This trail report map is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, without any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This route up to San Gorgonio Mountain starts at the Vivian Creek Trailhead, just past the Falls Picnic area in Forest Falls, CA. Thanks! This is a trip report of the Vivian Creek trail, the more popular route to the summit. All major trails are clear of snow, including for example the notoriously hazardous 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail from Chinquapin Flat/PCT Mile 178 to Tahquitz Peak. Mountain Conditions contact San Bernardino National Forest, San Gorgonio Ranger District, 34701 Mill Creek Rd., Mentone, CA 92359 909-382-2882 or fax (909) 794-1125. You need a parking pass for the trailhead. Did three days/two nights from Vivian Creek to the summit. Bugs weren't too bad, but were more plentiful in the afternoon. The running on this high line is unmatched in Southern California. One and three-tenths miles from Vivian Creek Camp is Halfway Camp (8,100'). Shorts and short-sleeves were the dress of the day. We hiked out on the final day. Hiking for Health and Happiness provided the permits for the hikers . Above High Creek camp site though the trail was covered entirely with knee deep snow with ice underneath and the trail was very difficult to find. After summiting, head to Dollar Lake Camp. It is very far from the ranger station and from the Valley of the Falls turnoff that . Recommend sturdy boots and poles. The upper end of this trail offers outstanding views of Yucaipa . Two and three-tenths miles further is High Creek Camp (water available - 9,200'). Mine Shaft Saddle (Transition). Mt. San Bernardino 9 Peaks Traverse. 9843 ft 6562 ft Base: 3281 ft This table gives the weather forecast for San Gorgonio at the specific elevation of 3505 m. Our advanced weather models allow us to provide distinct weather forecasts for several elevations of San Gorgonio. Hike to Lodgepole Spring (reliable water year round except in multi-year droughts). Vault toilets at the lot. Get directions, reviews and information for San Gorgonio Mountain in Big Bear Lake, CA. Since no signage, hard to know it is there. I hiked San Gorgonio last year in March and had to use crampons and ice axe above High Creek and we didn't have nearly as much snow as this . The weather conditions were excellent. Newsom's Executive Order N-82-20, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) has released the " Draft Pathways to 30x30 Report .". There are easy trails, too, like the Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail and the Towne Trail, a 2 mile hike along the mountain base around Big Bear Lake. It is the highest point in Southern California at 11,499ft. There's a parking area right by the trailhead and then some other lots further down. Search and Rescue advises always hike with someone, and not leave your group. San Gorgonio. Address: Bureau of Land Management Palm Springs South Coast Field Office Palm Springs, CA 92262. . Smoke alert: Prescribed burning in Big Bear area. San Gorgonio Mountain is supposed to gain 6000' feet in 8 miles and we read that is . San Gorgonio Wilderness Trail is an extremely difficult, though dog-friendly, 16 mile hike in San Bernardino National Forest that will take about 9.5 hours to complete with Fido. Above the saddle, the conditions improved a great deal, as this section gets a lot of sun exposure. The next day, head to the summit and savor the view. it will take you on a 3 minute or so walk until you hear . carletonknight 4 years, 1 month ago. San Gorgonio. To reach the summit of San Gorgonio via Vivian Creek trail, I hiked almost 17 miles, gaining 5800 feet to the summit. From Hikin' Jim: Two night plan: Start at the S. Fork Trailhead. Discover this 25.0-mile point-to-point trail near Forest Falls, California. Instead, I headed up to Trail Fork Springs planning to camp and replenish my water supply there. Nearly all of north-facing trail below the Fork is in one of the recent burns and heavy debris flows make the trail jumbled and loose in places. Bugs weren't too bad, but were more plentiful in the afternoon. The highest summit in Southern California a brutal hike, but great training for higher peaks. Trails | San Gorgonio Wilderness Association Trails Free Wilderness Permits are required for all hikes into the San Gorgonio Wilderness. By 6:30 p.m., three San Gorgonio Search and Rescue teams eight people packing emergency sleeping bags, food, water and first aid kits were taking Vivian Creek and Momyer trails toward the . Click on the photo to read the complete Trip Report . Found the spring just west of the junction for halfway camp, it was flowing well. 1 Up at 4:00am, out of the house just after 