San Gorgonio Wilderness
San Gorgonio Mountain was originally known as "Old Grayback" by locals until officially designated by the US Geological Survey (from the Spanish heritage) on the original topographical map of the area produced in 1899. At 11,502 feet, it is the highest peak in California south of the Sierras. The San Gorgonio Wilderness derived its name from this peak within its boundaries. The Wilderness is located in the southeast portion of the San Bernardino Mountains on lands administered by the San Bernardino National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management. Most of the Wilderness is above the 7,000 foot level. The summit of the 10,624-foot San Bernardino Peak provided the initial point in 1852 from which all of Southern California was surveyed.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 101,574 acres |
| Designated | 1964, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.08° N, 116.74° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 21) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 29 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Show 4 moreHide
17 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trails
36 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 130 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino Peak Trail ↗ | 10.7 | |
| South Fork ↗ | 9.9 | |
| Vivian Creek ↗ | 8.4 | |
| Falls Creek ↗ | 6.9 | |
| Oak Glen Divide ↗ | 6.5 | |
| Dry Lake ↗ | 6.4 | |
| Forsee Creek ↗ | 6.4 | |
| Fish Creek ↗ | 6 | |
| Little San Gorgonio ↗ | 6 | |
| San Bernardino Peak ↗ | 5.3 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- WildfireGreen
16 mi from the center point · 55 acres
- PrescribedGreater El Cariso Rx
48 mi from the center point
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- under 0.1 miWashington, Henry, Survey Marker ↗Big Bear City, CA
- 8.6 miJudson and Brown Ditch ↗Redlands, CA
- 10.1 miTramway Gas Station ↗Palm Springs, CA
- 10.5 miPalm Springs Aerial Tramway Mountain Station ↗Idyllwild, CA
- 10.6 miEdris House ↗Palm Springs, CA
- 10.7 miAlexander, Dr. Franz, House ↗Palm Springs, CA
- 10.7 miHamrick House ↗Palm Springs, CA
- 10.7 miCarey House ↗Palm Springs, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is San Gorgonio Wilderness?
101,574 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages San Gorgonio Wilderness?
Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service share management. The Bureau of Land Management portion is the largest in the wilderness record.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is San Gorgonio Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was San Gorgonio Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1964.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at San Gorgonio Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to San Gorgonio Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.080° N, 116.743° W. Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail is 22 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near San Gorgonio Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Green at 16 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near San Gorgonio Wilderness?
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (22 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near San Gorgonio Wilderness?
The National Register has 45 listings within 15 miles, including Washington, Henry, Survey Marker and Judson and Brown Ditch.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.