San Bernardino Peak

Description

San Bernardino Peak, together with its twin peak, San Gorgonio Mountain, just five miles away and 900 feet higher, anchors the western-most end of the San Bernardino Mountains. It is the first peak, in a series of peaks, that lie west to east on the San Bernardino crest/ridge and ending with Mt. San Gorgonio, the highest point in Southern California. Many Hikers will bag this peak, along with the other peaks on the crest, while hiking the San Bernardino Mountain Traverse. At 10,649 feet (3246 meters), San Bernardino Peak is quite a landmark.

The standard route is via the San Bernardino Peak Trail starting at the Angelus Oaks trailhead. From Angelus Oaks trailhead (5,960') to the summit of San Bernardino Peak is 7.9 miles with 4700 feet of elevation gain. This trail takes you from deep pine forest to exposed manzanita slopes and visits the old Washington Monument survey point at 10,290 feet. In 1852, Colonel Henry Washington and his Army survey party were directed to erect a monument atop San Bernardino Peak. The monument was to be an east-west reference point from which all future surveys of Southern California would be taken.

The higher slopes of San Bernardino Peak are beautiful and rugged subalpine terrain. A number of trail camps along the way offer spring water and rest. The Angelus Oaks "San Bernardino Peak" trailhead is less visited than others at the edge of the San Gorgonio Wilderness, but still it receives a lot of use especially during summer weekends.

Thanks to kcarchitect for this description.