Day hike to the summit of Southern California’s highest mountain, San Gorgonio, Elevation 11,503’. The Vivian Creek Trail is one of the most popular trails to the summit of San Gorgonio Mountain, also known as Old Grey Back. The trail was originally created by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. It is challenging with a round-trip distance of 18 miles with over 5500’ of elevation gain.
The trail begins in Forest Falls, at the Vivian Creek Trailhead and is located within the San Gorgonio Wilderness, part of the Sand To Snow National Monument. It climbs steadily through a forest of pines and cedars, with Vivian Creek cascading alongside the trail. The trail is popular with backpackers also and passes three trail camps, Vivian Creek Camp, Halfway Camp and High Creek Camp. The summit offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, deserts, and valleys.
Andrea and I did this hike on July 2nd and encountered patches of snow above 9,400’.
0:00 Vivian Creek Trailhead
0:17 Crossing Mill Creek
0:27 Heading up to Vivian Creek
0:44 Hike Overview
1:32 Vivian Creek Camp to High Camp
3:30 Heading to the Summit
4:08 Andrea heads back down
5:28 Final Push to the Summit
6:33 Summit Views
7:08 Exhausted..
7:19 Thanks for watching! Please like & Subscribe
