San Jacinto -- Permit?

kristo5747 · Post by **kristo5747** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:37 am

Greetings.

I am looking at hiking San Jacinto in a few months and I am wondering if a permit is needed (a-la-Gorgonio).

I have a 2012 "Forest adventure pass" : would it be sufficient?

On the localhikes.com web site (http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/SanJaci ... n_4472.asp), the trail report makes no mention of a permit.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Al.

RichardK · Post by **RichardK** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:16 pm

We have done SJ twice from the Palm Springs tram. You get a self-issue permit from the ranger station at the start of that hike. If you are coming from Idyllwild, I assume that the ranger station there would have a similar arrangement. There is no charge or quota. Remember that SJ's summit is in a state park. So, the permit is from a state ranger. Some of the trailheads begin in the San Bernardino National Forest. Parking there would still require a federal Adventure Pass.

kristo5747 · Post by **kristo5747** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:41 pm

RichardK wrote: ↑We have done SJ twice from the Palm Springs tram. You get a self-issue permit from the ranger station at the start of that hike. If you are coming from Idyllwild, I assume that the ranger station there would have a similar arrangement. There is no charge or quota. Remember that SJ's summit is in a state park. So, the permit is from a state ranger. Some of the trailheads begin in the San Bernardino National Forest. Parking there would still require a federal Adventure Pass.

Indeed, I am thinking about coming from Idyllwild and take the Marion Trail to the top.

According to NPS.gov, one can get permit (as you wrote) from the Ranger station or by mail for overnight camping.

Not clear what to do if I want to get a 4am start before the heat of the day....I surely don't want to get a summons.

I found this post from Hikin_Jim:

Hikin_Jim wrote: ↑Mileages: http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/636/files ... oSPmap.pdf
Trip reports: http://www.mtsanjacinto.info
Permits: http://www.fsva.org/

HJ

RichardK · Post by **RichardK** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:06 pm

kristo5747 wrote: ↑Not clear what to do if I want to get a 4am start before the heat of the day....I surely don't want to get a summons.

The web site http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=636 says self-issue day hike permits are available even when the Idyllwild office is closed on Tuesdays to Thursdays. At the tram, the permit book is outside on a shelf. So, you could probably snag one at 4AM. I would verify that with the park office at (951) 659-2607 though.

Also, be aware that there have been recent car break ins at the Marion Mountain trailhead: http://www.mtsanjacinto.info/viewtopic.php?t=3379