Rattlesnake Mountain

Rattlesnake Mountain, taken from Road, photo by Kathy Wing

Rattlesnake Mountain, taken from Round, Photo by Kathy Wing.

Peak Name

Rattlesnake Mountain

20C

Elevation

5967

feet

Status

active

Region

Big Pine Flat Area

Range

San Bernardino Mountains

Nearby peaks

Luna Mountain, Round Mountain

Location

34.3555586,-117.0850391

Description

Rattlesnake and its cousins Round and Luna, near Hesperia, are on the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest, where the forest descends to open rocky scrub land and then to desert. The terrain and vistas are interesting and varied, from the high alpine landscape of Big Bear to the expansive panorama of the high desert. All three peaks, usually hiked in combination, are easy hikes on sometimes rocky use trail and or cross country, and require high clearance vehicles to reach them on rough road.

Route 1 is a short cross country hike. Hikers can continue their drive a few miles to hike Luna Route 1 as well.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1

Elevation Gain

500′

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

1 1/2 miles round trip cross-country

Estimated time

1 hour round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

Drive east on I-10 and north on I-15 to the Hesperia turnoff.
Go east on Main Street in Hesperia for 7.2 miles to the “Y” junction of Rock Springs Road (on the left) and Arrowhead Lake Road (the main road continuing on the right). Turn left (east) on Rock Springs Road. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 2.9 miles, Kiowa Way on the left. Continue straight as Rock Springs Road becomes Roundup Way.
At 5.9 miles, pavement ends. Continue east.
At 7.3 miles, intersection with the Bowen Ranch Road. Turn right (south).
At 8.2 miles, fork. Keep left.
At 9.4 miles, junction with Coxey Truck Trail (3N14), turn left. This is the turnoff for Round Mountain and one of the Luna Mountain routes. Note your odometer again and go as follows:
Drive 4.4 miles, pass through a gate.
At 4.9 miles, park in a large parking area on the right.

Hiking route

From the parking area (5720′), hike up the jeep trail on the left (east), to a flat area.
Then go east across this to the ridge visible ahead.
Go to the top of the ridge, then right and follow the ridge to the summit.

Route Notes

Printable Route