Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mt. Baldy and San Gorgonio Summits

While Devil's Slide and Vivian Creek trailheads require permits, I've never had a problem getting one. You just have to fax in the permit a week or so before your hike to the Ranger Station.

Like wbtravis5152, I agree that Devil's Slide is a great trail to San Jacinto summit. About 20 miles roundtrip, climbing from about 5500' to 10800'. Much more challenging (and beautiful) than taking the tram.

San Gorgonio offers a ton of great trails---Vivian Creek from the South (steep!), and Dollar Lake or Dry Lake from the North, or Fish Creek from the North. The trails from the North areas are all about 18-22 miles round trip, but the climbs are not as steep as from Vivian Creek.

Baldy is a great hike, steep, but not as many miles roundtrip.

Have fun out there!

Unless you do Baldy from Wrightwood. Or do Baldy from the Village and return over the 3Ts trail.

I hiked the vivian creek trail to the top of Gorgonio with my sons aged 15 & 13 two years ago. We did it as a day hike. Last year we hiked Whitney as a day hike and I thought Whitney and Gorgonio were similar except the effects of altitude. The Vivian Creek trail starts at 6000+ and the peak is 11500 so there is an elevation gain of about 5500.

The Vivian Creek trail is shorter than Whitney but it is also steeper especially the first mile or so. We enjoyed it and after reading all the comments posted about the steepness of the first mile we were psyced up for more than it turned out to be. It is in the San Gorgonio Wilderness so you have to get a permit.
I highly recommend it.

I just like showing up and going, which is one of the reasons I've never gone of the Vivian Creek Trail. Some winter day, I'll show up pick up a bp permit and go.

I've done Vivian Creek many times after picking up a permit on the way up. Admittedly, that works best on weekdays, but I have done it on Saturdays in July by just getting to the ranger station early. I certainly wouldn't count on that working, and have always had alternate plans ready.