Cedar Mountain

Sign Near Cedar Mountain, photo by Kathy Wing

Cedar Mountain, photo by Google Earth

Sign Near Cedar Mountain, Photo by Kathy Wing.

Peak Name

Cedar Mountain

25C

Elevation

8324

feet

Status

active

Region

Yucaipa Ridge Area

Range

San Bernardino Mountains

Nearby peaks

Birch Mountain, Wilshire Peak, Wilshire Mountain, Little San Gorgonio Peak

Location

34.0680679,-116.9289155

Description

Cedar, between Birch and the Wilshires, is the approximate midpoint and one stop along the way on the demanding Yucaipa Ridge Traverse from Little San Gorgonio to Allen. Unlike nearby Birch, there are actually cedar trees here. It is owned and managed by the Wildlands Conservancy’s Bearpaw Preserve.

Route 1 describes the section between Cedar and Wilshire Mountain..

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1

Elevation Gain

400′

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

1.0 mile one way on trail

Estimated time

1/2 hour one way

Route Rating

Class 1, very strenuous when combined with other peaks in the area

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

See the driving instructions for Little San Gorgonio Peak. This route assumes that you are hiking each peak along this section of Yucaipa Ridge (5 peaks).

Hiking route

From Wilshire Peak, hike west down into a saddle and them up to the summit of Oak Glen Peak. (This peak is not on the HPS list. There is usually a peak register here.)
Continue west down into another saddle and then up to the summit of Cedar Mountain.

Route Notes

You may continue west down Yucaipa Ridge past Birch Mountain to the the Allen-Birch saddle and exit through rhe Bearpaw Preserve. However you must obtain permission in advance to use this exit route. Information about obtaining access is in the notes for Allen Peak Route 2.

The USGS topo shows a trail starting at Pilgrim Pines Camp in Oak Glen and going up to a point near Cedar Mountain. This trail crosses private property and must be used only with permission. Call Pilgrim Pines at (562) 335-7697 for permission.

This peak and the four nearby peaks are normally done together as a car shuttle trip. It is possible to descend the ridge from the saddle just east of Birch Mountain to the town of Forest Falls. See the Birch Mountain guide for additional information.

Printable Route

Road Type

None

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Additional Peak Information

Special conditions: The Yucaipa Ridge Traverse continues west down Yucaipa Ridge past Birch Mountain to the Allen-Birch saddle. To continue on the route you will pass through land owned by the Wildlands Conservancy, which manages the Oak Glen Preserve and Bear Paw Preserve. You must request permission to hike here at least five days in advance.
You may also reach the manager by calling (909) 790-3698 or emailing the Bearpaw Preserve at sbmountains@wildlandsconservancy.org. The manager will send you a liability waiver form for all leaders and participants to fill out, sign, and leave at the trailhead when they start their hike, and the current gate code to enter the perserve. There are bathrooms at the parking area.

Notes: This peak and the four nearby peaks are normally done together as a car shuttle trip. It is possible to descend the ridge from the saddle just east of Birch Mountain to the town of Forest Falls. See the Birch Mountain guide for additional information.