Hike Spitler Peak, Apache Peak, Antsell Rock San Bernardino National Forest, CA

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Sep 30, 2025 — The Desert Divide is a long north–south string of peaks forming the southern backbone of the San Jacinto Mountains. Twelve summits make up the full traverse, known as “The Divide Dozen”, with the PCT running right along the crest. It’s the kind of outing where you can cruise the ridge and pop off-trail for quick summit grabs. I’d been saving the Desert Divide for years, hoping to tackle a big portion of the traverse in a single day, but never managed to find a friend psyched enough to run a shuttle. Eventually I gave up on the perfect plan and split the project into two pieces. Today’s loop would net me Spitler Peak, Apache Peak, and Antsell Rock. It was a mix of pleasant scrub and forest hiking, a fun little scramble, and a finale I immediately regretted.

I started at the Spitler Peak Trailhead, where the early ascent is as tame as they come. A wide switchback followed by a lengthy wrap around the west slope of Spitler Peak eventually led into a shady gully, where the trail steepened. After tight switchbacks, I reached the saddle between Apache Peak and Spitler Peak at the PCT junction.

Turning south on the PCT, I followed it until spotting the easy-to-miss social trail leading up Spitler’s north slope. Various paths branch and fade, but I found staying on the crest kept made the most sense, where a more consistent social trail existed. From the summit, I admired the ridgeline leading to the bright cliffs surrounding Tahquitz Peak to the north.

Back on the PCT, I continued toward Apache Peak. Another social trail broke off through low brush and guided me to the summit. I dropped north on a faint path through ankle-high spiky plants to regain the PCT and head toward Antsell Rock.

The Antsell Rock gully route is a steep, sandy grind with bits of Class 2 scrambling to keep your hands busy. The goal is a notch on the crest, visible immediately after leaving the PCT. Once within the notch, Antsell Rock’s signature Class 3 crack appeared directly above, looking intimidating from below. However, the rock was solid and I felt surprisingly snug within it. Above the crack, Class 2 slabs lead into a short, wide Class 2+ striped chute and up to the summit. The view of Tahquitz Peak’s face left me a little annoyed I wasn’t doing the whole traverse.

From the saddle at the head of Apple Canyon, I began what I now know is a notorious descent. It started fine. It did not stay fine. Around 6600 feet, the trail became intermittent. Every apparent tread ended in blowdown until I backtracked and relocated the trail again, only for it to vanish once more. By the time I hit the canyon bottom, the trail had fully disappeared. Thick brush and downed trees slowed progress to a literal crawl as I collected infinite scratches.

Every now and then I’d convince myself I’d found the trail, but I hadn’t. It was short-lived but heinous, and I was genuinely annoyed that such an excellent hike ended in such a mess. Eventually, near 5800 feet at a riparian area, a dirt road materialized and led through the Zen Mountain Center. Hilariously, a sign pointed back the way I’d come toward the “PCT”, clearly just a relic from when the Apple Canyon Trail (if that was even its name) still existed. A short road walk returned me to the Spitler Peak Trailhead.

If you want a fantastic day in the mountains, I strongly recommend making this an out-and-back via the PCT and the Spitler Peak Trail. The extra mileage is absolutely worth avoiding the descent into Apple Canyon.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Spitler Peak

7516 ft

490 rise

Apache Peak

7577 ft

673 rise

Antsell Rock

7728 ft

533 rise

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Spitler Peak Trailhead.

Along the initially very tame hike through the scrubby foothills.

Along the Spitler Peak Trail.

Wide switchbacks with mild elevation gain as the Spitler Peak Trail wraps around the west slope of Spitler Peak. Antsell Rock seen center.

View back, Lake Hemet seen below on the left.

Wrapping around the base of Spitler Peak on its scrubby slopes.

The Spitler Peak Peak wrapped into a gully on the northwest side of Spitler Peak and begins switchbacking a bit more steeply.

Spitler Peak comes into view as I near the saddle.

The Spitler Peak Peak wrapped into a gully on the northwest side of Spitler Peak and begins switchbacking a bit more steeply.

Nearing the base of Spitler Peak.

Spitler Peak comes into view as I near the saddle.

At the saddle, junction with the Pacific Crest Trail. I took it south.

Nearing the base of Spitler Peak.

View back at the social trail leading away from the PCT up to Spitler Peak.

View back as I ascend the slope to Spitler Peak. Mount San Jacinto, Tahquitz Peak, etc. seen to the north.

Spitler Peak summit, view south.

Spitler Peak, view toward Lake Hemet.

Back at the junction, onward to Apache Peak.

On my way along the PCT to Apache Peak, view back toward Spitler Peak.

Apache Peak is the hump on the left. I had to leave the PCT to reach it, but a social trail leads easily through the brush, though there isn't much.

Some boulders at the summit of Apache Peak.

Apache Peak summit, view north. Antsell Rock seen center, the awful bushwhack within Apple Canyon (my descent) also visible below.

I continued north off Apache Peak. A social trail led down through the brush again, fortunately.

Back along the PCT, a view northeast into the Coachella Valley far below.

View back toward Apache Peak.

Higher up the gully route, heading to the notch ahead, leading to the north side of Antsell Rock.

The PCT wraps above some cliffs to reach the saddle separating Apache Peak from Antsell Rock. Antsell Rock seen left.

View back toward the saddle leading to my descend into Apple Canyon later.

The gully route up to Antsell Rock. Some light Class 2, but it's mostly just a steep sandy slog.

Higher up the gully route, heading to the notch ahead, leading to the north side of Antsell Rock.

View back down the gully route.

Class 3 moves on the right.

Class 3 crack up Antsell Rock.

View back at the Class 3.

Past the Class 3 scramble, I turned a corner and hiked along some slabs. Careful, I saw some Poodle Dog Bush here. The route leads up and to the left in this photo.

Approaching Class 2+ up a wide chute.

View back down at the Class 2+.

Antsell Rock summit, view south toward Apache Peak and Spitler Peak.

Antsell Rock summit, view north toward Tahquitz Peak and Mount San Jacinto.

Antsell Rock, view west.

Back at the saddle, I started down a faint trail through the brush into Apple Canyon.

The descent seems so short, but the brush got worse at around 6600' and continued getting worse until a trail at about 5800'.

If you lose the trail, this is the crap you have to deal with.

Found a dirt road once I reached a riparian area.

View back up at the remains of the trail, just before it disappeared completely.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!