Round Mountain

Round Mountain, photo by Kathy Wing

Round Mount n 1st, photo by Sharon Moore

Round Mountain, Photo by Kathy Wing.

Peak Name

Round Mountain

20A

Elevation

5272

feet

Status

active

Region

Big Pine Flat Area

Range

San Bernardino Mountains

Nearby peaks

Luna Mountain, Rattlesnake Mountain

Location

34.3616693,-117.1436518

Description

Round Mountain and its cousins Luna and Rattlesnake, 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 the shortest drive of the bunch, and is a short cross country route that ends in a short rocky scramble to the summit. Hikers can continue their drive a few miles to hike Luna Route 2 as well.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1

Elevation Gain

700′

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

1 mile 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, a four-way stop at Kiowa Way. 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), keep right. This is the turnoff for Rattlesnake Mountain. Note your odometer again and go as follows:
At 1.5 miles, cattle guard. Continue.
At 2.0 miles, a fork on the left just before a deep dip in the main road with a sign “Oak Spring” (also designated JF 3275). Turn left.
At 2.8 miles, road on left. Continue straight.
At 2.9 miles, fork. Turn right.
At 3.1 miles, a turn-around. Park here.

Hiking route

From the parking area (4600′), head south up the slope to the summit.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Dirt

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Additional Peak Information

Notes: Round Mountain and the surrounding region was burned in the Willow Fire of 1999. As a result of the fire, the Bureau of Land Management closed public access to the Round Mountain area for over one year. (As of this writing, the area has been reopened.)