Just so nobody misses it, here are instructions to bypass San Jacinto entirely on foot.
From the Fairway Market complex, take a right onto Village Center Drive to South Circle Drive, turn right on South Circle Drive, follow to where it joins the 243.
Briefly follow the 243 to Tollgate Rd. Turn right onto Tollgate Rd. Tollgate becomes Apel Rd. near The Idyllwild Arts school. There is a bridge where you should get water, just before entering the arts school grounds.
Apel road is public but the arts school is posted no trespassing. I checked with administrators there regarding the road and it is used by the public, just don’t venture onto the art school property.
This is a private school for underage children, not a college. Paved Apel road becomes a dirt road. At the top of a small rise, 5S06 (Idyllwild Control Road) will appear to your right.
On your left is a small shed. Turn right onto the 5S06. Take 5S06 to 5S10 (Red Hill Truck Trail) to 5S09 (San Jacinto Ridge Rd.) At this Junction, 5S10 bears sharply right to Pine Cove. You just want to keep going straight onto 5S09 (downhill).
There is a campground (Yellow Post 1) to the left, just prior to crossing the South Fork San Jacinto River. You will reach a junction of the 5S09, the 5S07 and the 4S10 (Indian Creek OHV).
The 5S07 is clearly marked as going to Hemet.
Do not take the 5S07. Instead take 4S10, to the right and uphill.
4S10 is deeply rutted in places and a substantial climb. There is a piped spring running water across the road very early on.
This is cave springs. Get water here. Follow 4S10 to 4S05 (Mueller Creek OHV). About 3 miles prior to reaching 243, you will reach an access road to your right that will bring you to Mueller Creek.
Detour here for water and then return to 4S05. 4S05 will come out at 243. Cross 243 and turn left, pass a massive boulder, then go over a small embankment to 4S57. Turn right and you will find the Black Mountain TRAIL (Not Black Mountain Road).
Black Mountain Trail 2E35 will bring you out at Boulder Basin Campground in 4.5 miles. This is a strenuous climb, with more than 3,000 feet of gain.
It may require spikes on the last mile, but it isn’t much of a fall risk (there are no cliffs, only slopes).
At Boulder Basin Campground, turn right and than immediately left onto 4S01. This is the day use parking area and the only road that begins by gradually going down.
It is on the edge of the campground and NOT inside the campground and is flanked by short round wooden posts.
Follow this to 4S01C (Black Mountain road). Turn left and in three miles you will rejoin the PCT.
Alternative: https://sanjacjon.com/2025/03/30/snow-and-trail-update
Taking the Black Mountain Road alternate remains an excellent option for hikers less comfortable with the Fuller Ridge section for the next week or so.
A well established alternate from Idyllwild – avoiding Fuller Ridge – is to connect back to the PCT at about Mile 191 using Black Mountain Road.
Black Mountain Road is clear of snow for the lower five miles, and then has only patchy snow cover for the upper three miles to the PCT but with an obvious track following the road through the snow patches. Mile 192 northward to Interstate 10 is clear of snow.