[pct-l] hitching or shuttles from Paradise cafe to Palm Springs

[Jeff Eckert]

I would suspect it wouldn't be too difficult if you could tolerate the heat down on the desert floor.  Anticipate standing around in triple digit heat and full sun.  High 90's if you're lucky. 

Hwy 74 is a straight shot from the trailhead down to the metropolitan area.  Any vehicle heading in that direction wouldn't stop until it got to the bottom.  If you don't have luck thumbing a ride at the trailhead, consider walking 1-mile west to the Paradise Cafe.  It always has a full parking lot of people out on a jaunt.  You should be able to yogi a ride there without a lot of huhu.   

Once you reach the desert floor, the 74 immediately intersects the 111.  And the 111 is part of the valley transit system.  You could catch a bus from the 74/111 intersection and take it pretty much to where Tramway Rd. intersects it.  I can't tell from the transit map if it actually passes Tramway road, but I think it passes within a 1/4 mile of it.  Thumbing in the valley is a little more problematic.  The streets are wide and the sidewalks well set back.  And down in the business district all the cars are on a mission.

The tough part might be finding a ride up to the tram itself from the 111.  I would imagine a lot of the cars will have families, and not have a lot of room for an extra body.  There is a visitor's center right at the intersection of Tramway Rd. and the 111.  You might hang out there and try and mooch a lift up the hill.

Sounds like it will be a fun walk.  Hope you post about it when you get back.  


On Aug 25, 2012, at 1:55 PM, Will M wrote:

> I'm planning on Hiking San Jacinto on Sept 1st.  Does anyone know how hard
> the hitch is into Palm Springs from there?
> 
> Alternatively, I would be willing to hire a shuttle or take public
> transportation.  Any info would be appreciated.
> 
> My plan is to leave my car at the 74 trailhead ,  hitch to PS, take the
> tram up and hike back down to my car.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Jalan Jalan
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