When most people think of Southern California, they think of sun-drenched beaches, thirsty deserts, and glamorous ocean metropolises. It’s a place where a puffer coat is more likely to shield you from air-conditioning than a brisk breeze. While I can’t say this perception is entirely wrong, there are exceptions to the regional rule.
If you’re craving cooler climes, lace up your hiking boots, zip your windbreaker, and head to the San Gorgonio Wilderness, just an hour and a half from Los Angeles. Here, epic (and notoriously challenging) hikes like the South Fork Trail will test your resolve and reward you with stunning vistas.
With a network of over 81 miles of trail, the San Gorgonio Wilderness lies tucked within the San Bernardino National Forest. Spanning 96,000 acres, it boasts stretches of desert, pine and fir forests, and subalpine meadows, providing crucial habitat for a wide range of creatures like black bears, mountain lions, gray foxes, golden eagles, and endangered species, including bighorn sheep and spotted owls.
Considered a highly challenging route, South Fork Trail switchbacks up the towering San Gorgonio Mountain. At over 11,000 feet in elevation, this peak is the highest in Southern California. Nicknamed “Old Greyback” for its domed, treeless summit, hikers undertaking the two-day, 20-mile trek are rewarded with jaw-dropping territorial views, drinking in swathes of the Mojave, the Pacific, and even — on a clear day — Mount Whitney and Catalina Island.
Though you’ll climb almost 5,000 feet uphill, South Fork’s elevation gain is relatively gradual. Don’t let the gentle incline fool you. Thin mountain air will test the fittest hikers. To deliver sufficient oxygen to your muscles, your heart and breathing rates increase relative to your altitude, leaving even seasoned outdoor enthusiasts winded. Safely traversing the alpine environment means moving slowly. Bring lots of water, be conservative with your pack’s weight, and take plenty of stops. Luckily, the surrounding scenery gives you plenty of excuses to pause and absorb the beauty.
Local rangers recommend spending at least one night near the trailhead before making the ascent to the Dry Lake and Lodgepole campsites. There, you’ll settle in for the evening. Given the arid climate, hikers aren’t permitted to build a fire. However, if you obtain a California Campfire Permit in advance of your trek, you can cook a satisfying dinner on a portable camp stove. Eat well and marshal your strength to begin the final leg of your hike the following morning. If you’ve got the energy, bundle up and take in the field of stars twinkling across the pristine sky…