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1996 Map of San Gorgonio Mountain

Name: 1996 Topographic Map of San Gorgonio Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1999
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1999

About this map

San Gorgonio Mountain stands as the central focal point of this high-altitude landscape, anchoring the eastern end of the Transverse Ranges. The terrain is defined by extreme relief, featuring prominent summits like Charlton Peak, Jepson Peak, and the long traverse of Ten Thousand Foot Ridge. Historically, this area served as a critical watershed and a site of early alpine exploration, evidenced by the network of campsites including Summit Campsite and High Creek Campsite.

Resource extraction and seasonal habitation left their mark on these slopes, from the Mine Shaft near Mine Shaft Saddle to the Old Creek Mine further east. Traces of early mountain access appear in the Dollar Lake Trail and San Bernardino Peak Trail, while the presence of Burro Flats at the southern edge suggests the lower-elevation transition into the Morongo Indian Reservation. The drainage patterns of the Whitewater River and San Gorgonio River illustrate the complex hydrology that supported both wilderness preservation and downstream settlements.