Water Sources of the San Jacinto Mountains -- West Side

Over time, I've done a number of overnight and day hiking trips in the San Jacinto Mountains.  I've become fairly well acquainted with the water sources on the west side of the mountains, so I thought I'd put together a list that may be helpful to people.  My most recent trip was July 5 - 7, 2013, and the data here reflects what I observed on that trip as well as my observations going back over the last half dozen or more years.

The water sources listed immediately below are sources that I have a pretty good sense for.  There are other water sources that I haven't got as good of a feel for that I have listed in Appendix IV, Other Water Sources.

First a map of (mostly) the west side of the San Jacinto Mountains.  Click to enlarge.

San Jacinto Mountains -- Water Sources

Next, a key:
1.  First crossing of the N Fork of the San Jacinto River by the Seven Pines Trail
2.  Second crossing of the N Fork of the San Jacinto River by the Seven Pines Trail
3.  Unnamed small stream, Seven Pines Trail
4.  Third crossing of the N Fork of the San Jacinto River by the Seven Pines Trail
5.  Deer Springs Crossing
6.  Flake Spring
7.  Bed Springs Crossing
8.  Rock Spring
9.  Lilly Spring
10.  Outflow stream from Little Round Valley where it crosses the Deer Springs Trail
11.  Stream in the meadow in Little Round Valley
12.  Bed Springs (actual spring)
13.  Deer Springs (actual spring)
14.  Wellmans Cienega (north branch)

Then, comments on each water source:
1.  First Crossing, Seven Pines Trail.  Seasonal.  Unreliable.
     Current Status:  Dry 7/7/2013.

First Crossing, 7/7/2013

2.  Second Crossing, Seven Pines Trail.  Seasonal.  More reliable than First Crossing.
     Current Status:  Low flow 10' below the trail 7/7/2013.

Second Crossing, 7/7/2013

3.  Unnamed stream, Seven Pines Trail.  Seasonal.
     Current Status:  Low flow 7/7/2013.

Unnamed stream, Seven Pines Trail, 7/7/2013

4.  Third crossing, Seven Pines Trail.  Seasonal but far more reliable than First Crossing, Second Crossing, or Deer Springs Crossing.  IMPORTANT TIP:    If Deer Springs Crossing on the PCT/Deer Springs Trail is dry, Third Crossing is only about 10 minutes off the main trail.  This is the best water source of those along the N Fork of the San Jacinto River.  Alternatively, just head to Bed Springs Crossing if you're headed to San Jacinto Peak or to Lower Bed Springs Crossing if you're headed north on the PCT.
     Current Status: Decent flow 7/7/2013

Third Crossing, 7/7/2013
The best place to collect water is slightly upstream of the trail crossing.

5.  Deer Springs Crossing.  Seasonal.  Unreliable except in wet years.
Note the use of the word "Crossing."  Most people just call this "Deer Springs," but the actual spring is far up the mountainside.  This is where the water crosses the trail, so I call it "Deer Springs Crossing" to distinguish it from the point of origination.  This is also the North Fork of the San Jacinto River.
     Current Status: Dry at the trail.  Very small pools just above the trail on 7/7/2013.  Do not expect to find water here.

Deer Springs Crossing, 7/7/2013

6.  Flake Spring.  Very seasonal.  Highly unreliable.  Water only in early season in wet years. 
So named for the large rock flake from behind which the water flows. 
Note:  Flake Spring is my name for this spring and is not a name of common use.
     Current Status:  Dry 7/7/2013.

Flake Spring.  The spring is behind the large rock flake.

7.  Bed Springs Crossing.  Perennial.  Reliable except in the driest of years.  This water source will be flowing when everything else on the west side is dry.
Note the use of the word "Crossing."  Most people just call this "Bed Springs," but the actual spring is far up the mountainside.  This is where the water crosses the trail, so I call it "Bed Springs Crossing" to distinguish it from the point of origination.  
     Current Status:  Good flow 7/7/2013.

Bed Springs Crossing, just above the trail.
This is consistently an excellent water source on the west side.

8.  Rock Springs.  Seasonal.  Unreliable.
So named for the rock which the water flows along in a groove just above the trail.
Note:  Rock Springs is my name for it and is not a name of common use.
     Current Status:  Low flow 7/7/2013.

Rock Springs.  Flowing, but just barely.

9.  Lilly Spring.  Fairly reliable.  Not a lot of flow but consistent.  Second only to Bed Springs Crossing in terms of reliability but always low flow.  Bring something to scoop with and into. 
     Current Status:  Decent flow 7/7/2013.

Lilly Spring

TIP:  Lilly spring is a good place for flower viewing.

Lemon Lillies at Lilly Spring

10.  Trail crossing of stream flowing out of Little Round Valley.  Seasonal.  Unreliable.
When there is water, this is the best place to use a pump type filter because there's usually a pool just above the trail.  It can run all year in wet years but is often dry.
     Current Status:  Dry. 7/7/2013.

