August 1, 2026 · Deer Springs Trail · the quiet way up, and the best summit view I've found in California so far.
San Jacinto Peak stands 10,834 feet above Palm Springs, and Deer Springs is the quiet way up it. Nineteen miles out of Idyllwild through pine forest, granite, and high country that stays scenic the whole way. I enjoyed this one from start to finish, which is not something I say about every long day on trail.
The summit is the headline. The view from the top is one of the most mesmerizing I've had in California so far. The desert floor sits almost two miles below, and on a clear day the whole of Southern California turns around you. The numbers are in the grid below, and a fuller writeup lands once the photos are sorted. Until then: this one is worth your Saturday.