Pets allowed
Allowed with Restrictions
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
Yes
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

The San Jacinto Wilderness, which is located west of Palm Springs, California, is a 32,186 acre federally designated area. The area is managed by the United States Forest Service, but it is not contiguous; it is divided by San Jacinto State Park, and its wilderness, which is managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. 

San Jacinto Wilderness protects the diverse landscapes of the San Jacinto Mountains, which range from desert to alpine. The terrain is rugged, with steep cliffs and ridges. There are pine forests and meadows in the higher elevations and dense chaparral in the lower elevations. 

PERMITS
Permits are required for day use and overnight trips. Permits are free and are available through the forest service. For more information please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sbnf/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fsbdev7_007800

CAMPING
For information about free camping permits within the federal wilderness area please call the San Jacinto Ranger District (Friday - Tuesday: 8:00am - 4:30pm) 1-909-382-2921.

RECREATION
The area is a popular place for hiking, trail running, rock climbing, bouldering, backpacking and camping. There are 48 miles of trails within the wilderness, 28 of which are part of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). For information about various trails and accessing trailheads please visit, https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sbnf/specialplaces/?cid=stelprd3821642

 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

None

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Scenic Views. Peak Bagging. Trails.

Cons

Wilderness is split in half.

Features

Backcountry camping
Wildlife
Waterfalls
Big vistas
Bouldering
Wildflowers

Location

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