Ride the world's largest rotating tramway from desert floor to 8,500ft, hike through pine forest, and summit the second-highest peak in SoCal at sunrise.
Southern California's most civilized backpacking trip. Ride the world's largest rotating tramway from the Sonoran Desert floor to 8,500 feet in ten minutes, then hike through pine forest to camp at Round Valley before summiting the second-highest peak in SoCal. On clear days you can see from Catalina Island to the glow of Las Vegas. Perfect first backpacking trip. Short approach, established camps, and a real summit payoff.
Start: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Mountain Station
End: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Mountain Station
Water: Seasonal creek along the trail, Round Valley (filter before drinking)
Walk down the concrete switchbacks from Mountain Station into Long Valley and follow signs for Round Valley. The trail mostly parallels a seasonal creek, lively in spring and often bone dry by late summer. Stay alert at trail junctions; signage is good but easy to miss if you are not watching. Camp among the well-spaced sites ringing the meadow; pit toilets are available but bring your own toilet paper.
Water: Round Valley water source on the way out
Slack-pack to the summit and back before breaking camp. From Round Valley, climb steadily for about a mile to Wellman Divide for the first big southern views, then head north across the exposed east flank of Jean Peak, no shade and direct sun most of the morning. The trail passes a flat cleft near 10,000ft before continuing to Saddle Junction, where the Marion Mountain Trail joins from Idyllwild. From there it is a final push and a short boulder-hop to the 10,834ft summit and the old stone hut. Retrace the full route back to camp, pack up, and hike out to the tram.
Tamarack Valley camp (1.5mi further, more solitude). Wellman Divide for views without the full summit push.
Dogs prohibited in State Park Wilderness. Tram ticket ~$30 RT (check current pricing). Free parking at Valley Station. Vault toilets at Round Valley.
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