San Jacinto Peak

San Jacinto Peak, also called Mount San Jacinto, is a very tall mountain that stands 10,834 feet high. It is located in the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County, California. This mountain is the highest point in both the San Jacinto Mountains and all of Riverside County. It marks the southern edge of a place called the San Gorgonio Pass.

This mountain is very special because it stands out greatly from the land around it, making it one of the most important peaks in the whole United States. It is the sixth most important peak among the main 48 states. Many hikers in Southern California love to climb this mountain at least once.

San Jacinto Peak is famous for its steep north side, which rises more than 8,000 feet above the San Gorgonio Pass. The mountain is also home to a well-known trail called the Cactus to Clouds Trail, which many people enjoy walking on.

Geography

San Jacinto Peak is a tall mountain that stands above the city of Palm Springs to its east and the mountain community of Idyllwild to its west. From the top of the peak, you can see San Gorgonio Mountain across the San Gorgonio Pass, as well as the Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea. On clear days, much of the Inland Empire, including Ontario, can also be seen. The mountain is named after Hyacinth of Caesarea and is one of four high mountains in Southern California named for Catholic saints.

History

The Cahuilla Native Americans called the peak I a kitch, meaning "smooth cliffs." They believed it was the home of Dakush, a meteor and the legendary founder of their people.

In 1878, a group led by Charles Thomas climbed the peak and named it San Jacinto Peak. The first recorded climb was in 1874 by someone from Riverside. In 1931, two men successfully reached the steep northeast side of the peak. Nearby peaks were named after people, like Jean Peak for a woman named Jean and Marion Mountain for another woman named Marion.

In the early 1930s, a footrace was held from Idyllwild to the peak and back. A runner named Tom Humphreys won both years. Near the top of the peak, there is a stone hut built in 1935 by a stonemason named Alfred Zarubicka.

Hiking

San Jacinto Peak is easy to reach, as many paths lead into the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. The most popular way starts with a ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway from Valley Station near Palm Springs up to Mountain Station. From there, you can climb the mountain face using trails. Another way is to hike the Marion Mountain Trail from near the town of Idyllwild. There is a special tree called Sequoiadendrons planted there in 1974, far from where they usually grow. The Cactus to Clouds Trail is a long and hard climb from the desert floor in Palm Springs to the top of the mountain. This trail has no water until partway up, so it is best to start early to avoid the very hot weather.