Home

About Us

Newsletter

Outings

Peak List

Emblems

Archives

Awards

Register Box

Climbing Guides

Bylaws Etc.

Merchandise

Location: San Bernardino County, about 12 miles north of Banning, 90 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Auto Club: Los Angeles and Vicinity, San Bernardino Mountain Area

Forest Service: San Bernardino National Forest

USGS Topo: San Gorgonio Mountain 7½, Moonridge 7½

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

Nearby Peaks: Charlton Peak, Jepson Peak, San Gorgonio Mountain

Distance: 17 miles round trip on trail and cross-country

Gain: 5200' total, 4400' out plus 800' on return

Time: 7-8 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, strenuous

Original: Warren E. von Pertz, September 1968

DRIVING ROUTE 1

• Take I-10 east past San Bernardino to the Orange Street exit (SR 38).
• Go one block east, then go north (left) 0.5 mile to Lugonia Avenue. Turn right on SR 38 (east).
• Go 8.0 miles to the Mill Creek Ranger Station.
• Continue east on SR 38 about 5 miles to the Valley of the Falls Road on the right. Turn right.
• Drive 4.25 miles to the Big Falls parking area at the end of the road. Park here.

HIKING ROUTE 1

• From the parking area (6080'), hike past the locked gate on the initially paved road east for 1/2 mile to where the trail descends into the wash.
• Cross the wash and pick up the trail again on the north side. Hike up the trail to where it intersects the San Bernardino Peak Trail (1W07) at 11,240'.
• Turn left and hike about 1 mile to where the trail crosses a ridge at about 10,880'.
• Leave the trail and hike southeast down the ridge to a saddle.
• Turn right and hike west about 3/4 mile to the summit.

Distance: 18 1/2 miles round trip on trail and cross-country

Gain: 4250'

Time: 8-9 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, very strenuous

Original: Warren E. von Pertz, September 1968

DRIVING ROUTE 2

• Take I-10 east past San Bernardino to the Orange Street exit (SR 38).
• Go one block east, then go north (left) 0.5 mile to Lugonia Avenue. Turn right on SR 38 (east).
• Continue east on SR 38 about 26 miles to Jenks Lake Road on the right. Turn right (south).
• Continue to the signed South Fork Trailhead parking lot on the left. Park here.

HIKING ROUTE 2

• From the parking area (6850'), hike the South Fork Trail (1E04) past the old Poopout Hill trailhead to South Fork at Slushy Meadows where the Dry Lake Trail forks left (8200').
• Keep right on the South Fork Trail and continue to the fork to Dollar Lake (9520').
• Keep right again and continue to Dollar Lake Saddle (9960'), at a junction with the San Bernardino Peak Trail (1W07).
• Turn left on 1W07 and follow it south about 2 miles to a point where it crosses a ridge at about 10,880'.
• Leave the trail and hike southeast down the ridge to a saddle.
• Turn right and hike west about 3/4 mile to the summit.

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

Gain: 4400'

Time: 5-7 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, strenuous

Navigation: Moderate, use extra care on descent

Route: Steep, minimal brush

Original: George Wysup, July 2000

DRIVING ROUTE 3

• Take I-10 east past San Bernardino to the Orange Street exit (SR 38).
• Go one block east, then go north (left) 0.5 mile to Lugonia Avenue. Turn right on SR 38 (east).
• Go 8.0 miles to the Mill Creek Ranger Station.
• Continue east on SR 38 about 5 miles to the Valley of the Falls Road on the right. Turn right.
• Drive 4.25 miles to the Big Falls parking area at the end of the road. Park here.

HIKING ROUTE 3

• From the Vivian Creek trailhead (6080'), walk up the road about 1/2 mile to the Mill Creek crossing.
• Cross the creek and proceed about 1 mile to where the trail crosses a creek (on a large log) at the 7200' contour.
• Ascend the slope generally north, avoiding brush as best you can until you attain a ridge running generally east at about 8200'.
• Continue east and the east-northeast along this ridge, staying slightly to the north side to avoid brush, to the summit.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

If descending Route 3, take care to turn south at the point the ridge runs out, lest you descend into Falls Creek.

ALTERNATE ROUTES

When climbing Dobbs Peak via the Vivian Creek Trail (Route 1), it is possible to return to the trail by descending southwest from the summit and meeting the trail near 7200'. This saves considerable mileage and time but requires significant navigation skills. See Route 3.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Wilderness permits are required. They are issued at Mill Creek Ranger Station, 9 miles from Redlands on SR 38. Day use permits are self-issue on the day of the hike or by mail. Overnight permits must be acquired in person or by mail.

HISTORICAL NOTE

The peak was named for an early explorer in the area. In 1904 the George Grant party was led by a guide named Dobbs to the summit, reaching it as a thunderstorm broke. A bolt of lightning struck Dobbs and knocked him senseless. Another bolt killed another member of the party. Dobbs had to be restrained until help arrived the next morning, when he regained his senses but not his memory. (Charles Francis Saunders' "The Southern Sierras of California", 1923).

History of Summit Signature

Climbing Archives

Please report any corrections or changes to the Mountain Records Chair.