4:30am, at the trailhead just after 7:00am, and hiking by 7:30am. The summit of San Gorgonio (11,499') is 3 miles beyond High Creek. Camping Barton Flats campground is the first campground on highway 38 that you find coming from highway 10. Ken Mushy reviewed San Gorgonio Summit via South Fork January 30, 2022 Hiking If you're planning to go during the winter/spring season, DO NOT go on this trail without: 1 trekking poles 2 snow spikes 3 ski googles 4 ice pick 5 portable charger. The upper end of this trail offers outstanding views of Yucaipa Ridge and Galena Peak, as well as sweeping panoramic views from the top of Mt. During the Six Pack of Peaks Challenge, it was difficult to judge my progress from one summit to the next, since each peak got progressively taller, steeper and farther away, but after summiting Gorgonio, I finally felt prepared for Whitney (and hungry for several pizzas). Day 1 Trying to hike San Gorgonio on Saturday as a day hike, I'm coming from 2 hours away. It is dry and it can get quite hot, but it's a well-engineered trail that climbs steadily and not-too-steeply to the summit. I followed the summit trail for the last quarter mile. Congratulations, Yesenia! . At a Glance General Information There may be patches, but nothing you can't get around or easily through without special gear. The Vivian Creek Trail is the oldest (1893) route to the top as well as the . The trailhead is a couple miles up a rough dirt road called the 1N05. Total hiking time including all breaks was 10 hours. San Gorgonio is located 82 miles east of Los Angeles, just south of Big Bear. For driving directions, the trailhead address is: Vivian Creek Trailhead. Overnight visitors who obtain a permit and pre-arrange a campsite will improve their experience by ensuring the greatest amount of solitude, and they will gather valuable information on trails, water availability, area closures, fire . Photo by Joseph Hirniak. This forum has 486 topics, 1,611 replies, and was last updated 4 hours, 26 minutes ago by MikeH. The highest point in Southern California is the summit of San Gorgonio, "Old Greyback", at 11,503 feet. About Vivian Creek Trail: The Vivian Creek Trail is the shortest and the steepest route to the summit of Mt. Rating: 10. I've done San Gorgonio twice from the Vivian Creek trailhead and I'd say the total hike from the parking lot is about 18 miles round trip. Above 8,000 feet the trail is completely covered with snow and ice. Himal Khatri reviewed Vivian Creek Trail to San Gorgonio Peak. Winter conditions exist in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Latitude/Longitude: 34.061395, -116.625471. To complete the trifecta, my dad joined me for the San Gorgonio summit via the Aspen Grove trail. San Gorgonio. This is a popular trail for backpacking, hiking, and trail running, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. It is in the San Bernardino Mountains, 27 miles (43 km) east of the city . Drive clockwise as you enter the parking area. Location. Looks like freeze-thaw conditions since the last storm. While traversing a narrow trail covered in snow and ice, Casteneda lost his footing and fell approximately 100 feet before coming to rest against a tree. The PCT is now clear of snow throughout the San Jacinto mountains. San Gorgonio is about 8 miles. Trying to hike San Gorgonio on Saturday as a day hike, I'm coming from 2 hours away. I might have made it to the summit of Mt. Multiple downed trees, with one very large pine that is becoming difficult to skirt. Winds were light, no thunderstorms were in the forecast and no large wildfires polluted the air. Conditions Bugs (1) 1 day ago Snow (1) We found it immediately though. Reports are that the Vivian Creek Trail to San Gorgonio is basically clear of snow. Within the half mile after crossing Mill Creek you will gain 1000 feet in elevation as you switchback into . A navigation device or map is highly recommended. Participant. . Saved! Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 14 h 37 min to complete. March 13, 2022. Use this trailhead address: 41900 Falls Rd Forest Falls, CA 92339. San Gorgonio Peak is the tallest peak in Southern California at 11,500 feet and is near Big Bear. Sky High Trail 3.8 miles to the summit.2h 46m includes visiting and pictures at the summit. The San Gorgonio Wilderness forest order will last until the fire is out or until conditions are re-evaluated and the order is changed, a news release said Saturday. San Jacinto Peak is in the distance. There's a small parking lot right by the trailhead, and more spaces farther back toward the picnic area. Conditions By Region Southern California Section A Mexican Border to Warner Springs Section B Warner Springs to I-10/San Gorgonio Pass Section C