Cactus to Clouds
Cactus to Clouds
Palm Springs, California
Completed December 6, 2025
Distance approximately 20 miles one way
Elevation gain approximately 10,600 feet
Trailhead Palm Springs Museum Trail
Summit Mount San Jacinto Peak 10,834 feet
Best season Late fall to early spring
Permit None required for ascent. Tram ticket required for descent
Trail Overview
Cactus to Clouds is widely regarded as one of the hardest single-day hikes in the United States, often ranked among the top five most difficult due to its relentless elevation gain, desert heat exposure, and the sheer verticality of the route. The trail climbs from near sea level in Palm Springs to the summit of Mount San Jacinto, gaining over 10,600 feet in roughly 14 miles before linking into the Round Valley and tram system for the final miles.
I completed Cactus to Clouds with my buddy Daniel on Saturday, December 6, 2025. We arrived in Palm Springs late Friday night and slept in the car for roughly two to two and a half hours. There is no gentle way to begin this hike, physically or mentally. Fatigue is present from the start, and the trail wastes no time reminding you of that.
The first mile was brutal. The grade is steep enough that your legs burn before your cardiovascular system has time to catch up. Blood feels slow to move, breathing is labored, and the body resists the pace. After that initial mile, however, something clicks. Your breathing stabilizes, your legs adapt to the climb, and the hike becomes less about surviving the slope and more about settling into rhythm.
From there to the tram station, the trail felt surprisingly manageable. On climbs like this, upward movement often feels easier than the descent, and this route rewards consistent pacing. I remained in a strong headspace for the first thirteen miles, moving efficiently and staying mentally sharp.
The final push toward the summit was where the cracks started to show. My pace slowed noticeably, and I became acutely aware of diminishing food and water supplies. I was also dealing with an unfortunate and persistent gastrointestinal issue that made the last miles uncomfortable both physically and mentally. Frustration crept in, and my focus narrowed to putting one foot in front of the other.
Despite that, Daniel and I completed Cactus to Clouds. From the tram station upward, snow covered much of the route to the summit. While this added effort, microspikes and trekking poles made the terrain manageable and controlled. The snow, if anything, added to the sense that this hike demanded respect from start to finish.
The descent to the tram station was far longer than expected. What is advertised as roughly four miles felt closer to six on exhausted legs. The cumulative fatigue from the climb made every step down feel heavy, and the descent took several hours longer than anticipated.
Once at the tram, there is no reward for having hiked the entire route. You are required to purchase a ticket to descend, and you wait in the same line as everyone else. After a full day of climbing, standing still in a crowded tram station was almost harder than the hike itself. The station was packed with casual visitors who had taken the tram up and were wandering the trails without much awareness of those coming off a full-day ascent. Unlike Colorado, where long-distance hikers tend to be recognized and given space, that culture does not exist here, and it was genuinely frustrating.
Comparison and Conditions
I would rate Cactus to Clouds slightly harder than completing the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim in a single day. While both share punishing rock impact on the legs, Cactus to Clouds gains its difficulty edge through sheer elevation gain and sustained steepness. The weather worked in our favor. Temperatures ranged from the fifties to low sixties during the hottest part of the day, which is about as cold as this hike ever gets. For most of the year, this route sits in dangerous heat, often exceeding 100 degrees.
Would I do Cactus to Clouds again. No.
Am I glad I did it. Absolutely.
This hike is not about enjoyment. It is about proving endurance, managing suffering, and executing under fatigue. Completing it once is enough. Completing it at all is something to be proud of.
Closing Reflection
Cactus to Clouds demands respect. It punishes poor preparation, exposes mental weakness, and leaves no room for complacency. But for those who approach it intelligently, with the right season, gear, and mindset, it stands as one of the most honest endurance tests in American hiking. It does not care how strong you think you are. It simply asks whether you can keep going.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. 2024. Cactus to Clouds hiking information. https://pstramway.com/
AllTrails. 2024. Cactus to Clouds trail overview and statistics. https://www.alltrails.com/
