Hiking Trail Guide: Palm View Peak

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Palm View Peak

Distance
10 miles

Elevation
2850 feet gain

Difficulty
7/10

City
Mountain Center ,CA (92561) 109.05 miles from you Weather Map

Trailhead
Follow the 74 east a couple of miles past Lake Hemet. You will need to turn north onto Fobes Canyon Road, which is a tiny dirt road barely marked with a sign on a fence. You might miss it, I did. Follow this road, stay on the main path - think up. You will come to a sign about 3.5 miles into the road that tells you to turn right and continue for 1/2 mile to the trailhead.

Park where there are turnouts. Do not continue up the road, there is a locked gate and you will have to reverse down the incline.

The trail is right by the parking area, I missed it, though, and followed the road, an option even though it is trespassing (it isn't marked as such.)

Description

The goal of this trail was summed up best in the peak register by Dick Wakale - "No palms, no view, no peak!" However, that is only the goal of the hike. Who says you can't enjoy yourself along the way? The summit plateau is an amazing expanse that allows you to look from San Jacinto north to Rabbit Peak to the South. From this altitude you can see everything in between, and all along the trail, you get absolutely stunning views of Lake Hemet, the Coachella Valley, San Jacinto, Apache and Spitler Peak, plus much much more.

The hike itself is interesting that you traverse several climate zones, part is shadedless chaparral, part is oaken forest, part is Jacinto like pine and stone.

I hiked this trail on the Ides of March, and it was quite a slough through wet ground and slushy snow, however I wouldn't recommend this one on a hot summer day. It was hot enough in March.

Map / Directions: