Page 210 - WDT Winter 2018 japan

Dodging snowballs atop Mount San
Jacinto is a wondrous treat when staying in
Palm Springs far below.

If there’s a lot of snow, the trails are obliterated so with minimal elevation change.
the top is better for snowball fights than for hiking. But in Imagine that the Cahuilla used this mountain area
spring, summer and fall, there are a couple of very easy trails for seasonal hunting, and their trails still cross the mountain.
at the top that also afford fantastic views across the desert So if you’re up for it, you might actually want to hike
valley below. the “Cactus to Clouds” trail that begins in downtown Palm
I usually combine the 0.6-mile Nature Trail loop with Springs and ends up 22 miles later, about 10,400 feet eleva-
the 1.5-mile Desert View loop trails, where the latter actually tion gain, and about 13 hours of hard hiking, to the top of San
affords a view down into Tahquitz and Indian canyons as well Jacinto Peak. You can ride the tram back down. u
as the entire city of Palm Springs. These are both easy trails

210 WDT MAGAZINE WINTER 2018