Location: San Bernardino County, about 15 miles north-northeast of Banning, 103 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

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

Forest Service: San Bernardino National Forest, San Gorgonio Wilderness Map

USGS Topo: San Gorgonio Mountain 7½, Moonridge 7½

Other: A Guide to the San Gorgonio Wilderness (published 1971)

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

Nearby Peaks: Dragons Head, San Gorgonio Mountain,Dobbs Peak, Lake Peak, Grinnell Mountain, Ten Thousand Foot Ridge

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

Gain: 4200' total, 3600' out plus 600' on return

Time: 8-10 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, strenuous

Navigation: Easy

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, the road to Heart Bar Campground, on the right. Turn right. Note your odometer and go as follows:
• At 1.2 miles, fork. Go right on 1N05. High clearance may be needed from this point.
• At 2.8 miles, Aspen Grove Trail 2E05 goes west. Alternate parking area. Continue on 1N05.
• 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, passing Fish Creek Camp, 4 miles to Fish Creek Saddle at 9805'.
• Follow the trail for a mile plus to Mine Shaft Saddle (9960'), where it joins the trail from Dry Lake (1E05). Turn left and follow the Sky High Trail (1E07). A sign indicates "San Gorgonio 3 1/2 miles".
• The trail switchbacks up the eastern and southern flanks of San Gorgonio Mountain.
• Past the top of the switchbacks, the trail heads west and the long hogback of Bighorn becomes clearly visible nearby on the your left (south).
• Shortly the Tarn, a wide flat area almost free of vegetation, will also become visible as a depression between you and the peak. Descend south from the trail into the Tarn at a point near the western end of Bighorn's hogback. This is most easily done at around 11,100' where a gully (UTM 166727) has been swept relatively clear of brush.
• Cross the center of the Tarn toward a minor saddle on the west end of the mountain.
• Ascend a steep trail southeast to the top of the ridge and continue about 1/4 mile to the summit.