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: 17 miles round trip on trail and cross-country

Gain: 6200' total, 5500' out plus 700' on return

Time: 9-10 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, strenuous

Navigation: Moderate

Leader Rating: "I", normal conditions

Original: Joe Young, January 2000

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).
• 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 3/4 miles to the Big Falls parking area at the end of the road. Park here.

HIKING ROUTE 2

• From the Vivian Creek trailhead 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 Vivian Creek Trail to its intersection with the San Bernardino Peak Trail (1W07) at 11,240'. Turn right.
• In about 1/4 mile meet the turnoff to the summit of San Gorgonio Peak. Keep right.
• Follow the trail southerly to where it turns eastward at about 11,160'.
• At this point leave the trail heading south to a saddle at 10,640'.
• From this saddle proceed southwest up the ridge to the summit.

Alternatively, one may leave the Vivian Creek Trail just north of elevation 10,131' and contour northeasterly, crossing the main wash, then proceeding easterly up another wash to the saddle at 10,640'. This reduces the gain to 5000' including 100' on return and the distance to 14 miles round trip.