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, A Guide to the San Gorgonio Wilderness

USGS Topo: San Gorgonio Mountain 7½

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

Nearby Peaks: Bighorn Mountain, San Gorgonio Peak,Dobbs Peak, Lake Peak, Ten Thousand Foot Ridge

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

Gain: 4100' total, 3500' out plus 600' on return

Time: 8-9 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, moderate

Navigation: Moderate

Leader Rating: "I", normal conditions

Original: Joe Young, January 2000

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).
• Continue east on SR 38 about 33 miles to 1N02 on the right, 1 mile past the first entrance to Heart Bar Campground. Turn right. Note your odometer and go as follows:
• At 1.2 miles, fork. Go right on 1N05.
• At 2.8 miles, Aspen Grove Trail 2E05 goes west.
• At 6.9 miles, fork. Go right.
• At 7.2 miles, fork. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) crosses the road here. Go right.
• At 7.6 miles, fork. Go right.
• At 7.7 miles, Fish Creek Trailhead (1W07). Park here.

HIKING ROUTE 1

• From the parking area (8040'), hike trail 1W07 southwest about 1/2 mile to a junction with the Aspen Grove Trail.
• Keep left on 1W07 and continue 4 miles to Fish Creek Saddle at 9805'. Follow the trail for another mile to Dry Lake Saddle. Shortly thereafter meet the trail to Mine Shaft Saddle (9960').
• Turn left and follow the Sky High Trail. A sign indicates "San Gorgonio 3 1/2 miles". The trail switchbacks up the eastern and southern flanks of San Gorgonio Peak.
• When you have ascended above the 11,000' contour, leave the trail and travel cross-country south toward a very wide, flat, almost vegetation-free area called "The Tarn" (10,600'). About 1/2 mile west of The Tarn is a saddle (10,640').
• From this saddle proceed southwest up the ridge to the summit of Dragons Head.