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San Gorgonio Hike on the Vivian Creek Trail - HikingGuy.com
Easily the most popular San Gorgonio hike route, the Vivian Creek Trail is an iconic adventure up to the highest point in SoCal, at 11,503 feet. Vivian Creek is popular because it's the shortest and most accessible route, but it's also the steepest, so expect a good workout on your way to the summit. It's a beautiful hike through pines, cedars, and streams and then up to the barren moon-like landscape above the tree line. From the summit, you'll enjoy sweeping views from Nevada to the Channel Islands. Many people hike it in a day, but you can also make it an overnight backpacking trip. In this guide, I'll give you everything you need to know for either option.
In this Guide:
Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions for the San Gorgonio Hike
Parking and Permit Information for the Vivian Creek Trail
Maps, Elevation Profile, and Things to Know Before Going
Assuming the weather is on your side, you will need a permit to day hike or overnight to San Gorgonio. The good news is that it's easier than ever to get. Go to the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association's permit page and fill out the online form. There is a quota system in place to limit human impact on the wilderness. Once you get your permit, save it (offline) to your phone or print it and take it with you.
Permit Availablity
Can't get a permit for your date? Try OutdoorStatus.com and get a text message as soon as a cancelled permit opens up!.
Backpacking San Gorgonio
Even though the hike clocks in at 18 miles or so, many people hike San Gorgonio in a day. But you can also do it as an overnight backpacking trip. You just need to pick a date and your campsite(s).
All the campsites, aside from the summit, are close to water sources, most of which stop flowing at some point in the summer. If you want to check on the status of water, I'd look at the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association's (SGWA) forum pages.
Your permit only allows you to camp in the designated campsites within the San Gorgonio Wilderness, although you will see some dispersed tent sites along the route. I've marked them on the map and GPX file for reference, but don't consider them an option unless there's an emergency. Before the Lake Fire, an Explorer pass allowed you to camp at these sites, but not anymore. If this changes, please let me know.
Also note that camping on the summit can be very windy. Most of the summit tent sites have stone walls around them to help block the wind. There's also an official "summit campsite" to the southwest of the summit that's flat, sandy, and reasonably protected from the wind. I've marked both areas on the map and in the GPX file.
Training for San Gorgonio
If you're not used to doing this type of distance and climbing, I recommend building up your hiking fitness before you tackle this hike. A good progression is:
And if you bag San Gorgonio, it's probably time for you to bag Mt Whitney next.
Where is the Start of the Hike?
This route up to San Gorgonio Mountain starts at the Vivian Creek Trailhead, just past the Falls Picnic area in Forest Falls, CA. Use this trailhead address: 41900 Falls Rd Forest Falls, CA 92339.
Gear For the Hike
This is a serious hike and you need to be well prepared with layers, water (3L), and food. The summit is in an alpine zone and is exposed. Check the summit weather and be prepared for changing conditions, including potentially spending the night if something goes wrong. Trekking poles help on the way down, especially on the section just before Mill Creek.
Gear That I Love Right Now
Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.
Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can also send non-emergency texts to just say that you're late, let friends and family follow along, and check the weather. You can see my review here.
Topo Pursuit 2The wide toe box means no blisters, an aggressive tread is great on the trail, it dries very quickly, and it has lots of cushion for long days. It combines everything I love about every other shoe into one.
Garmin Epix ProThese watches are pricey, but I use them 24/7 for sleep tracking, workouts, heart rate, and tracking my hike. It has preloaded hiking maps that help me navigate the trails and is a backup to my smartphone navigation. The Epix Pro has a great battery life, a screen similar to an Apple Watch Ultra, and works in harsh conditions when just using the buttons. See my review here.
Osprey Hikelite 26This updated version of the Hikelite 26 offers incredible value for the money. It's got a wide trampoline back, so your back doesn't get sweaty. It's under 2lbs, has deep side pockets, and is a great balance of what you need without what you don't.
San Gorgonio has a mixed reputation among native peoples. The Serrano and Luiseño include it as part of their origin story, the Morongo believe it was the original home of the demon Tahquitz, and the Cahuilla just refer to it as a big pile of rocks.
Early settlers called it "gray back," as was common for treeless mountains like this, and today it's sometimes referred to as "old gray back."
But the name San Gorgonio dates to the 1850s when this area was part of a Mexican Land Grant. There's some dispute as to the origin, with some thinking it's tied to Saint Gorgonius of Nicomedia (celebrated in St. Gorgonio's Feast Day), and other sources citing Saint Gregory the Great (who converted Anglo-Saxon pagans to Christianity). Either way, it shows up on USGS maps in 1899 as San Gorgonio Mountain.
The longest recorded line of sight in the lower-48 United States is from Mt Whitney to the summit of San Gorgonio Mountain, 190 miles away. Today, on a clear day, you can see from San Clemente Island out in the Pacific Ocean to Mt Charleston, 163 miles away in Nevada (by Las Vegas).
The mountain's height and position above the San Gorgonio Pass (connecting LA to Palm Springs) have made the summit the scene of several tragic plane crashes, claiming the lives of Frank Sinatra's mother and Dean Martin's son (in a separate crash).
You can sometimes feel the (negative) effects of altitude sickness on this hike. Read my section on dealing with in on my guide to Mt Whitney.
The 2020 Apple Fire skirts this route to the summit. The fire, which burned over 33,000 acres, was started by a malfunctioning diesel vehicle's exhaust system. The plume of smoke it sent up was so massive that it generated its own wind systems.
Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.