This hike was gorgeous from beginning to end. It also totally kicked my ass! I truly cannot comprehend how distance works on San Jacinto. The hike is reported to be around 11 miles but it felt more like 14. The trail signs seemed utterly inaccurate and often it felt like we hiked for an hour only to travel a half mile of distance. I wondered if we had stepped into some kind of Bermuda Triangle situation where our regular conception of time and space did not apply.

It was very easy to park and find the trailhead. We started out at 6:30 am and got back to our car around 5:15 pm. THe trail was well marked throughout. We knew we were in for a difficult hike and even though we read about the beauty of the Marion Mountain to Mount San Jacinto trail, we were still overwhelmed with just how gorgeous it was. It really felt like its own world and definitely its own ecosystem. Even though the region is experiencing a heat wave, we had cloud cover for most of the hike, and even a few drops of rain! I carried 4.5 liters of water and my hiking buddy carried 5 liters, so we were confident we would not get dehydrated.

The trail was stunningly gorgeous with tall trees, wildflowers, large boulders, the aroma of pines and cedars, and in some areas lots and lots of green plants, including ferns and lilies. Over the course of 11 hours of hiking, we saw only around 10 other hikers (the peak area not included). I think this was the most beautiful and the most difficult hike I have done and I am so happy to have had this experience.