Trails

The trailhead is reached by turning east off Highway 38 to Forest Falls. Continue through Forest Falls to the top end (east end) of the picnic area at the end of the road (6,080′).

The Vivian Creek Trail is the shortest and the steepest route to the summit of Mt. San Gorgonio. One and two-tenths miles from the trailhead is Vivian Creek Camp (7,100′). Campsites are located upslope to the right of the trail after reaching the stream: one is halfway up the slope, and the other is at the top of the slope (no camping within 200 feet of the trail or creek).

One and three-tenths miles from Vivian Creek Camp is Halfway Camp (8,100′). Water is obtained from the creek 200 yards before camp. Two and three-tenths miles further is High Creek Camp (water available – 9,200′). The summit of San Gorgonio (11,499′) is 3 miles beyond High Creek. 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. San Gorgonio. After the South Fork Trail, this is the second most used trail in the Wilderness.

The trailhead (5,960′) leaves from behind the Camp Angelus Fire Station at Angelus Oaks. Stay to the right up the dirt road 300 yards. The parking is limited and very full on weekends. may need to park farther down on 38 = east of Angelus Oakes big pull out on the left and dirt pull out on the right after the bridge.

Columbine Camp is 4.7 miles from the trailhead just beyond Manzanita Flats. The camp is to the right (south) of the trail and .7 mile and 300 vertical feet below it.

Two miles beyond Columbine Springs Junction is Limber Pine Bench Camp (9,200′). Water is obtained from a spring .3 mile beyond the camp. Check on interactive map (wilderness permit page) for water availability.

Two and two-tenths miles further beyond Limber Pine Camp located on the San Bernardino Peak Divide Trail is San Bernardino (10,624′) and San Bernardino East Peaks.

The San Bernardino Peak Trail and the Divide Trail both offer outstanding views in all directions. The flatlands of the Inland Empire lay nearly 10,000 vertical feet below Limber Pine Camp and the trail above.

Turn right (southeast) on Jenks Lake Road West off of Highway 38. One-quarter mile from Highway 38 is a signed dirt road on your right. This is a rough, rocky road not intended for low-slung autos, but is usually passable. Look for the trailhead signs at the parking area – Adventure Pass is not required at this location.

Only one obvious foot trail leads up from the trailhead signs and you will come to the Wilderness boundary sign just before a half mile of uphill hiking. About a tenth of a mile beyond the Wilderness sign you will come to a trail junction sign marking the cutoff for John’s Meadow (heading to the west).

Johns Meadow

The trail to Johns Meadow continues West from the junction. As you continue across the side of the mountain, you will have several minor gains and losses of altitude. A lot of the steep climbing to Johns Meadow occurs in your first mile from the trailhead. As you get close to the end, you will come to Forsee Creek and the trail will lose about 100 feet of elevation as you hike down to the creek crossing. The creek usually flows year around and the crossing can be tricky but normally not too difficult.

John’s Meadow (and camp) is located about 100 yards beyond Forsee Creek and is at 7,200′ about 3.9 miles from the trailhead. Plenty of water is available here year-round.

Beyond the Johns Meadow Camp, there is a trail that crosses a smaller creek (which usually flows year around also) and the trail continues up to the trail junction at Manazanita Flats and can be used as an alternate route to San Bernardino Peak.

Jackstraw Springs

Four miles from the trailhead (6,400′) is Jackstraw Camp. Jackstraw Camp (9,200′) is located .2 miles to the right (west) of the trail and is supplied by a small and intermittent water source. One and nine-tenths miles beyond Jackstraw is Trail Fork Springs Camp (10,400′). Water is located about 100 yards southwest of the camp at the Spring.

To the east along the Peak Divide Trail lie two additional camps. The first, Anderson Flat (no water-10,500′), is .4 miles up the trail. The second is Shields Flat (no water-10,400′) 1.8 miles east of Anderson Flat, 2.3 miles east of Trail Fork, and only 1.2 miles west of High Meadow Spring (10,300′) which is the preferred water source.

This trail is mostly shaded up to Jackstraw Springs Camp, and offers outstanding sunset views west from Trail Fork Springs Camp.

The trailhead is reached by turning east off Highway 38 to Forest Falls. Continue up the road 3 miles to the large parking area (5,400′) on your left 100 yards before the fire station. Alger Creek Camp (7,100′) is 3.7 miles. The single site is located about .25 miles below the trail.

Two miles further is Dobbs Camp (water available-7,200′). Another 1.5 miles is Saxton Camp (8,400′). Water here is obtained from a small spring .2 mile below the camp along the trail. Two miles further is Dollar Lake Saddle (no water-9,960′).

This one of the most underused trails. This area offers the visitor solitude and good views of Mill Creek Canyon and Yucaipa Ridge from the upper end of the trail.

The South Fork Trailhead is on Jenks Lake Road, 2.5 miles from Highway 38. The trail begins at the large paved parking lot (6,900′) on Jenks Lake Road East and climbs 2.5 miles where it crosses the Wilderness boundary just beyond a short side trail (NE) to a photo overlook (Poop-Out Hill, 7,740′) and Wilderness information display. The trail then crosses the Wilderness boundary and continues another 1.7 miles to South Fork Meadows (8,200′). Here the trail forks: to the left (east) is Dry Lake (1.5 miles, 9,000′) and to the right (west) is Dollar Lake (2 miles, 9,300′).

