1998 San Gorgonio Wilderness Plan

Dear Wilderness Visitor:

Effective September 8, 1998, there will be changes to wilderness management on the San Bernardino National Forest. These changes are due to the implementation of the recently completed Environmental Assessment for Wilderness Management (March 1988). Over a ten year period, the changes were developed by an interdisciplinary team with public comment. These changes will enhance the wilderness experience by reducing group sizes, and improving wilderness resource protection through a variety of resource management actions.

The following changes will affect your visit to the Cucamonga, San Gorgonio, San Jacinto, and Santa Rosa Wilderness areas:

  • Dogs permitted on leash only.

  • Maximum user group size reduced to 12.

  • Day and overnight use quotas would be slightly reduced in San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Wildernesses.

  • Packstock that travel and camp together limited to 8 per permit. Packstock food is required to be packed in, no grazing allowed.

  • Goats would not be permitted in Wildernesses with bighorn sheep herds.

  • Wilderness visitors will no longer be permitted to have open campfires in the Cucamonga, Santa Rosa, and San Gorgonio Wildernesses.

  • Open campfires will be permitted in the San Jacinto Wilderness at these sites: Lower Basin 2 & 3, Desert View 2& 3, Chinquapin 1 & 3, Tahquitz 2 & 3, and Skunk Cabbage 3.

  • Authorized types of camp stoves for use in the wilderness include completely enclosed portable camp stove with spark arrested chimney, portable stove using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel, and “Zip” stoves.

Additionally, we strongly discourage the use of glass containers when travelling in the local wilderness areas.

Please see all other regulations governing the San Gorgonio Wilderness.

If you have any questions, please call one of the following Wilderness Managers:

  • Melinda Lyon at 909-382-2929 or Ron Lawson at 909-382-2928 for the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Wildernesses.

  • Alfredo Zarate at 909-382-2900 for the Cucamonga and San Gorgonio Wildernesses.