Dragons Head

Dragons Head and Bighorn, photo by Sunny Yi

Dragonshead, photo by Steve Russell

Dragons Head and Bighorn, Photo by Sunny Yi.

Peak Name

Dragons Head

24M

Elevation

10866

feet

Status

active

Region

San Gorgonio Area

Range

San Bernardino Mountains

Nearby peaks

Bighorn Mountain, San Gorgonio Peak,Dobbs Peak, Lake Peak, Ten Thousand Foot Ridge

Location

34.089843,-116.830743

Description

As the southernmost peak of the San Gorgonio complex, Dragons Head has wonderful views of the Mill Creek Jumpoff and its drainage, both east and west, Galena Peak, the Yucaipa Ridge, and of course its big sister San Gorgonio towering over it. It is typically hiked in combination with nearby San Gorgonio and/or Bighorn.

Dragons Head is hiked from the south ridge of Gorgonio, either from the east on the Fish Creek and Sky High trails, Route 1, or from the west, originating on the Vivian Creek Trail, Route 2. Both routes are long and strenuous.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1- Fish Creek Trail

Elevation Gain

4100′ total, 3500′ out plus 600′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

18 miles round trip on trail and cross-country

Estimated time

8-9 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, 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).
Continue east on SR 38 about 33 miles to 1N02 on the right, 1 mile past the first entrance to Heart Bar Campground. Turn right. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 1.2 miles, fork. Go right on 1N05.
At 2.8 miles, Aspen Grove Trail 2E05 goes west.
At 6.9 miles, fork. Go right.
At 7.2 miles, fork. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) crosses the road here. Go right.
At 7.6 miles, fork. Go right.
At 7.7 miles, Fish Creek Trailhead (1W07). Park here.

Hiking route

From the parking area (8040′), hike trail 1W07 southwest about 1/2 mile to a junction with the Aspen Grove Trail.
Keep left on 1W07 and continue 4 miles to Fish Creek Saddle at 9805′. Follow the trail for another mile to Dry Lake Saddle. Shortly thereafter meet the trail to Mine Shaft Saddle (9960′).
Turn left and follow the Sky High Trail. A sign indicates “San Gorgonio 3 1/2 miles”. The trail switchbacks up the eastern and southern flanks of San Gorgonio Peak.
When you have ascended above the 11,000′ contour, leave the trail and travel cross-country south toward a very wide, flat, almost vegetation-free area called “The Tarn” (10,600′). About 1/2 mile west of The Tarn is a saddle (10,640′).
From this saddle proceed southwest up the ridge to the summit of Dragons Head.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Dirt

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2- Vivian Creek Trail

Elevation Gain

6200′ total, 5500′ out plus 700′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

17 miles round trip on trail and cross-country

Estimated time

9-10 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, strenuous

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 8.0 miles to the Mill Creek Ranger Station.
Continue east on SR 38 about 5 miles to the Valley of the Falls Road on the right. Turn right.
Drive 4 3/4 miles to the Vivian Creek trailhead parking area at the end of the road. Park here.

Hiking route

From the Vivian Creek trailhead parking area (6080′), hike past the locked gate on the initially paved road east for 1/2 mile to where the trail descends into the wash.
Cross the wash and pick up the trail again on the north side. Hike up the Vivian Creek Trail to its intersection with the San Bernardino Peak Trail (1W07) at 11,240′. Turn right.
In about 1/4 mile meet the turnoff to the summit of San Gorgonio Peak. Keep right.
Follow the trail southerly to where it turns eastward at about 11,160′.
At this point leave the trail heading south to a saddle at 10,640′.
From this saddle proceed southwest up the ridge to the summit.

Route Notes

Note: Alternatively, one may leave the Vivian Creek Trail just north of elevation 10,131′ and contour northeasterly, crossing the main wash, then proceeding easterly up another wash to the saddle at 10,640′. This reduces the gain to 5000′ including 100′ on return and the distance to 14 miles round trip.

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Additional Peak Information

Special conditions: Permits for day or overnight use are required for all routes and have a limit of 12. Permits can be obtained online from the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association at swga.org up to 90 days in advance or at the Mill Creek Ranger Station, 9 miles from Redlands on SR 38.

Historical note: A map produced by the Defenders of the San Gorgonio Wilderness refers to this peak as “South Peak (The Dragons Head)”, but it is not named on either USGS topos or on USFS maps.
The Hundred Peaks Section has called this peak Dragons Head for several decades, and it failed several attempts to be added to the List before being added to the List in 1999.
Route 1 traverses an unusual geological feature called The Tarn, also called Tosh’s Tarn on the Defenders of the San Gorgonio Wilderness map. Bob Tosh is a naturalist who explored the San Gorgonio Wilderness extensively in the 1960’s and 1970’s.