Walk-Up7/10
San Jacinto Palm Springs Tramway / Long Valley permit
Most popular access via the aerial tramway....
Walk-UpOvernightModerate Demand
Devil's Slide / Humber Park Permit
Classic Idyllwild approach.
How to get Devil's Slide
Devil's Slide is the one San Jacinto trailhead with a real cap on it, and you get past it by ringing a ranger. Mount San Jacinto State Park: "The USFS maintains the very popular Devils Slide Trail. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, they operate a quota system for the Devils Slide Trail on Saturdays and Sundays. On these days, you must acquire your permit for Devils Slide Trail from the San Jacinto Ranger District located at 54270 Pine Crest, Idyllwild, CA 92549." Call (909) 382-2921. Overnights are the forest's mailed Wilderness Visitor Permit Application — "Allow 10 days for your permit to be mailed back to you." None of it is sold online, so there is no calendar to watch. Read live 2026-09-08.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we watch.
How to get Devil's Slide
Devil's Slide is the one San Jacinto trailhead with a real cap on it, and you get past it by ringing a ranger. Mount San Jacinto State Park: "The USFS maintains the very popular Devils Slide Trail. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, they operate a quota system for the Devils Slide Trail on Saturdays and Sundays. On these days, you must acquire your permit for Devils Slide Trail from the San Jacinto Ranger District located at 54270 Pine Crest, Idyllwild, CA 92549." Call (909) 382-2921. Overnights are the forest's mailed Wilderness Visitor Permit Application — "Allow 10 days for your permit to be mailed back to you." None of it is sold online, so there is no calendar to watch. Read live 2026-09-08.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we watch.
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Devil's Slide Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodWalk-Up
Demand LevelModerate6/10
CostFree
Max Group Size12 people
This permit is not bookable online
Devil's Slide is the one San Jacinto trailhead with a real cap on it, and you get past it by ringing a ranger. Mount San Jacinto State Park: "The USFS maintains the very popular Devils Slide Trail. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, they operate a quota system for the Devils Slide Trail on Saturdays and Sundays. On these days, you must acquire your permit for Devils Slide Trail from the San Jacinto Ranger District located at 54270 Pine Crest, Idyllwild, CA 92549." Call (909) 382-2921. Overnights are the forest's mailed Wilderness Visitor Permit Application — "Allow 10 days for your permit to be mailed back to you." None of it is sold online, so there is no calendar to watch. Read live 2026-09-08.
Official permit page →Key Information
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodWalk-Up
Demand Level6/10
LocationCA
How to Get This Permit
1
How this permit is issued
Devil's Slide is the one San Jacinto trailhead with a real cap on it, and you get past it by ringing a ranger. Mount San Jacinto State Park: "The USFS maintains the very popular Devils Slide Trail. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, they operate a quota system for the Devils Slide Trail on Saturdays and Sundays. On these days, you must acquire your permit for Devils Slide Trail from the San Jacinto Ranger District located at 54270 Pine Crest, Idyllwild, CA 92549." Call (909) 382-2921. Overnights are the forest's mailed Wilderness Visitor Permit Application — "Allow 10 days for your permit to be mailed back to you." None of it is sold online, so there is no calendar to watch. Read live 2026-09-08.
2
Check the agency page before you go
Fees, hours and closures change. Confirm the current process at U.S. Forest Service before your trip.
3
Have backup plans
Office hours move, ground closes, and popular trailheads get busy. Know an alternative route or date before you drive out.
Learn More
Rules & Regulations
- •A free permit is required for day hiking and overnight trips within the federal wilderness area.
- •Group size limited to 12 people maximum.
- •No campfires allowed at any time.
- •Camping permits cover five zones: Chinquapin, Skunk Cabbage, Tahquitz, North Rim and Desert View. Permits are available up to 90 days in advance.
- •A separate permit is needed for each trip.
- •Camping on Forest Service ground needs a Forest Service permit; camping in the state wilderness needs a state permit. The two agencies honour each other's day-use permits but not overnight ones.
- •Walking the whole PCT? "Visitors with a valid PCT Long-Distance Permit do not need to obtain an additional permit from the San Bernardino National Forest for hiking and camping in the federal San Jacinto Wilderness."
- •Summer weekends are quota'd: from Memorial Day to Labor Day the Forest Service runs a quota on Devil's Slide on Saturdays and Sundays, and on those days you must get your permit from the San Jacinto Ranger District at 54270 Pine Crest, Idyllwild.
- •An Adventure Pass or Interagency Pass is required to park at the Humber Park trailhead.
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Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Devil's Slide
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Safety & Planning
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Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Devil's Slide.
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Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Devil's Slide FAQ
Is there a quota on the Devil's Slide Trail permit?
On summer weekends, yes. Mount San Jacinto State Park spells it out: "From Memorial Day to Labor Day, they operate a quota system for the Devils Slide Trail on Saturdays and Sundays. On these days, you must acquire your permit for Devils Slide Trail from the San Jacinto Ranger District located at 54270 Pine Crest, Idyllwild, CA 92549." Ring (909) 382-2921. Midweek and out of season there is no cap to beat.
Can I get a Devil's Slide permit online?
Not the quota'd ones. The Forest Service publishes a free online day-hike form for the San Jacinto Wilderness generally, but Devil's Slide weekend permits go through the Idyllwild district office, and overnights go through the mailed Wilderness Visitor Permit Application. Recreation.gov sells nothing here.
What does a Devil's Slide permit cost?
Nothing. "A free permit is required for day hiking and overnight trips within the federal wilderness area." You do need to pay to leave the car, though: "An Adventure Pass or Interagency Pass is required to park at the trailhead."
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Devil's Slide trip
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