Allen Peak

Allen Peak, photo by Kathy Wing

Allen, taken from Saddle, photo by Kathy Wing

Allen, taken from West, photo by Kathy Wing

Allen, photo by Sunny Yi

Allen Peak, Photo by Kathy Wing.

Peak Name

Allen Peak

25A

Elevation

5795

feet

Status

active

Region

Yucaipa Ridge Area

Range

San Bernardino Mountains

Nearby peaks

Birch Mountain, Cedar Mountain, Wilshire Peak, Wilshire Mountain

Location

34.0805678,-116.9866965

Description

Allen is named for B. F. Allen, the early forest supervisor who created the idea of forest “rangers” to patrol them, which gave rise to the modern US Forest Service. It is the westernmost of the HPS peaks on the Yucaipa Ridge, and its lowest in elevation. Its dramatic east face belies its relative ease, a short distance from the main trail through wild and beautiful woods.

Route 2 starts from the Bearpaw Preserve, owned and managed by the Wildlands Conservancy, from whom advance permission is required but readily obtained https://wildlandsconservancy.org/preserves/bearpaw. Route 3 starts from the community below and follows the path of an aqueduct. It has suffered erosion in recent years and its status is currently (5/24) uncertain. Route 2 comes from the eastern side along the Yucaipa Ridge, which it is often hiked with in a car shuttle hike.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 2- From Bearpaw Preserve

Elevation Gain

1300′

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

7.5 miles round trip on road and cross-country

Estimated time

3-4 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 2, moderate

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-10 east past San Bernardino to the Orange Street exit (SR 38).
Go one block east, then go north (left) 0.5 mile to Lugonia Avenue. Turn right on SR 38 (east).
Go about 8 miles to the Mill Creek Ranger Station.
Continue on SR 38 another 6.2 miles to Valley of the Falls Road junction (Forest Falls Road). Park here. If you have permission and the gate code from the Bearpaw Preserve you may continue on rough dirt road to the Preserve parking area where there is a bathroom.

Hiking route

From the parking area (4460′), cross Mill Creek to the south on 1S08. Hike up 1S08 through privately owned land 2.6 miles to 1S09 (Yucaipa Ridge Truck Trail) at the Allen-Birch saddle.
Turn right (west) and hike along 1S09 about 1/4 mile to where the north trending ridge of Allen Peak crosses the road.
Turn left (south) and hike up the north ridge of Allen Peak to the summit.

Route Notes

Allen route 2 and much of the Yucaipa Ridge is within the Bearpaw Preserve, owned and operated by the Wildlands Conservancy. You can find more information about the preserve at wildlandsconservancy.org/preserves/bearpaw.

The Preserve encourages hiking on its land but you must make arrangements in advance. Email the Preserve at sbmountains@wildlandsconservancy.org or call the manager of the Oak Glen Preserve and Bear Paw Preserve Evan Welsh at (909) 790-3698. You will receive an e-mail that contains a liability waiver form, which private hikers or leaders fill out individually and return at the trailhead. Call him back on the Friday before the hike to get the current gate code, if one wishes to park next to the bathrooms.

The usual Yucaipa Ridge Traverse car shuttle route starts at Vivian Creek Trailhead and finishes at Bear Paw Preserve.

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 3

Elevation Gain

1500′

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

9 miles round trip on trail and road

Estimated time

4-5 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 2, moderately strenuous

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-10 east past San Bernardino to the Orange Street exit (SR 38).
Go one block east, then go north (left) 0.5 mile to Lugonia Avenue. Turn right on SR 38 (east).
Go about 8 miles to the Mill Creek Ranger Station.
Continue on SR 38 another 6.2 miles to Valley of the Falls Road junction (Forest Falls Road). Turn right.
Go 1.2 miles to where the road crosses the creek. Parking is available just to the left of this junction.
Drive or walk about 0.1 mile south on Canyon Drive to the intersection with Prospect Drive. Turn left.
Continue on Prospect Drive to where the road curves to the west. The trail starts just past a brown cabin at 39393 Prospect Dr.

Hiking route

From the start of the trail, follow it as it crosses a creek and continues on the other side.
Continue on the trail 2.6 miles to FS 1S08, the road from Bear Paw Sanctuary.
Continue on the road 1 mile to the junction with the Allen-Birch saddle (FS 1S09).
Turn right (west) and hike along FS 1S09 about ¼ mile to where the north trending ridge of Allen Peak crosses the road.
Turn left (south) and hike up the north ridge of Allen Peak to the summit.
Note: In some areas, beware of loose rocks. Helmets might be advisable.

Route Notes

Note: Beware of loose rocks in some areas. Helmets might be advisable. Route 3 does not need permission from Bearpaw Reserve.

Printable Route