| San Gorgonio Wilderness | |
| Iucn Category: | Ib |
| Location: | San Bernardino / Riverside counties, California |
| Nearest City: | Cherry Valley, California |
| Coordinates: | 34.1006°N -116.8286°W |
| Area Acre: | 94702 |
| Established: | 1964 |
| Governing Body: | United States Forest Service / Bureau of Land Management |
The San Gorgonio Wilderness is located in the eastern San Bernardino Mountains, in San Bernardino County and into northern Riverside County, Southern California.
It begins north of San Gorgonio Pass, approximately 2miles west of Morongo Valley and 10miles northwest of Palm Springs, California.[1]
The wilderness is part of the eastern slope of the San Bernardino Mountains, with topography rapidly changing from low, rolling foothills and canyons to steep, rugged mountains. These mountains include Mount San Gorgonio and several other peaks over 10000feet. Elevations range from 2300feetto11502feetft (toft). Because of this elevation gradient, the wilderness reflects a transition between desert, coastal and mountain environments, including the different types of vegetation representative of each elevation.[1]
The United States Congress designated the San Gorgonio Wilderness in 1964. By 1984, it expanded to 23720acres. In 1994, it was further expanded with additional BLM lands and it now has a total of 94702acres.[2]
The San Gorgonio Wilderness is now within the Sand to Snow National Monument, established by President Obama in February 2016.[3] It is managed jointly by the San Bernardino National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management.[4] [5]