San Bernardino Peak Backpack

Cappie’s Scoop: Mom and I have climbed this mountain as a day hike (whew, that was a long day) and also as a backpacking trip! I love when we backpack because we get to sleep outside, well in a tent, but still, outside! On this trip, we found a great campsite at the Limber Pine Bench Camp (9,200 ft) and there were a few patches of snow nearby. So I rolled around in that a few times to cool off from the sun and then I ZOOMED through it. After we hiked all the way to the 10,649 ft peak (about 2.25 miles from camp), we stopped to filter water on the way back to camp. It was ice cold goodness. Mom carried everything while I looked for sticks. Then I watched the sunset from the top of a giant boulder which scared mom but I was very careful. Don’t hesitate to add YOUR scoop in the comments below!

Tips: Bear-proof canisters are strongly recommended. You can rent them from your local adventure store. Columbine Camp (water usually available 8,000 ft) is 4.7 miles from the trailhead just beyond Manzanita Flats. The camp is to the right (south) of the trail and 0.7 mile and 300 vertical ft below it. Water may also be available from a spring 0.3 mile beyond the Limber Pine Bench Camp. The road to the trailhead is bumpy so you may park your car alongside the dirt road and walk 1/4 mile down to the trailhead. No campfires allowed. Portable gas stoves are allowed.

Directions: Once you’re on 38 E/Mill Creek Road, it can get tricky. You’re going to make a right at Mountain Home Creek Rd and then a left on Frontage Rd/Manzanita Ave. Once you pass the Angelus Oaks fire station on your right side, you will probably see a brown sign that says “TRAILHEAD, go to 3rd house, turn right, stay to right on dirt road to parking.” You will drive about 1/4 mile along a bumpy dirt road. Passenger cars can make it, just go slow.

Planning a Backpack – April 2021 Newsletter Special Issue

Mountain Forecast (near San Bernardino Peak)