| San Gorgonio Wilderness | |
|---|---|
San Gorgonio range from the Dry Lake campground | |
![]() Interactive map of San Gorgonio Wilderness | |
| Location | San Bernardino /Riverside counties,California |
| Nearest city | San Bernardino, California |
| Coordinates | 34°06′02″N116°49′43″W / 34.10056°N 116.82861°W /34.10056; -116.82861 |
| Area | 94,702 acres (383.25 km2)[1] |
| Established | 1964 |
| Governing body | United States Forest Service /Bureau of Land Management |
TheSan Gorgonio Wilderness is located in the easternSan Bernardino Mountains, inSan Bernardino County and into northernRiverside County,Southern California.
It begins north ofSan Gorgonio Pass, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) west ofMorongo Valley and 10 miles (16 km) northwest ofPalm Springs, California.[2]
The wilderness is part of the eastern slope of the San Bernardino Mountains, with topography rapidly changing from low, rollingfoothills andcanyons to steep, ruggedmountains. These mountains includeMount San Gorgonio and several other peaks over 10,000 feet (3,000 m). Elevations range from 2,300 to 11,502 feet (701 to 3,506 m). Because of this elevation gradient, the wilderness reflects a transition betweendesert,coastal andmountain environments, including the different types of vegetation representative of each elevation.[2]
The United States Congress designated the San Gorgonio Wilderness in 1964. By 1984, it expanded to 23,720 acres (96 km2). In 1994, it was further expanded with additionalBLM lands and it now has a total of 94,702 acres (383 km2).[1]
The San Gorgonio Wilderness is now within theSand to Snow National Monument, established byPresident Obama in February 2016.[3] It is managed jointly by theSan Bernardino National Forest and theBureau of Land Management.[4][5]