Wellman Divide Trail

The Wellman Divide Trail ascends from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway's Mountain Station to the prominent ridge connecting the tram's arrival area with the upper slopes of Mount San Jacinto, offering a strenuous but extraordinarily rewarding journey through diverse subalpine terrain in Mount San Jacinto State Wilderness. The 6-mile out-and-back route serves as the critical connector between the accessible lower wilderness and the challenging upper mountain, passing through the full spectrum of ecological zones encountered on the complete summit route.

Beginning in the lodgepole pine forest near the Mountain Station, the trail climbs steadily through increasingly sparse and wind-affected vegetation as it gains elevation, eventually emerging on the open granite slopes of Wellman Divide at approximately 10,000 feet. From the divide, hikers are rewarded with expansive views in multiple directions, including the vast wilderness terrain of the San Jacinto Mountains to the south and west, the summit of San Jacinto Peak rising above, and the startling vertical drop toward the Coachella Valley below.

The divide marks the transition point where the tram's forested lower wilderness gives way to the exposed, alpine character of the upper mountain, and the views from this vantage point make the 1,200-foot climb from the Mountain Station thoroughly worthwhile even without continuing to the summit. The trail surface alternates between compacted dirt and open granite slabs requiring careful navigation. A wilderness permit is required and available at the ranger station near the tram. Dogs are not permitted in the wilderness. Snow may affect the upper trail well into early summer.