Stream from Little Round Valley just above the trail crossing.  Dry 7/7/2013.

11.  Little Round Valley, stream in meadow area.  Seasonal.  Unreliable but more reliable than the trail crossing mentioned above.  Can flow throughout the year in wet years.

Water in stream bed, Little Round Valley, 7/7/2013

     Current Status:  Dry in the main part of the meadow, but water present just above Owl's Hooch Crossing 7/7/2013.  See appendix for detailed instructions for how to find water.
      Note:  The topo map shows a blue line stream just north of Little Round Valley.  Ignore it.  They were smoking crack the day they drew that blue line that far up that dry gulch. There's never water there except in very wet years when there's active snow melt going on or during a thunderstorm.  In other words, almost never.

The map marks a stream here (just north of Little Round Valley). 
Not only is there no water, there's not even a defined stream bed.  Don't bother.

12.  Bed Springs, the actual spring.  Position approximate.
     Current Status:  Good flow 7/7/2013.

Bed Springs, 7/7/2013.

13.  Deer Springs, the actual spring.    Position approximate.  Position not verified.
     Current Status:  Unknown.
14.  Wellmans Cienaga, North Branch. 
     Current Status:  Decent flow 7/7/2013.

Wellmans Cienega, North Branch, 7/7/2013.

I hope you find this helpful.  I'll expand it as time permits.

HJ


Appendix I -- Water at Deer Springs Crossing
Tip 1:  If there is no water right at the trail, go upstream a bit.  I was able to find a small pool there.

A small pool just above the trail at Deer Springs Crossing

Tip 2:  If there's no water at Deer Springs Crossing, head back down the Deer Springs Trail to the junction with the Seven Pines Trail.  Go down the Seven Pines Trail to Third Crossing which is perhaps 10 minutes down the trail.  The water is much more likely to be flowing there.

Appendix II -- Water at Little Round Valley
Proceed along the Deer Springs Trail until you see the side trail to camp site 2 (Owl's Hootch).  The side trail is marked with this sign:

The sign for the trail that leads to Owl's Hootch camp site.

Proceed a few feet to the point where the side trail crosses the stream flowing down from the meadow in Little Round Valley.  The stream may have water here.

The point where the side trail crosses the stream from Little Round Valley

If the stream is dry at the crossing point, proceed upstream about ten feet.  The stream flows between two rocks here and water is often forced to the surface.

Water, Little Round Valley, 7/7/2013

Appendix III -- General Tips for Gathering Water
Water can be in short supply in the San Jacinto Mountains. Here are some general tips:
1.  Bright green is the key to finding water.  Look for changes in vegetation.  In particular, look for a clear area in the middle of bright green vegetation.  This is the most likely spot to find water.

Wellmans Cienega, 7/17/2013
Bright green vegetation often indicates water.
Note the relatively clear area to the right -- and notice that there is flowing water here.

2.  Water sources can often be very shallow, particularly in late season.  Bring something to scoop with.  Call me old school if you like, but I like the good old fashioned Sierra Cup.  Its shallow shape and angled sides are ideal for scooping from shallow water sources.

A Sierra cup is ideal for scooping water from shallow sources.
Note size of pool.  I was able to extract four liters.

If you're using a filter or a Steri-Pen, you may need to bring something to pour into so that you can pump out of or treat in.  If you're using chemical means (typically iodine or chlorine dioxide), you can pour straight into your bladder or water bottle.  I've been using a Steri-Pen lately, and I find a cut down 2L Platypus bottle works great.  A 2L Platy already has a 1L marking (the Steri-Pen is designed to treat 1L max at a time) is tall enough that I can immerse the pen, is self standing, and is see through so that I can see if the pen is working.

Treating water with a Steri-Pen
Note how the vessel must be deep enough to immerse the Steri-Pen's bulb

Appendix IV -- Other Water Sources
The following are other water sources that I'm a little bit less familiar with.  Eventually, I'd like to add the water sources marked on this map to the main list.  I don't have as much experience with these, but here's my gut feel based on what experience I do have.
The letters represent points marked on the above linked map:
A -- Strawberry Creek. Seasonal, unreliable.
B -- Strawberry Cienega. Seasonal, but pretty reliable in wet years. Probably reliable to mid season in drier years. Unreliable in very dry years or multi year droughts. Typically low flow. Bring something to scoop with.
C -- Marion Creek. Seasonal, unreliable.
D -- Stone Creek. Seasonal, unreliable.
E -- Unnamed branch of Stone Creek. Seasonal, unreliable.
F -- Lower Bed Springs* Crossing. Perennial, reliable.
G -- Unnamed branch of the N Fork San Jacinto River. Seasonal, unreliable.

*Actually this water source is the combination of the outflow of Bed Springs, Rock Springs, Lilly Springs, and Little Round Valley. I don't have the depth of experience to completely rate the reliability of this water source, but my gut sense is that this would be highly reliable, perhaps the most reliable source on the west side of the San Jacintos above 8,000'.