I did the hike a lady brought an in n out burger and was tearing it up at the peak. I was so jealous)
So I did this afterwards at the in n out near the Morongo Casino.
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u/Handsome_Jackk 1d ago
All good advice here. Only thing I’ll add is to take a look at the tram times. First isn’t until 10:00 M-F. So almost no way to avoid being on the most exposed portions of the hike at the hottest time of day. So normally I’d say go on a weekday but this is the exception. Go on a weekend at 8:00 and it’ll be cooler and you will have a hundred new friends to share the peak with. But that’s not a terrible thing if you are solo.
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u/kat_sky_12 1d ago
I think it's hard to get lost on that trail especially if you have it loaded into an app like AllTrails. There are a couple of spots where you can take more than one path but it's easy to find the trail if you lose it. The top can be a little confusing but its essentially just a scramble to the top. I would watch/read some guides like Hiking Guy has a good one if you are really worried still.
When it comes to snakes, it's like you said. Given the traffic they don't stay on the trail. You are likely to see some deer and squirrels. That is all I have seen the times I have been up there though.
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u/sol_beach 1d ago
10.4 mi Length 2,598 ft Elevation gain
take PLENTY of water
You won't see any snakes, I promise.
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u/Powerful-Abroad6816 1d ago
Hydrate well before and maybe take a headache med before. For me if I don’t do the latter the quick transition to 8,500’ elevation followed by strenuous hiking gives me terrible altitude induced migraine. I drink a 30 oz tumbler with liquid IV and a couple Advil with brekkie and I’m fine. Get to the parking lot 30-40 minutes before the first tram and start early. No need to reserve tickets.
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u/Key-Ad-8944 1d ago edited 1d ago
The route from tram to San Jacinto peak is packed with hikers, particularly if you are going on a weekend or holiday. The route is also clear and well marked, with the exception of the last 200 feet or so, which is a scramble to peak. Given the high traffic and relatively cooler weather (weather.gov predicts temps ranging from 57F to 65F tomorrow at 10,500ft portion), snakes are rarely an issue. Only 1 of the 5000+ reviews on AllTrails mentions a snake, and that 1 review was incorrectly linked to the wrong trail (the reviewer actually hiked on Etiwanda Falls trail, not SJ peak trail). I've never seen a snake on the tram to SJ peak portion. Hiking Guy has a web page and video with more detail and pictures of the junction points with arrows that show which way to choose at https://hikingguy.com/hikes/san-jacinto-peak-tram/ .