Elevation: 11,499 ft.
Date Hiked: 6-27-2010
HPS Repeat: #4
Trip Report:
San Gorgonio is the highest mountain in southern California and a very enjoyable hike. It rises to 11,499 feet above sea level. This was my second time hiking San Gorgonio. I had hiked this peak once 7 years before from the same trailhead. This is also the most popular trail. There must have been at least 50 people hiking on Saturday.
San Gorgonio Summit
This hike was through Calvary Chapel North Coast’s Hiking Group. We left at 7:30 from Vivian Creek and made good progress through the creek area. The trail has been rerouted through the creek because there is maintenance being done on the main trail.
The Trailhead
The Trail to the Creek
The trail from the creek is steep switchbacks to the top of the canyon. This is the steepest part of the entire trip. It did not take us long to get to the of this first section and began making our way to Halfway Camp. As we got higher we could see Mt. Baldy to the west
Mt. Baldy
Looking Towards Dobbs Peak
Eventually we reached the junction to Halfway camp. We took a short break and continued higher. It was warm by this point although most of the trail through this section was in the shade. We made it to high creek about 2 hours after starting.
High Creek Camp
The trail switchbacks awhile above High Creek camp until there is a small saddle. The views are great of the desert and San Jacinto from here. You also begin to see the upper mountain from here.
San Jacinto
The Trail Beyond the Small Saddle
The trail switchbacks a little ways but then goes straight up. Above this point the trees also begin to thin out.
The Upper Mountain
The Trail
Looking Out Toward the Inland Empire
The higher you hike the better the views get.
San Jacinto
The Trail Near the Final Junction
A Little Higher
I enjoyed this portion of the trail the most because it feels like a more serious hike than it actually is. It feels like the Sierra once you are above the tree line.
Snow Near the Summit
In the picture above the summit is out of sight and to the left of the snow patch. Also you can see four people above the cross the snow. Eventually we can to the final junction. It is marked by this sign
Junction Near the Summit
It was only a short distance from here to the summit. The summit area is high and can accommodate many people. I started feeling the altitude above 10,500 feet on the way up. When I hike San Jacinto a few weeks ago I took two Excedrin and felt great. I did the same today and although I was higher I didn’t think the extra 700 feet would make a difference. Well the Excedrin did not work very well, I still felt nauseous. It had taken us 4.5 hours to reach the summit. It was windy and cool on top, I was amazed the temperature difference that only a few hundred feet made. We didn’t stay on the summit for more than a half hour before we were ready to head out.
San Gorgonio North Face
My Summit Picture
As we made our way down there were still many people heading up. I also begin to feel better the lower we got.
Bart Heading Down
We crossed a few snow fields on the way down, all above 10,000 feet. It is amazing how fast the snow has melted during the past month.
Snow Field
We made good time going down and only stopped a few times to take a few pictures.
Interesting Trees
Flowers
We made it back down to the car for a round trip time of 8.5 hours including the half hour we spent on the summit. It was a great day with great people. I am looking forward to doing this hike again in the winter.
The Final Junction
Near the Summit
The North Face
GPX Track Download
Really enjoy the pictures.. I was expecting more snow based on some other so cal hiking reports I’ve read. What was the temperature up there at the summit?
how do you pronounce the name of this mountain???
[...] Peak is on the western edge of a high ridge in the San Bernardino Mountains. It is 5 miles from San Gorgonio, the highest mountain in southern California. It is also one of the 22 mountains in southern [...]