At the top of the Palm Springs Tram you immediately walk steeply down a concrete walk into the valley below. From there you continue to the Ranger Station and stop in to complete a blue permit form so that if you don't return they send help. After this you continue on a short distance to where the trail divides. I suggest you go left because you immediately climb for approximately a mile and then have a great trip walking around the top of the valley to where the loop connects to another trail that continues on to camping and the San Jacinto peak. Continuing on with the Round Valley Loop you are now heading down hill along a gurgling stream almost all the way back (1.7 miles) back to the ranger station. By getting the climbing out of the way in the first part of the trip you can now enjoy a far more relaxing and enjoyable trip. Take a camera, water and a sandwich or two and give yourself time to stop, smell, listen and taste the perfection of the wilderness. There is nothing like it.

At the top of the Palm Springs Tram you immediately walk steeply down a concrete walk into the valley below. From there you continue to the Ranger Station and stop in to complete a blue permit form so that if you don't return they send help. After this you continue on a short distance to where the trail divides. I suggest you go left because you immediately climb for approximately a mile and then have a great trip walking around the top of the valley to where the loop connects to another trail that continues on to camping and the San Jacinto peak. Continuing on with the Round Valley Loop you are now heading down hill along a gurgling stream almost all the way back (1.7 miles) back to the ranger station. By getting the climbing out of the way in the first part of the trip you can now enjoy a far more relaxing and enjoyable trip. Take a camera, water and a sandwich or two and give yourself time to stop, smell, listen and taste the perfection of the wilderness. There is nothing like it.

Keith and Peggy Hiked this today as an evening walk. We took the big-friendly couch potato: Jayla the Pit with us. She is such a pansy but loves to greet everyone on the trail and get some petting. Now when I put on my Maxpidetion pack, she is standing with her nose at the door - no sneaking off from her anymore.