Hiking in Palm Springs

Hike to Wellmans Divide | Mt. San Jacinto Wilderness Hiking

Wellmans Divide: From Round Valley to Wellmans Divide is a 1-mile hike (2 miles round trip from Round Valley) with a 600 feet elevation gain which will bring you up to 9,700 feet. The total distance for the hike to Wellmans Divide from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway mountain station is about 6.77 miles round trip. The climb from Round Valley to Wellmans Divide is a strenuous climb that will give you some idea of the difficulty of continuing on to the peak of Mt. San Jacinto.

The view from Wellmans divide is truly spectacular and worth the effort of getting there. Looking west you can see the dome of the Palomar Observatory and to the southwest Tahquitz Peak Lookout. From this point you can continue down to Idyllwild or up to the Mt. San Jacinto Peak. Elevation gain, strenuous.

If you are ready to experience some of the most beautiful hiking the Palm Springs area has to offer, grab your CamelBak, other Hydration Pack or Hydroflask and get out on the trail!

Wellmans Divide Photo Gallery

View photo gallery of the Wellmans Divide hike from July 2011

Click here for more trails to hike at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes you up to Mt. San Jacinto State Park which offers about 54 miles of hiking trails located within the 14,000 acre Mt. San Jacinto Wilderness area.

All of the trails including the trail to Round Valley are accessed by exiting the Mountain Station and descending a concrete pathway less than a mile lont to Long Valley.

Hike to Wellmans Divide

Video

A video shot by modernhiker at Wellmans Divide.

Mount San Jacinto State Park Information

• Mount San Jacinto State Park Homepage

Address: 25905 Highway 243, Idyllwild, CA 92549

Mt. San Jacinto Message Board

Planning on hiking up Mt. San Jacinto? Here is a great website to find out current trail conditions, weather and to meet up with other hikers.

• Mt. San Jacinto Message Board

Weather Conditions at The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Check the weather conditions at top of the Tram before going on any hike in the Mt. San Jacinto Wilderness. Even in the summer storms can pass through which can make hiking dangerous. During the winter knowing if a storm is coming can save your life. Click here for weather conditions at top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

Please use caution hikers!

Hiking in and around Palm Springs and at the top of the tram in the Mt. San Jacinto Wilderness can be very dangerous, and many people have to be rescued from the area at the top of the tram each year. Usually it is due to lack of preparation, such as having proper hiking equipment, pleanty of water and also a map of the area. Just because it is a desert doesn't mean it will not get cold in the winter, and it definitely gets very hot in the summer. Weather at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway can be hot in the summer, and very cold in the winter, and it can be windy and very dangerous. Wear proper clothing, have proper equipment and follow these hiking tips or you may pay with your life.

Also, please stay on the trails. There is no reason to get lost in this area if you stay on the trails and use common sense.

Hiking Books For Palm Springs

Philip Ferranti's books on hiking in Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas are a must have if you are planning on hiking in the area. Amazon.com also has several other books that will make your hiking adventure a great one, including books on hiking and rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park.

Click the hikers for Hiking Tips

For tips on how much WATER you need click above

Hiking In Palm Springs Disclaimer

Any outdoor recreation can be potentially hazardous, and hiking is no exception. All participants must assume responsibility for their own actions and safety, exercise sound judgment, and be prepared for and seek advice on weather and trail conditions.

Although the authors and publisher of Hiking-in-ps.com ("this site") try to make the site as accurate as possible, they disclaim any liability for accident, loss, injury, inconvenience or other damage that may be sustained by anyone using the information contained on the site.