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 Reporter |
Summary: This trail is a no-nonsense elevation gainer. however, it maintains a steady grade for a large portion of the trip. You begin in a mixed oak/pine forest and briskly head up the side of the ridge. Two miles into the trail you enter the San Gorgonio Wilderness, which is marked by a sign. The trail evens off a bit here, but not too much. You will be climbing and climbing some more. In two more miles you will reach a relatively flat area covered with Manzanita and chaparral. This flat area is your halfway reprieve, and it continues until you reach the trail junction for Columbine Springs and John's Meadow. From here it is 3.6 miles up and up to the top, I can't say much for the view, because I went during very wintry weather, and I couldn't see a thing. I imagine that on a clear day though, you can see all of Southern California. One neat thing is that you pass Colonel Washington's baseline monument which was the 1852 survey point for all land in SoCal. Trailhead: Take the 10 Freeway to Redlands, exit Ford, head North and follow Ford (it will turn into Judson) to Lugonia. There are no signs in Redlands that this is the 38, but it is. Turn right, heading East towards the mountains. Two and a half miles down the road, you will see Mill Creek Ranger Station. You need to stop here and get your permit. If you go during the week, getting the free permit should not be a problem, weekends maybe (most people want to go to San Gorgonio, so you might be okay anyway.) Continue on the 38, until you see the sign for Angelus Oaks. The trail is not marked from this direction, so as soon as you enter Angelus Oaks, turn right onto a road with some houses, follow it until you see the signs for the trail and trail parking. Park away from the roadway and begin your hike. (Lat:34.12222 Lon:-116.92255) Trail Guides for San Bernardino Peak: San Bernardino Mountain Trails - 100 Hikes in Southern California by John W. Robinson (Wilderness Press) Day Hikers Guide to Southern California by John McKinney (Olympus Press) Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Summer, User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: San Bernardino National Forest (909) 794-1123 - Mill Creek Ranger Station Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Allen Riedel, who has posted 123 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Page 1 of 5 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Ap on 5/19/2012 Did a two day backpacking trip on May 18-19. Camped at Limber Pine. Gorgeous hike but it's a doozy on the legs. There is snow at the and. Overs parts of the trail which is tricky. Be careful of losing your way, The water flow at Limber Pine Creek was great but do bring plenty of water. I would not want to do this as a day hike - really loved doing it in two (if u have time)
Reviewed by fitforalifetime on 5/13/2012 We did this Sunday May 6th. Started at 6am and it took us about 6 hours up and 3 hours down. This is a long hike and you are will be pretty tired by the end. Had snow the last mile so the trail was obscured so it was a slow go. Get an early start and enjoy.
Reviewed by Candace on 10/9/2011 I hiked this peak again on October 8. The recent rains and snow left a mark on the upper portions of the trail, which were ice-covered and made the descent a little troublesome. Made it to the top in 3:04 and down in 2:20. The cold was absolutely brutal the last 4 miles with gusty winds. I've never seen conditions like this in early October here. The temperature approaching the peak was only 25 degrees, though it was 60 degrees at the car. Great hike though fatiguing the last couple miles.
Reviewed by LJF on 9/24/2011 Hiked this with 4 friends on 8/6/11 as a training hike for Mt. Whitney. Started about 7am and took 9 hours incl. 30 minutes for lunch at the summit. The day was reasonably cool. The views of Big Bear Lake and surrounding mountains were very good, and the view down to the valley from Washington's Monument were awesome. Carried 4 liters of water which was more than enough. The last 3 miles of the descent seemed to go on forever. Despite the longer hike time and higher summit I found this hike easier than Baldy due to the more gradual altitude gain. Saw perhaps a dozen other hikers + half a dozen dogs.
Reviewed by Candace on 7/16/2011 I did this hike last week and it is not that difficult for a fit, experienced hiker. It's a very steady, gradual grade with almost no steep sections. I made it to the top in 3:07 and down in 2:40. I do suggest you start before 6:00 am in the summer. I consumed four 24-ounce water/gatoraid bottles and it was only in the 70's. Not much shade, especially on the downhill. The trail is lovely in spots with great intermediate views. The trail conditions are excellent, with some rocky sections. However, the summit is very poorly marked and you reach it via an unmarked spur trail to the right. I initially continued on and only realized my mistake after 5 minutes of additional hiking.
Reviewed by Bartman on 6/28/2011 Hiked to the summit and back on Mon 6/27. Beautiful day and a great hike. Saw only 2 people the entire time. Don't listen to what everybody says - this is a tough hike with a long, constant uphill out and a tough last two miles coming home. BRING BUG SPRAY! The gnats were out in force and drove me crazy! I put it on at the trailhead but then left it in the car "to save weight." Doh! Big mistake.
Reviewed by TR on 6/21/2011 My brother & I hiked this trail to limberpine campsite and camped overnight before returning the next day. The trail was very nice, and we passed plenty of clear flowing water after the first 5 miles is out of the way. A bit of snow nearing limberpine campsite, but no real need for iceaxe or crampons. Had a tent setup, and was cooking pollo-asado with blackbeans and tortillas by sundown. Coffee & Oatmeal for breakfast. What a view, the campsite is perfect. took us 6 HRS to get there, but we carried over 3gals water, and plenty of supplies on our backs. we didnt start early enough, and the mid-day temps made it difficult. The hike down in the morning was pleseant, and only took us 2 hrs.
Reviewed by TTS on 7/26/2010 Hiked on July 25 with some friends. Pretty uneventful hike. Made it to the summit in 4 hours, spent half hour there, then back down in 2.5 hours. Seemed like less than 16 miles, it is not a steep trail. Saw lots of bear evidence, including some tracks on the trail. There were about 5 other day hikers on the trail, we mostly saw boy scouts coming down the trail after backpacking for the weekend. I only saw water once, some backpackers told us there was still water at one of the campsites, about .7 miles off of the trail. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: California Hiking, California Trails, California Hikes, San Bernardino County Hiking, San Bernardino County Trails, San Bernardino County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
