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Wellman Divide via Long Valley

Riverside · Managed by Mount San Jacinto State Park (California State Parks) · Region: San Jacinto Mountains
Difficulty 16/100 · Easyout and back#tram-access#pct#viewpoint#high-country
Distance
6.2 mi
Total gain
1,300 ft
Net gain
1,300 ft
Net loss
1,300 ft
Days
1–2
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires prohibited

Overview

Wellman Divide is the tram side's best high-country walk: 6.2 miles round trip from Long Valley to a 9,900-foot divide on the PCT, with the desert opening east and San Jacinto Peak rising west. An easy high-altitude overnight for desert-side hikers.

Highlights

  • The PCT corridor at 9,900 feet
  • Views across the Coachella Valley's desert floor
  • Wellman's Cienega's spring-fed meadow
  • The tram does the driving — 6,000 feet in ten minutes

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 near Wellman's Cienega; 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 9,000 feet.

Bugs: Minimal.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • The park rates the route Very Strenuous despite its short miles
  • Water is seasonal at the cienega — carry from Long Valley
  • 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. 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). Wellman Divide route from Long Valley (6.2 mi round trip, 1,300 ft elevation gain), rated Very Strenuous.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 PCT corridor context.