The Dry Lake camping area (remember that camping is at least 200 feet from meadows, streams, springs, trails, and other occupied sites) is spread through two drainages. The first has only one or two good camping sites, the second, in the largest draw, has almost all the sites as well as Lodgepole Spring (about .25 mile up the trail towards Fish Creek Saddle-9,900′).

One and three-tenths miles beyond Dry Lake is Trail Flats Camp (no water, 9,700′). Three-tenths mile further on is Mineshaft Saddle (9,960′), from which the hiker may choose to climb to the summit of San Gorgonio Mountain (11,499′).

The 4.5 mile Sky High Trail from Mineshaft Saddle to the peak is occasionally steep, often rocky, and usually snow-covered in the early Fall, Winter, and late Spring. The climb should always be done with care. Warm garments are a necessity since the wind can and may pick up sharply at the peak. Just east of the true peak is Summit Camp, best reached by either the Sky High or Vivian Creek trail. Rocky and windswept, it presents a panoramic view of Southern California. Here you will find a few rock walled shelters to take protection from the frequent buffeting wind.

Camping at Dollar Lake is at Dollar Lakes Forks Trail Camp (9,300′), located approximately .3 mile from the lake. Camping is prohibited within ¼ mile of Dollar lake, including camping on the ridges above the lake.

Dollar Lake Saddle (9,960′ – no camping here, no water) is located .7 mile beyond Dollar Lake. From the Saddle, it is 5 miles to the summit of San Gorgonio Mountain (11,499′). One popular camp accessible from Dollar Lake Saddle is Red Rock Flat (10,100′), ¼ mile west of the saddle. High Meadow Springs (10,400′) is ½ mile further with water available for both camps.

The South Fork Trail was heavily impacted by the 2015 Lake fire and was reopened Summer of 2017. While brush and smaller growth has come back well, the trees will not offer as much shade as they once did, so be prepared for exposure to the Sun on this trail.

The Forest Service reopened the Aspen Grove Trail in August 2018, and Forest Road 1N05 has been reopened and is now accessible.

Turn right (south) off Highway 38 about 6 miles past the Barton Flats Visitor Center on Forest Service Road 1N02. Follow 1N02 until it forks right to 1N05. Go right up 1N05 (this is a rough unmaintained road not intended for low-slung vehicles) to the signed Aspen Grove Trail parking (7,400′), 2.6 miles in from Highway 38. After crossing the creek, take the trail to the left. After 1.5 miles, the trail joins the Fish Creek Trail (8,180′).

This trail offers quiet and the opportunity for the visitor to explore a small remnant grove of Quaking Aspens (Populus tremuloides) , only found in one other location outside of the Sierra Nevada range.

The area was hit hard by the Lake Fire in July of 2015. Aspens grow quickly and the root system has remained, so in time the grove should recover.

The Forest Service reopened the Fish Creek Trail in August 2018, and Forest Road 1N05 has been reopened. The trail is open and accessible from 1N05.

To reach the trailhead, turn right (south) off Highway 38 about 6 miles past the Barton Flats Visitor Center on Forest Service Road 1N02. Follow 1N02 until it forks right to 1N05. Follow 1N05 (not intended for low-slung autos) about 7 miles to the trailhead (8,180′). From the Fish Creek trailhead, it is 1.7 miles to Fish Creek Trail Camp (8,600′). Water is available (normally) approximately 1/2 mile beyond Fish Creek Trail Camp (Fish Creek crosses the trail). During early spring, water may be found flowing directly through camp.

Three and three-tenths miles further is Fish Creek Saddle (no water-9,900′). Water is obtained from Lodgepole Spring (9,000′), seven-tenths of a mile down a trace trail to Dry Lake (9,000′), or packed up from Fish Creek. From Fish Creek Saddle, it is .9 mile to Mineshaft Saddle (9,960′) where it meets the Sky High Trail. The summit of San Gorgonio (11,499′) is 3.5 miles further.

The Forest Service reopened the Lost Creek Trail in August 2018, however it was heavily damaged during the Lake Fire and the trail is no longer visible in many areas and overgrown in others. Until work can be done to make this trail safe, we do not recommend use of this trail

The Lost Creek trailhead is across Highway 38 from the South Fork Campground. Beginning at the parking lot (6,320′), it crosses under the bridge. The beginning of the Lost Creek Trail follows the Santa Ana River Trail (2E03). After approximately .5 mile, the Lost Creek Trail splits from the Santa Ana River trail and heads up an old jeep road for about 1 mile before heading off (south/west) on a trail towards Grinnell Ridge Camp (no water-8,500′). From the Grinnell Ridge Camp, the trail descends into South Fork Meadows and meets with the South Fork Trail.

This trail is one of the most underused and offers solitude and good views north to Santa Ana Canyon and Sugarloaf Peak.

The best access to this trail is via the Fish Creek Trail (8,180′). Two camps are accessible from Mineshaft Saddle (9,960′). From Mineshaft Saddle, the trail descends northeast to Mineshaft Flats (1.1 miles-9,600′). The camp lies to the west of the trail. Water is available approximately .3 miles along the trail below the camp.

One mile beyond (and below) Mineshaft Flats is Big Tree Camp (8,400′). Water is available from the North Fork of the Whitewater River.

This area is remote and rugged and offers the visitor solitude and far-off views of Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree National Park.

Bear Wallow Trail, Deer Springs Trail, and Kitching Peak Trails: All these trails are closed. There is currently no public access to them through the Morongo Indian Reservation.