Extension of the MASH hike to capture the backbone above Malibu Creek State Park

South Fork is a standard route for accessing the 10,000 ft ridge, San Gorgonio etc. I did a single night backpack trip to the High Meadow Spring. Got up the next morning and hiked out to a couple peaks, then picked up my pack and returned. Great views and a wonderful campsite at High Spring Meadow that is very comfortable and out of the wind. This can also be a first stop on a great two-nighter bagging Mt. San Gorgonio. Water is rare up here, so I like that I can do the whole trip with only a liter of water on my person. The trail is moderate until one reachs the Dry Lake trail junction. From that point, it's steeper. the total ascent takes at least 5 hours and comprises about 3,500 ft elevation gain. The remaining elevation was bagging Alto Diablo, Shield Peak and Anderson Peak to the west.

Note that 19 miles only includes from the trailhead to the end and back to basecamp (where the 2nd marker is located). Total distance includes 11 more miles shown on the graph to the right of the 6 mile marker.

This trip takes you from the trailhead near Blue Jay Campground to Los Pinos Peak then to Yaeger Mesa via an unmarked trail and back on the Trabuco Trail. I recommend doing the Trabuco first (doing the loop counterclockwise) because the trail down to Yaeger Mesa is very steep. Going up will likely be easier than going down. Poles and gloves are recommended.

One of the best hikes in Southern California! By adding the loop on the west end called the "TriPeaks Area" we increased this to 8+ miles, but it's well worth it for the amazing view (and additional bit of solitude.) Want more, do the side trip to the amazing balancing rock. By doing the loop counterclockwise, you save the big peak (Called Sandstone Peak even though it's not Sandstone) for the end. Then you have a mere 1-1/2 miles of 1,400 feet drop to the car as you pass all the short-hikers huffing and puffing their way to Sandstone Peak.

This hike uses the Sid Davis Trail to summit San Jacinto. It's the shortest route and is only really accessible when there is more than 2 feet of snow on the ground. We crampons or microspikes are mandatory and snowshoes advisable as the trail climbs straight up to Miller Saddle. Miller Peak is 100 years east of the saddle junction, so you might as well bag that while there. During summer, this route is covered in chinquapin and not really accessible unless you want to do some bushwhacking. The waypoint is at the junction with the main trail. The trail is NOT marked, but there is a sign in a bend where the trail crosses the creek directing you to Round Valley (to the left). You go right and stay on the right (north) side of the creek from there on.