I-10/San Gorgonio Pass to I-15/Cajon Pass Section D I-15/Cajon Pass to Hwy-14/Agua Dulce Section E there is a small foot path just behind a fallen tree. The trail starts at approximately 6,900 feet and can take hikers to the top of Mount San Gorgonio at nearly 11,500 feet, according to the San Bernardino National Forest. for the South Fork Trail in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, camping two nights at Dry Lake. Snow on the Sky High Trail on San Gorgonio on July 27. Mount Gorgonio - 11,500ft, Vivian Creek trail, 22-23 August 2009 San Gorgonio Mountain, also known locally as Mount San Gorgonio, or Old Greyback, or the american lady in the shop where we purchased some wine and a trail map called it San G, typical.It is the highest peak in Southern California at 11,503 feet (3,506 m). Current Conditions Vivian Creek Trail May 2013: On Friday, May 18, 2013, I made my yearly pilgrimage up to San Gorgonio. San Gorgonio, nicknamed Old Grayback, rests in the San Bernardino National Forest. From the 10 freeway (coming east or west), you'll take Highway 38 through Forest Falls to get to the trailhead. Public Tracks. Wilderness Visitor Permit: Day use and overnight permits for the Cucamonga, San Gorgonio and San Jacinto wilderness areas are required.See the forest order. Note, however, that it is an additional 9 miles. Was wondering if anyone knows of places nearby that I could sleep in my car so I can get a really early start on the trail without having to drive the 2 hours in the morning. Microspikes, instant heat packs, and gaiters here were essential. To see the weather forecasts for the other elevations, use the tab navigation above the table. VICTIM(S): Anthony Casteneda, 34 years old from San Diego. I was almost to the San Bernardino Divide . Vivian Creek Trail: The trailhead is reached by turning east off Highway 38 to Forest Falls. Was wondering if anyone knows of places nearby that I could sleep in my car so I can get a really early start on the trail without having to drive the 2 hours in the morning. This Saturday 6/6/2020 I ran up Mount San Gorgonio, the tallest mountain in Southern California. This was my second time hiking San Gorgonio Mountain. San Gorgonio is Southern California's tallest mountain, and its 11,500-foot summit stands tall among the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles and north of Orange County. 2022 San Gorgonio: Type of Hike: Day hike: Trailhead: Vivian Creek Trail: Encountered: Wildflowers blooming: Hiking Companions: Hiked with a group: Road Conditions: Road suitable for all vehicles: Bug Status: No bugs: Snow Conditions: Intermittent snow - not hard to cross: Trail Conditions: Trail in good condition . We backpacked up the South Fork Trail to Dry Lake the first day, day-hiked to the summits of Ten Thousand Foot Ridge and Lake Peak on the second day, and traversed cross-country to Dollar Lake on the third day. Arrived at 6:15 AM and there were still a few spots at Vivian Creek parking lot. ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) Abuses. Did you know? As part of Gov. . No recent slide activity seen but got some strange resonance on a convexity near Poop-Out while Blair was Herring-boning up a slope. 1. For closure information, please visit our official PCT closures page. We left San Diego and hiked to High Camp, dropped our packs, then continued to the summit before heading back to camp. Camp at nearby Lodgepole Camp. October 15, 2016 December 24, 2016 Leave a comment. . Also, any trail conditions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Once on the Divide Trail and headed in the direction of San Gorgonio there was no thought of turning back. Area recreation sites will remain open, but could be impacted by operations and smoke. Our alpine gear in tow, we set out on the trail in 70 degree heat. 1h 45m. Get to know this 12.5-mile out-and-back trail near Forest Falls, California. Over 26 miles and 5000' of elevation gain. Date (s): Apr 15, 2022. At 9.4 miles I reached a Peakbagger Peak called San Gorgonio Mountain-Northwest Slope (11400 feet). On the bright side, there are a lot of wildflowers and woodpeckers. San Gorgonio. Directions: Riverside and San Bernardino Counties; 2 miles north of Morongo Valley and approximately 10 miles northwest of Palm Springs, California. Started the Trailhead at 4:00am, reached the summit at 12:30pm and back to the parking lot at 6:00pm. A good source of information is the trail conditions forum of the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association. Both of these trails provide a great experience for dogs, as long as visiting canines are cleaned up after and kept on a restraint no longer than 6 feet in . San Gorgonio Mountain-Northwest Slope (11,400 ft/3475 