Walk-Up7/10
San Jacinto Palm Springs Tramway / Long Valley permit
Most popular access via the aerial tramway....
Walk-UpDay UseModerate Demand
Skyline Trail (Cactus to Clouds) Permit
Epic 10,000+ ft gain from Palm Springs. Extremely strenuous.
How to get Cactus to Clouds
The permit for this one is free and there is no queue for it. Skyline tops out at Long Valley inside Mount San Jacinto State Park, where "Permits are required for hiking and backcountry camping at Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness" and day-use permits "are free and available 24 hours" from a self-issue desk — Park Headquarters in Idyllwild, Stone Creek, or the Long Valley Ranger Station at the top of the tramway. San Bernardino National Forest also publishes a free online day-hike form, and "Both the National Forest and State Park honor each other's day use permit so visitors only need to obtain one for both wilderness areas." Nothing is sold, 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 Cactus to Clouds
The permit for this one is free and there is no queue for it. Skyline tops out at Long Valley inside Mount San Jacinto State Park, where "Permits are required for hiking and backcountry camping at Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness" and day-use permits "are free and available 24 hours" from a self-issue desk — Park Headquarters in Idyllwild, Stone Creek, or the Long Valley Ranger Station at the top of the tramway. San Bernardino National Forest also publishes a free online day-hike form, and "Both the National Forest and State Park honor each other's day use permit so visitors only need to obtain one for both wilderness areas." Nothing is sold, so there is no calendar to watch. Read live 2026-09-08.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we watch.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
Start a plan — it's free
No permit needed to start
Cactus to Clouds Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodWalk-Up
Demand LevelModerate5/10
CostFree
This permit is not bookable online
The permit for this one is free and there is no queue for it. Skyline tops out at Long Valley inside Mount San Jacinto State Park, where "Permits are required for hiking and backcountry camping at Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness" and day-use permits "are free and available 24 hours" from a self-issue desk — Park Headquarters in Idyllwild, Stone Creek, or the Long Valley Ranger Station at the top of the tramway. San Bernardino National Forest also publishes a free online day-hike form, and "Both the National Forest and State Park honor each other's day use permit so visitors only need to obtain one for both wilderness areas." Nothing is sold, so there is no calendar to watch. Read live 2026-09-08.
Official permit page →Key Information
Permit Details
TypeDay Use
Booking MethodWalk-Up
Demand Level5/10
LocationCA
How to Get This Permit
1
How this permit is issued
The permit for this one is free and there is no queue for it. Skyline tops out at Long Valley inside Mount San Jacinto State Park, where "Permits are required for hiking and backcountry camping at Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness" and day-use permits "are free and available 24 hours" from a self-issue desk — Park Headquarters in Idyllwild, Stone Creek, or the Long Valley Ranger Station at the top of the tramway. San Bernardino National Forest also publishes a free online day-hike form, and "Both the National Forest and State Park honor each other's day use permit so visitors only need to obtain one for both wilderness areas." Nothing is sold, 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 California State Parks 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
- •Permits are required for hiking and backcountry camping at Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness.
- •Day-use wilderness permits are free and available 24 hours from self-issue desks at Park Headquarters, Stone Creek Campground and the Long Valley Ranger Station.
- •Both the National Forest and State Park honor each other's day use permit, so one permit covers both wilderness areas for a day hike.
- •One person may fill out the permit for the hiking group (up to 15 people), provided everyone is hiking together at all times.
- •This is a day-use permit. Camping overnight needs a separate permit from whichever agency owns the ground you sleep on.
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Cactus to Clouds
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Safety & Planning
🚨
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Cactus to Clouds.
🐻
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Cactus to Clouds FAQ
Do I need a permit for the Skyline Trail (Cactus to Clouds)?
For the state park half, yes. "Permits are required for hiking and backcountry camping at Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness." It is a free day-use wilderness permit and there is no cap on it — the lower Palm Springs section is not state park land.
Where do I get a Skyline Trail day-use permit?
Off a desk, or off a form. The state park's day-use permits "are free and available 24 hours" at Park Headquarters in Idyllwild, Stone Creek Campground and the Long Valley Ranger Station at the top of the tramway. San Bernardino National Forest also publishes a free online day-hike form, and "Both the National Forest and State Park honor each other's day use permit so visitors only need to obtain one for both wilderness areas."
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Cactus to Clouds.
Trip Reports
Write Report🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Cactus to Clouds trip
A small favor
One tick helps us more than you’d think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Add PermitSnag in Google
Takes less than a minute.