calipeaks.com

Round Valley Loop

Riverside · Managed by Mount San Jacinto State Park (California State Parks) · Region: San Jacinto Mountains
Difficulty 8/100 · Easyloop#tram-access#alpine-meadows#loop#beginner-friendly
Distance
4 mi
Total gain
600 ft
Net gain
600 ft
Net loss
600 ft
Days
1–2
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires prohibited

Overview

The Round Valley Loop circles San Jacinto's most famous alpine meadow: 4 miles from the Long Valley tram station with just 600 feet of climbing, beneath the 10,834-foot peak. The quintessential tram-accessed high-country afternoon — or a mellow overnight.

Highlights

  • Round Valley's famous meadow beneath San Jacinto Peak
  • The tram's 6,000-foot shortcut from the desert floor
  • A complete loop with views on both flanks
  • The most popular family walk in the park's high country

How hard is Round Valley Loop?

CaliPeaks rates this route 8/100 (Easy). The score weights five factors: climbing counts for 45% — 600 ft puts this trip at 5% of the reference climb; distance 20% at 4 miles; maximum altitude 15% at 11,132 ft; route technicality 10% (established trail throughout); and trip length 10% at 2 days. A score under 20 suits first-time backpackers; 60+ means serious endurance. See how we score difficulty for the full method.

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Long Valley Ranger Station (Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) · parking: Tramway parking at 1 Tramway Road, Palm Springs; ride the tram to 8,400 ft
  • Water: Seasonal spring at the meadow; carry water from Long Valley.
  • Resupply: The tram's mountain station has a cafe and water.
  • Shuttle: The tram does the climbing — ride from Palm Springs to 8,400 ft.
  • Stove required: yes — no fires possible on this route

Permits

  • Agency: Mount San Jacinto State Park (California State Parks)
  • Reserve or apply on parks.ca.gov
  • Quota: Primitive wilderness campgrounds — camping permit $5 per person; free day-use wilderness permits.
  • Reservation window: Permits issued at the Long Valley Ranger Station; wilderness sites are not reservable.

Campfires & stove regulations

Campfires prohibited. Campfires are prohibited in the state wilderness. Only portable stoves with an on/off switch are permitted. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: June, July, August, September, October.

Snow: Traction devices recommended in winter and spring.

Heat: Cool at 8,900 feet.

Bugs: Minimal.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • The meadow is a restoration area — stay on trails
  • Water is seasonal at the meadow
  • Stoves only; no campfires in the wilderness

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. SRTM90 elevation data (sampled). OpenTopoData (SRTM, NASA/USGS-derived open data) via Photon geocoding (OpenStreetMap). https://www.opentopodata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-10. Elevation sampled at geocoded coordinates; location from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL).
  2. Hiking Trails — Mount San Jacinto State Park. California State Parks. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30375. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Round Valley Loop Trail (4.0 mi round trip, 600 ft elevation gain) from Long Valley.
  3. Mount San Jacinto State Park. California State Parks. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=636. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Wilderness camping permit ($5/person), campfire prohibition and stove rule, tram access, and Long Valley ranger station check-in.
  4. San Jacinto Peak. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Jacinto_Peak. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Summit elevation (10,834 ft) and park context.