Hike Little San Gorgonio, Wanat, Galena Peaks (Yucaipa Ridge) San Bernardino National Forest, CA

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Jul 10, 2026 — The San Bernardino Mountains are best known for high-profile objectives like San Gorgonio Mountain, the highest peak in Southern California, and the heavily traveled Vivian Creek Trail that climbs to its summit. Just south of that popular route lies the rugged Yucaipa Ridge, an obscure ridgeline separated from the San Gorgonio massif by Mill Creek. Very few venture onto this burned, eroded ridge, where faint social trails, loose slopes, and occasional scrambling replace maintained trail. It’s the kind of route that appeals more to peakbaggers looking for something different than to hikers seeking classic scenery or well-built paths.

As visitors to the area rather than locals, there was a moment in the day’s summer heat when we decided we were exempt from chasing obscure summits along forgotten ridges, and couldn’t help but laugh at ourselves for being out here. Prior to the hike, we had at least decided that the full Yucaipa Ridge Traverse didn’t really appeal to us, mostly because there wasn’t another ranked summit for miles west of Little San Bernardino Peak, so we settled on this truncated section that hits the highlights.

We started from the Vivian Creek Trailhead, following the familiar trail only briefly before continuing off-trail into Mill Creek. After walking up the rocky creek bed for a short distance, we turned into a gravelly wash, then eventually left it to begin a relentlessly steep climb up the hillside. We quickly stumbled onto a surprisingly well-defined social trail that was pretty easy to follow once found, often supported by cairns.

The next couple thousand vertical feet were a steady grind. It was mostly just a steep slope, but at one point the path hugged a dangerously eroded rim above an adjacent drainage. Eventually the grade eased as we gained Wanat Peak’s northwestern ridge, where the views began to open up across Mill Creek.

Rather than tag Wanat Peak immediately, we followed a use trail around its western slope to the saddle with Little San Gorgonio Peak. A quick climb brought us to the summit, where San Gorgonio Mountain dominated the skyline and the Yucaipa Ridge Traverse stretched eastward ahead of us. After enjoying the view, we headed over to Wanat Peak, which had a notable steep and sandy section near its summit.

From Wanat Peak we dropped steeply (Class 2) onto the fire-scarred ridgeline and continued over a series of undulations to Cuchillo Peak. Beyond here, the ridge narrowed and became more interesting. A handful of rocky outcrops interrupted the otherwise straightforward hike, providing several Class 3 scrambles. We climbed directly over the first obstacle before traversing beneath the larger second outcrop, then scrambled steep Class 2 terrain back to the crest, a false summit. A bit later, a final Class 3 move below Galena Peak provided another short scramble before an easy stroll led to the summit.

From Galena Peak, the route descended steep, sandy slopes toward Mill Creek Jumpoff. This named saddle is an eroded mess. Rather than descend the polished gray hardpan favored by previous parties, we found a scree slope that offered much better footing and a more controlled descent into the drainage below.

There were a bunch of Class 2 boulder obstacles once we reached Mill Creek. A small waterfall later added a pleasant surprise before the drainage settled into some rocky hiking. Eventually we rejoined the Vivian Creek Trail for the easy walk back to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Little San Gorgonio Peak

9152 ft

609 rise

Wanat Peak

9057 ft

491 rise

Cuchillo Peak

8877 ft

213 rise

Galena Peak

9346 ft

891 rise

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Vivian Creek Trailhead.

After a brief walk along the dirt road portion of the Vivian Creek Trail, we continued into Mill Creek, off-trail.

We turned south up this gravelly wash, leaving it on the left to start up a steep slope.

We found a defined social trail, which was hard to lose once locating.

Steep ascent for a couple thousand vertical feet.

The social trail hugs an eroded rim.

View back down as the trail hugs the rim on a very steep, loose section.

More steep hiking, but less so.

View back down as we join Wanat Peak's northwestern ridge.

Wanat Peak's northwestern ridge.

We followed a social trail that wrapped around the western slope of Wanat Peak. We were headed to Little San Gorgonio Peak first.

At the saddle separating Little San Gorgonio Peak from Wanat Peak. Mount San Jacinto seen in the distance.

Ascending to Little San Gorgonio Peak.

Little San Gorgonio Peak, view east. San Gorgonio Mountain seen top left. Yucaipa Ridge center.

View back toward Little San Gorgonio Peak as we head up Wanat Peak.

Wanat Peak ahead.

Eroded ridgeline.

Wanat Peak, view east.

Steep descent from Wanat Peak.

Undulations along the wildfire-mauled Yucaipa Ridge.

View back toward Wanat Peak from Cuchillo Peak, Mill Creek seen below on the right.

Descent from Cuchillo Peak.

Ascending along the rim toward Galena Peak.

Ahead is the first Class 3 obstacle. We stuck to the crest for the first outcropping, but the larger one behind it required a traverse beneath it.

Approaching the Class 3 first outcropping.

View back at the Class 3.

We stayed on the crest until an obvious traverse became clear at the base of the second outcropping.

The traverse beneath the second outcropping.

Steep Class 2 to get above the second outcropping.

View back at our progress.

Galena Peak ahead. In the center obscured by a dead tree is the next Class 3 obstacle.

Chris scrambling up the Class 3 crux.

Class 3 crux.

Onward to Galena Peak, just ahead.

Galena Peak, view back along Yucaipa Ridge, Mill Creek below.

Galena Peak, view toward Mount San Jacinto.

We continued along the ridgeline.

Steep descent to Mill Creek Jumpoff (the saddle below).

Steep and sandy down to Mill Creek Jumpoff.

View back up toward Galena Peak.

Traversing above Mill Creek Jumpoff until we found a suitable descent option. Most seemed to prefer using the gray hardpan-looking nonsense, but we continued until a scree slope that felt safer and would allow a more controlled descent.

Mill Creek Jumpoff.

Looking back up. We kept to the rocks/scree on the left.

Class 2 and rocky walking in the upper reaches of Mill Creek. Water emerged too.

View back toward Mill Creek Jumpoff.

A waterfall within Mill Creek.

View back toward Mill Creek Jumpoff. The hike was pretty much just more of this for a couple of miles until we rejoined the Vivian Creek Trail.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!