Mount San Gorgonio is located in the San Bernardino Mountains, east of the city of San Bernardino, within an area designated as the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The mountain was named by Spanish missionaries in the early 17th century in honor of Saint Gorgonius.
The first documented ascent of Mount San Gorgonio occurred in 1872 by Watson A. Goodyear of the California Geological Survey and Mark Thomas of San Bernardino. By the 1980s, the area had become a popular resort destination, which led to the creation of new trails and wagon roads.
Each year, millions of visitors travel to the San Bernardino Mountains to escape the summer heat or to enjoy the winter snow. In 1929, a national forest recreation plan protecting the San Gorgonio Recreation Area was established. This plan initially preserved 11,800 acres by prohibiting road development and only allowing enough trails to make the area accessible for hiking parties. An additional 20,000 acres were added in 1931, and in that same year, the federal government’s Wilderness Act of 1964 further preserved Mount San Gorgonio from development.
Mount San Gorgonio stands at 11,503 feet making it the highest peak in Southern California. It ranks as No. 7 among the most topographically prominent peaks in the contiguous United States. It is the only mountain in Southern California with a summit rising significantly above the tree line, which makes its snow cap prominent from many miles away.
Mount San Gorgonio holds the record for the longest recorded line of sight in the contiguous United States; its summit is clearly visible from Mount Whitney, which is 190 miles away. Nicknamed “Old Grayback” for its moon-like rocky terrain, several trails lead to Mount San Gorgonio’s summit rising over 300 feet above the tree line.
For more information about Mount San Gorgonio, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sanbernardino/wilderness/san-gorgonio-wilderness.
The information in this historical feature was originally part of a video series produced by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk’s office.
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