Hidden Beyond Palm Springs Is A Rugged California State Park With Some Of America's Toughest Trails

California has one of the most diverse and epic landscapes of any American state, and with it comes a plethora of amazing — and challenging — hiking trails. Among the many elite hiking destinations in California are Yosemite's notoriously difficult Snow Creek Trail with its unbelievable Half Dome views, and underrated gems like Pinnacles National Park's Bear Gulch Cave Trail with its crystal-clear reservoirs. While national park hikes like these are certainly worth the trip, California's state park system also features countless amazing trails, many of which rank among the most scenic and demanding in the United States. One prominent example is California's spectacular Mount San Jacinto State Park. Virtually any shot of Mount San Jacinto may lead you to assume you're looking at a preeminent national park, given the sheer magnificence of the scenery. Indeed, this crown jewel of California's state park system has views that rival many national parks, with extraordinary hiking trails to match. 

While Mount San Jacinto State Park is, on the surface, a rugged expanse of formidable mountain terrain, the park is not as far removed from civilization as you may expect. Located just an hour from the famed desert community of Palm Springs and about three to four hours from LAX, Mount San Jacinto State Park nonetheless preserves an incredible expanse of California's iconic mountain setting. Alongside its towering mountain peaks and rugged terrain come several tough hiking challenges. However, the park's proximity to civilization does offer a few modern amenities as well, including one of the nation's most scenic sky trams!

Despite its supposedly less prestigious "state park" status, Mount San Jacinto has surprisingly eye-popping vistas. Three of the park's mountain summits exceed 10,000 feet in elevation. For context, North Carolina's Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi River, is "only" 6,684 feet high. San Jacinto Peak, the park's zenith and namesake, reaches an altitude of 10,834 feet, affording it both a semi-permanent snow cover and gorgeous alpine forests. Yet San Jacinto Peak and its surrounding mountains are more than mere high-altitude wonders; they also provide one of the most dizzying shifts in elevation of any American mountain range. The mountains of Mount San Jacinto State Park descend around 9,000 feet in less than 4 miles on their northeastern face, creating one of the steepest mountain escarpments in North America. Needless to say, this dramatic shift in elevation makes for some truly breathtaking views.

Mount San Jacinto State Park's roughly 14,000 acres protect many of the highest summits and most beautiful settings in the underrated San Jacinto Mountains. Though they tend to get overshadowed by the even higher Sierra Nevada and the Los Angeles-adjacent San Gabriel Mountains, the San Jacinto Mountains would be the defining mountain range in most other states. From the park's lofty summits, you can find expansive views of the Sonoran Desert, the Coachella Valley, and even the 11,499-foot San Gorgonia Mountain in the distance (the highest summit in Southern California). Much of the park's 14,000 acres extends into the pristine San Jacinto Wilderness Area, offering a truly wild mountain haven in the center of Southern California. Many of the park's more developed areas include historic cabins, shelters, and campgrounds built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. 

Mount San Jacinto State Park's rugged mountain wilderness offers over 50 miles of exciting hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding trails that combine rigorous challenges with awe-inspiring vistas. For example, the routes to San Jacinto Peak, plus those from the nearby Marion Mountain, count among the hardest trails in the country. Of course, not every trail in the park is experts-only. If you're only looking for a short and easy walk, the Discovery Nature Trail, Desert View Trail, and Panorama Point Trail all offer much easier hikes of only a mile or two, without sacrificing exceptional scenery. 

At the same time, Mount San Jacinto does not forgo modern technology entirely. The park's centerpiece is arguably the unforgettable Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Traveling over 2.5 miles up 8,516 feet of elevation from Palm Springs to the side of San Jacinto Peak, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the largest rotating tram car in the world. This unique feature gives passengers excellent views of the park's scenery below, including the dramatic Chino Canyon and the forests of the Mount San Jacinto Wilderness. Once you get off at Mountain Station, you can make the 11-mile hike to the San Jacinto Summit. Mount San Jacinto State Park also has two developed campgrounds, plus backcountry wilderness camping opportunities for visitors who want to stay the night. Or, you can stay at one of the more modern lodging options in the nearby Palm Springs. You might even enjoy Palm Springs attractions like the desert oases and waterfalls of the stunning Indian Canyons while you're there!