m) Zahniser Peak (10,056 ft/3065 m) . Use this trailhead address: South Fork Trail 1E04, 40800-40894 Jenks Lake Rd W, Angelus Oaks, CA 92305. Water is obtained from the creek 200 yards before camp. An Adventure Pass or Interagency Pass is required to park at the trailhead. The summit of San Gorgonio from the Vivian Creek Trail approach (2009-05-23). Area Status: Open This trail is just under a half mile long and runs from the junction with the San Bernardino Peak Trail 1W07.2 and the Sky High Trail 1W07.2 to the summit box, offering a unique view of the Sand to Snow National Monument. We decided that we'd try bagging a few of the nearby trailless peaks on Saturday, then hike back out on Sunday. Virtually all of route is above 10,000 and along a spectacular mountain divide. Pacific Crest Trail: San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains [Vasquez Rocks to San Gorgonio Pass] (National Geographic Topographic Map Guide, 1011) National Geographic Maps 4.7 out of 5 stars 43 Anyone have any info on conditions that might influence us on route selection? It apparently is a drainage basin high point (not really sure what that means). I reached the 11499 foot summit at 1:19pm at the 10 mile mark! Needless to say, any route to the summit is a major undertaking, but one that comes with the rewards of outstanding scenery and bragging rights. You can check out the latest hike logs from San Gorgonio here. About this Hike The weather was Southern California perfect. This post is a follow up to my last post regarding the false information I received from the Mill Creek Ranger Station. Mt San Gorgonio Peak, the highest point in the San Bernardino mountains, is 3,505 meters high. You need a National Parks Pass or Adventure Pass to park here. In the comment section of my previous post, John from the blog The Late Bloomer Hiker shared two very helpful links to assist those hiking in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The first is a water info collector that is a hiker supported information source. The illegal and irresponsible use of Off-Road Vehicles (ORV's) is a major conservation concern for the San Gorgonio Chapter. Although temps in the valleys were nearing 100 degrees, the . Total hiking time including all breaks was 10 hours. San Gorgonio July 2019. Our concerns range from the damage done to wild habitat, the direct killing of critters, and loss of peace and quite for all of humans. Hiking the San Gorgonio Mountains is especially popular because of the epic views. Hiking Snow. Just a relentless uphill slog, one that is seemingly endless on the way down. This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking. YES! The Executive Order calls on California to protect 30 percent of its land and waters by 2030 to counter catastrophic biodiversity loss and mitigate the impacts of climate change. While it is true that no technical skills are required to summit in the summertime, let's talk statistics for a minute though: San Gorgonio is the highest mountain in Southern California at 11,502 feet. After the South Fork Trail, this is the second most used trail in the Wilderness. A friend and I are planning to do San Gorgonio this Friday, either from Vivian Creek or from South Fork via the chutes on the north side of the peak. San Gorgonio Mountain via Vivian Creek Trail - 9/25/11 Everyone who writes about climbing Mt. San Gorgonio Mountain from Vivian Creek Trail Report May 16th 2020, Mt Baldy, San JacintoThis is a short trail report from my trip to San Gorgonio Mountain f. San Gorgonio can be found roughly 30 miles outside of San Bernardino, California and is a great campground for individuals looking to do some nature spotting or intercounty hiking. This Momyer Creek Trail approach provides a great alternative for people who can't get the permit and who are willing to hike a longer route than the famous and crowded Vivian Creek Trail. Points: 5 Hi, I'm planning on heading up San Gorgonio this weekend sometime on a training hike. Advocating for the San Bernardino Mountains and Forest. Another important source of information and trip permits is the Mill Creek Ranger Station: MILL CREEK RANGER STATION 34701 Mill Creek Rd. 41900 Falls Rd. Trail Conditions. Baldy and San Gorgonio Conditions 1, 2 by climb4life Sun Nov 03, 2013 2:33 pm 23 Replies 9709 Views Last post by DukeJH The distance by trail from East San Bernardino Peak to Mt. The highest peak and the beast of them all of Southern California. . Mount San Gorgonio via Vivian Creek Trail. CoHP.org Trip Report for San Bernardino, CA by Scott Surgent . Extremely tough hike because of the snow conditions. Being the tallest mountain in Southern California, the climb to San Gorgonio is understandably popular, and permits can be