Cactus to Clouds

Hey Cirque Substack community! We hope you had an awesome weekend and got some dirt surfing in along the way!

Calling Cactus to Clouds a trail run is hardly accurate, but we gave it our best shot! I was joined by good friends Kyle and Jenna for this bucket list adventure that was full value from start to finish, beginning on the desert floor in the town of Palm Springs, and ending on the summit of Mount San Jacinto, the second tallest peak in Southern California, reaching an elevation of 10,834' feet. Our overall travel time was 8:34, with a moving time of 7:15, so a little over an hour of rests/ breaks throughout the trail.

Cactus to Clouds is a coveted trail and a badge of honor for those who have completed this massive undertaking of a climb. Generally considered one of the top 5 toughest hiking trails in North America, Cactus to Clouds delivers an elevation gain of 11,000' feet, over the course of 20+ miles. There are a few variations to consider, the route we chose in this video is the most common, which takes you from Palm Springs in Southern California, to the top of Mount San Jacinto, and back to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Other variations would be starting at the same location and ending your hike/ run at the Aerial Tramway (8,200' elevation gain, 10+, miles) or if you're up for an ever bigger challenge, doing Cactus to Clouds, car to car, which gives you the same elevation gain, but has you descending the entire trail, which puts the mileage around 30! One pro tip is to bring your poles! While I chose to ignore my own advice on this particular trail, it was a conscious decision as I used this outing for my final training run for Broken Arrow Skyrace in a few weeks.

As far as fuel and water are concerned, my personal kit consisted of 4* soft flasks, totaling 2,300 mL's of liquid, one being filled with Skratch Labs electrolytes. I finished all 4 flasks just as we got to the ranger station at the Aerial Tramway and refilled there before heading up towards the summit. As for fuel, I consumed 4* (90 gram each) Precision Fuel and Hydration gels that totaled 360 grams of carbs, as well as 2* 30 gram gels that contained 100 mg each of caffeine. And you can't forget the candy assortment for big, long days in the mountains!

It's important to note that Cactus to Clouds has been the scene of many unfortunate events. Countless people have underestimated the length and overall difficulty of this trail and have found themselves in serious danger. It's in the best interest of anyone looking to attempt Cactus to Clouds, that they do their homework beforehand and understand the commitment and logistics involved to complete this trail. This trail is no joke, please be aware and plan accordingly.

Make sure to check out our Trail Running GPX page so you can download the route and upload it to your watch or phone. This GPX page will be a continuous work in progress so make sure to take advantage of the GPX files we already have posted and be sure to check back weekly as we continue to update the page.

Also, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel @CirqueRunning to keep up to date with all of our latest trail running edits. Enjoy this video of Cactus to Clouds in Palm Springs, California!

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GPX Files: Trail Running GPX Files

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Run Gear List

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Cirque Running’s mission is to inspire our trail running community through elevated retreats and professional coaching, with certified UESCA ultrarunning coaches. We’re Trail Runners, Mountain Guides, Educators, Coaches and Stewards of the Sierra and California, and we want to share these remarkable places with all those seeking natural abundance in the Range of Light and beyond.