Location: San Bernardino County, about 41 miles northeast of San Bernardino, 143 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Auto Club: Los Angeles and Vicinity

USGS Topo: Rattlesnake Canyon 7½, Bighorn Canyon 7½

HPS: Route(s), waypoints and explanation of usage (Older version)

Nearby Peaks: Meeks Mountain

Distance: 7 miles round trip on road and cross-country

Gain: 2700' total, 2500' out plus 200' on return

Time: 5-6 hours round trip

Rating: Class 2, moderate

Navigation: Moderate

Leader Rating: "I", normal conditions

Original: Brent Washburne, August 1989

DRIVING ROUTE 3

(Southern approach)

• Take I-10 east through Banning to SR 62.
• Go north and east on SR 62 to SR 247 in Yucca Valley. Turn left (north) on SR 247.
• Drive 23.6 miles to Big Horn Road (dirt) on the left. Turn left. Note your odometer and go as follows:
• At 2.0 miles, intersection. Turn right on Cholla.
• At 2.1 miles, fork left (south). Turn left.
• Drive 1 mile to the end of drivable road near the mouth of Bighorn Canyon.

(Northern approach)

• Take I-15 north through Cajon Pass and proceed beyond the Hesperia exit to Bear Valley Road.
• Head east (right) on Bear Valley Road and continue 13 miles to its end at SR 18.
• Continue east 11 miles on SR 18 to Lucerne Valley, meeting a junction where SR 18 heads south.
• Continue straight (east) at this junction. At this point the highway becomes SR 247, Old Woman Springs Road.
• Proceed east 21 miles to a sparse subdivision, meeting first Pony Road and then Big Horn Road (dirt). Turn right on Big Horn Road. Note your odometer and proceed as in the drive from Yucca Valley.

HIKING ROUTE 3

• From the parking area (3600'), enter Bighorn Canyon and proceed upstream for less than a mile to an unmistakable mine opening to the right immediately next to the streambed. The canyon forks 0.1 mile past this mine.
• Proceed up the steep ridge between the two forks, ascending 1700' to a broad plateau that leads to bump 5641'.
• Upon cresting, head west across first a saddle and then up and over a small rocky ridge. Follow a series of dramatic rock outcrops on their left (west) side to the summit plateau.
• Continue hiking into the summit plateau until the jeep road of Route 1 is encountered. Turn right and follow this road to the register, which is not found on the highest bump in the area, but on the top of a rocky outcrop at the northwest corner of the plateau, about 40' to the left (west) of the road. Just beyond this spot the road drops down to an obvious vista point with an impressive view of the desert floor.