Devil's Slide Trail

Wednesday, Oct 14: Caution. Gusts 30 mph, feels like 21 °F, some new snow.

10,834 ft. San Jacinto Mountains, Mt San Jacinto State Park and San Bernardino National Forest. Updated 6 min ago.

High Wind Warning issued October 14 at 11:16AM PDT until October 18 at 12:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CAA warning from the National Weather Service. Read it

StormIceWindColdNew snowa reasoncautionnot a factorTap a day or a symbol for why.

Why today is Caution

Storm (not a factor)
No storm on the mountain in the forecast.
Ice (not a factor)
No snow or ice expected on your route.
Wind (caution)
Gusts up to 30 mph near the top. 25 to 40 mph: gusty on exposed ridges.
Cold (caution)
Feels like 21 °F at the top with the wind. 16 to 25 °F: cold, bring warm layers and gloves.
New snow (caution)
3.8 in in 3 days. 1 to 6 inches.

What we've seen between 6,500 and 10,834 ft: no snow (high confidence together)

NOAA's snow map: 0 in at 33 points (Oct 13)medium
Satellite, 250 m: bare at 319 trail points (Oct 13)medium

The mountain and your route

UpDown

UpDownSomeone has died here in these conditions1Hiker photoFrom the south: the highest ground at each point across. Routes at their real position and height.

The risks, near the summit

IceLowNone expected

WindHighGusts to 30 mph

ColdModerateFeels like 21 °F

New snowHigh3.8 in in 3 days

AvalancheNo forecastNo avalanche center covers Southern California. New snow and wind: avoid steep open slopes like Baldy Bowl.

Photos from hikers, last 14 days

No photos from hikers yet. Been up recently? A photo and a few words help the next person decide.

From hikers; we check words and photos, not the conditions. The older a photo, the less it tells you; a storm since then changes everything.

From space, last 5 days

Satellite pictures with the trails drawn on. Tap a day to see how the mountain changed.

Satellite picture of the mountain, Tuesday, October 13, with the trails drawn on. No snow seen on the trails. — No snow seen on the trails.
NASA Terra satellite, about 250 m to a pixel: blurry, but every day.

Trails (yours thicker)
Summit, 10,834 ft

Satellites see snow, not ice: thin ice on rock, and snow in deep shade or under trees, don't show. A daily picture is blurry; a sharp one comes every few days.

How we worked it out, at the summit

	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
Already there	0″	0″	3″	0″	0″	0″
+ New snow	–	+3.8″	–	–	–	–
− Melted	–	–	–	–	–	–
− Settled	–	−0.8″	−3″	–	–	–
= On the ground	0″	3″	0″	0″	0″	0″
Rain	2.97″	–	–	–	–	–
Low / high	28° / 39°	24° / 30°	23° / 30°	24° / 42°	31° / 40°	28° / 45°
Gusts (mph)	49	44	30	25	30	43
Froze to crust	yes	yes	yes	–	–	–
Hiker reports	–	–	–	–	–	–

Before Sun: 0″ on the ground at the summit (the model runs from October 1). When hikers report, their reports show in the last row and beat the model for that spot.

National Weather Service + Open-Meteo, corrected to the summit's height. We count 90% of the melt we calculate. Faded days are forecast.

What each forecast says at the summit

Forecast	Low	Gusts	Air wind
National Weather Servicein the estimate	37°F	30	–
Open-Meteo blendin the estimate	31°F	28	35
NOAA HRRR (3 km)being tested	31°F	28	35
ECMWFbeing tested	30°F	48	25

The summit low differs by 7 °F between forecasts (30 to 37 °F). The estimate leans to the colder.
Gusts differ: 28 to 48 mph. The estimate leans to the stronger.

Wind in mph, water in inches; "Air wind" is the wind in the air at the summit's height. The estimate on this page uses the National Weather Service and Open-Meteo. NOAA's HRRR and ECMWF are being tested alongside it before they're added. How we combine forecasts

Your times

StartBack by

Turn around by

Wherever you are then, head down. Sunrise 6:50 AM, sunset 6:14 PM.

Caution

No snow expected. Check again the night before.

Your pack

0 of 4 ticked. Tap what's in your pack.

3.8 in of snow fell at the summit in the last 3 days; 3 in of rain fell there in the last 3 days. No snow seen from about 6,500 ft up since it last snowed: NOAA's snow map and satellite, 250 m agree (high confidence).

Check these before you go

Each one opens in a new tab and ticks off here. 0 of 9 checked.

Tell someone your plan

Start 7:00 AM, turn around by 1:00 PM, back by 4:00 PM. Change them in Your times.

The link opens this page with your day, routes and times, so they see exactly what you planned.

What this estimate can't see

This is a model, not an observation. A 1 °C error moves the snow line about 500 ft.
It cannot see one shaded chute or a boot-packed icy track. Treat any shade as icier than shown.
After the first storms of the season, thin ice on rock is common and hard to see. We lean on the side of more gear.

Model 1.2.2. National Weather Service grid SGX 82,59, fetched 6 min ago; Open-Meteo, fetched 6 min ago. How it works

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Trails on San Jacinto Peak

From the Tram (Long Valley, Round Valley, Wellman Divide) 5.01 mi from Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Mountain Station
Devil's Slide Trail 7.45 mi from Humber Park
Marion Mountain Trail 5.76 mi from Marion Mountain trailhead
Cactus to Cloud (Skyline Trail) 13.98 mi from Palm Springs Art Museum (Museum Trail)

San Jacinto Peak: questions hikers ask

Is there snow or ice on San Jacinto Peak right now?

No snow or ice expected on the trail. Mountain weather changes within hours: check the forecast and the newest reports before you leave. Estimate from Wed, Oct 14, 6:08 PM, updated every hour. Each trail section's estimate is on this page.

Is San Jacinto Peak open for hiking?

We found no Forest Service closure naming San Jacinto Peak's trails as of Wed, Oct 14, 6:08 PM. Closures can be posted any time, so check the forest's alerts page before you go. The National Weather Service has an active alert: High Wind Warning: High Wind Warning issued October 14 at 11:16AM PDT until October 18 at 12:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA.

What gear do I need for San Jacinto Peak today?

For snow and ice, nothing today in our estimate. Still bring warm layers, a headlamp and a turn-around time. From Fri, Oct 16, 7:00 AM: crampons, ice axe and helmet, and the training to use them.

When are conditions on San Jacinto Peak worst this week?

Fri morning (mountaineering): Snow or ice possible above about 9,000 ft. On "Peak Trail from Wellman Divide to the summit junction" that means crampons, ice axe and helmet, and the training to use them. Without them, turn around below 9,700 ft.

How accurate is this San Jacinto Peak conditions estimate?

It's an estimate from National Weather Service and Open-Meteo forecasts, the shape of the land, and hikers' photos, not someone standing on the trail. A 1 °C error moves the snow line about 500 ft, and shaded gullies stay icy longer than any model shows. If the mountain looks worse than this page, believe the mountain.