hard to get. Either way I assume we'll need snowshoes, ice ax, and crampons. Pending weather conditions, crews are planning prescribed burns. Whitney makes sure to include a reminder that the hike is 22 miles, not 11; you need to be prepared to hike not just to the peak, but back down to the trailhead. Summary. . This hike is NOT 11hrs, it is 16-18hrs long depending on the weather and snow conditions. Vault toilets at the lot. The wind and slight freeze Saturday night healed conditions at least for a day, we had "near corn" experience off Charlton. I finished in 2:53:23. At an elevation of 11,503ft, San Gorgonio is the highest peak in Southern California. On the Sunday, March 25th, Casteneda was hiking with friends in the High Creek area after descending from Mount San Gorgonio. Arrived at 6:15 AM and there were still a few spots at Vivian Creek parking lot. Hiking trip report, map, and photos for San Gorgonio Mountain via South Fork and Dry Lake Loop, located in San Bernardino National Forest, California. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 54 min to complete. We called the local Ranger to check on conditions and he described them as "extreme alpine". Mentone, CA 92359 (909) 382-2882 Trail conditions. If you are taking the most popular trail, the Vivian Creek Trail, which I am discussing here, the trailhead elevation is 6,080 feet. Email: BLM_CA_Web_PS@blm.gov. The upper end of this trail offers outstanding views of Yucaipa Ridge and Galena Peak, as well as sweeping panoramic views from the top of Mt. Be prepared for ice and deep snow, bring crampons and /or snow shoes and above all do not hike past your limits. When compared with ascents up San Bernardino, Mount Baldy, or San Jacinto Peak, the trail to the summit is actually pretty long, but the views from "Old Greyback" will help distract you from the long 8.9-mile route to . You climb steadily, with sparse vegetation and full exposure to the sun. The summit of San Gorgonio (11,499') is 3 miles beyond High Creek, which you can also camp at. With all of the high peaks and mountain ranges here, there are many moderate and difficult hikes in this forest. At 11,503 ft. tall and hiking around 21 miles to the peak and back at the parking lot based on MapMyHike app on my phone. Many hikers use this as training for Mount Whitney. I arrived at the Forest Falls Ranger Station slightly before 8:00 p.m., and was the only person in line to get a day use permit, something that will change once summer begins. This is a 21.5 mile loop hike with 5400 cumulative feet of elevation gain that takes about 9-12 hours to complete. The final section of the trail is a long, diagonal traverse near the ridge that leads to San Gorgonio. The trail is inconsistent to about 9500', so bring your hiking boots (ugh). Hiked on 03/12: Wilderness Permit and The National Forest Adventure Pass are required. Big Bear Lake, CA: Crews plan to broadcast burn up to approximately 40 acres or less on . Trailheads There are 81 miles of trails in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, including a small portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. South Fork Loop. Smoke and flame will be visible. Even if it's warm and sunny at lower elevations, it's cold and icy in the wilderness. South Fork Trail 3.6 miles to the decision point for the split to either Dry Lake or Dollar Lake. They may be requested online at https://sgwa.org/wilderness-permits/ A limited number of "day-of" permits will be available at Mill Creek Ranger Station when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. This area of trails; South Fork Trail, Lost Creek Trail, and Fish Creek Trail through the aspen groves are all still closed by the forest service since the fire. San Gorgonio itself was now very close. The trail I took, South Fork Trail, didn't have any official FKT attempts, although the crown on Strava for this segment was set back in 2014 with a time of 4:06. . Mt San Gorgonio from Vivian Creek . Also, any trail conditions or advice would be greatly appreciated. The summit of San Gorgonio (11,499 feet) is 3 miles beyond High Creek. Click the title to see the full hike log, and you can even ask questions in the comments to get more detail. Thanks! Dry Lake Trail 3.8 miles to Mine Shaft Saddle.2h 55m includes lunch break at Dry Lake and some visiting along the trail.. Hopefully, in the coming years, the forest service will reopen them, and the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association can start rebuilding the trails destroyed in the wildfire. At 11,499 feet, San Gorgonio Mountain is the highest peak in California south of the Sierra. I was still warm enough to be in short sleeves, the sky was mostly clear, and there was very little wind.