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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, Dobbs Peak

Distance: 17 1/2 miles round trip on trail

Gain: 5420'

Time: 7-8 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, strenuous

Original: Warren E. von Pertz, October 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 right and hike 1/4 mile to the junction with the Sky High Trail on the right.
• Keep left and follow the trail up to the summit.

Distance: 19 miles round trip on trail and cross-country

Gain: 5350'

Time: 8-9 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, very strenuous

Original: Warren E. von Pertz, October 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 and east past the turnoffs for Charlton Peak, Jepson Peak, and Dobbs Peak and on to the junction with the Vivian Creek Trail.
• Continue east about 1/4 mile to the junction with the Sky High Trail on the right.
• Keep left and follow the trail up to the summit.

Distance: 22 miles round trip on trail

Gain: 5350'

Time: 9-10 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, very strenuous

Original: Warren E. von Pertz, October 1968

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).
• 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 3

• 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').
• Turn left (southeast) follow this trail 1 1/2 miles to Dry Lake where there is another trail fork.
• Go right and hike 2 miles more to Mineshaft Saddle (9936') and another fork.
• Go right (southeast) and follow the Sky High Trail to its junction with the San Bernardino Peak Divide Trail at 11,360'.
• Turn right and hike east up to the summit.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Wilderness permits are required for all routes. 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

San Gorgonio Mountain, the highest peak in Southern California, is surrounded by nine peaks over 10,000' in elevation. It lies in the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area (34,718 acres). Created in 1931, the Wilderness designation will preserve this area in its unspoiled state as long as it remains protected.

History of Summit Signature

Climbing Archives

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