Mount San Jacinto State Wilderness

• All visitors must have a permit when entering the Mount San Jacinto State Wilderness whether for day use or overnight camping and groups are limited to 15 persons.
• The Mount San Jacinto Sector Office (Idyllwild Ranger Station) is open to obtain day-use hiking permits, use restroom facilities and access nature trails. Visitors are asked to wear a face mask.
• Within Mount San Jacinto State Park, the following three campgrounds are currently open: Idyllwild Campground, Wilderness Campgrounds and Stone Creek Campground.
• Idyllwild Campground and Stone Creek Campground require reservations to be made 48 hours in advance of arrival at www.ReserveCalifornia.com or call 800-444-7275. Longer than normal wait times should be expected.
• The Wilderness Campgrounds requires a $5 permit for camping that are available via an online application that must be printed and mailed to:
Mount San Jacinto State Wilderness
P.O. Box 308
(25905 Highway 243)
Idyllwild, CA 92549
(951) 659-2607


• A few walk-in permits may be available for the Wilderness Campgrounds.
• However, group camp facilities at California State Parks remain closed but depending on the campsite, groups of six to eight may be allowed. A list of these sites is not available online.

• There are usually two entrances to the Mount San Jacinto State Wilderness at Idyllwild and Long Valley but due to COVID-19, only the Idyllwild Ranger Office is open.
• Most hikes from the Idyllwild side of the State Park experience significant elevation gain into the high country and are only recommended for expert hikers.
• Hikes from the Idyllwild trailhead into the Wilderness area include:
•  Round Valley Trail to Wellman Divide (moderate) - 6.6 miles RT and 1,558 feet elevation gain
•  Deer Springs Trail to Suicide Rock (strenuous) - 6.6 miles RT and 1,900 feet elevation gain
•  Devil's Slide Trail to San Jacinto Peak (extremely strenuous) - 24.3 miles RT and 5,203 feet elevation gain
•  Deer Springs Trail to San Jacinto Peak (extremely strenuous) - 18.4 miles RT and 5,300 feet elevation gain.
•  This document gives a small description of all the hiking trails that are located throughout the park.
• Near the center of the Wilderness, the two rock-climbing areas are: Lily (Tahquitz) Rock, with sustained routes of up to 1,000 feet, and Suicide Rock, with routes up to 400 feet.
• Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness is approximately 108 miles southwest from Los Angeles and 113 miles northeast of San Diego.
• July and August are the hottest and driest months of the year in the area. Average monthly temperatures are highs of 86 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of 56 degrees Fahrenheit, with less than 1 inch of rainfall.