Tamarack Valley Loop

The Tamarack Valley Loop begins at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Mountain Station and follows a busy, established trail before returning in a quiet use path through the high elevation forest. At 4.6 miles this hike is a great day hike for those more experienced with the somewhat technical hiking conditions and backcountry trails navigation.

This hike follows a lollipop out and back, tracing a busy path one way and an unmaintained use path the other. So what you'll see is a lot of hikers in one direction while you'll likely not see a single other person on the other.

Leaving from the Mountain Station of the tramway, hikers heading to Tamarack Valley must stop at the ranger station and fill out a free wilderness permit. From here, follow the signs to Mt San Jacinto Peak. At .9 miles in, the trail will cross a small bridge. This is where the unmarked portion of this hike forks from the path. Though we strongly suggest hiking this in a clockwise direction, which will lead to the Tamarack Valley camping area on the well established and signed trail. From here, the unmaintained path heads through the camp sites, continuing on down the north side of the creekbed.

After a signed fork at 1.9 miles in with the Round Valley Loop splintering off to the left, you'll soon reach the Round Valley area which has a normally unmanned ranger station, outhouses and water with a sign recommending purifying it before drinking. This area is central to the dispersed camp sites. Beyond this area, the trail becomes more of a use trail. Navigation is very helpful, and there is no cel service throughout most of the park.

The path is not signed, but is worn. Descend some steep areas here and weave amongst the trees, most likely not seeing anyone else, as you descend back to the fork.

The steepest sections in both directions come shortly after that fork in the trail at .9 miles.

Bathrooms and water are available at the tram station. Accessing this trail requires use of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and is subject to fees and hours.