Wilderness on the San Bernardino
Wilderness is an indispensable part of American
history. Native Americans depended on the bounty of wildlands for
survival and held Earth and its wild places as sacred. The great
western explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were inspired
by the untamed beauty of wild places that became the forge upon
which our distinctive American national character was created. After
just 200 years from the time of Lewis and Clark, the essential
wildness of America had virtually disappeared. As Americans realized
that the long-term health and welfare of the nation were at risk, a
vision for conservation emerged.
In 1964 our nation's leaders formally acknowledged the immediate and
lasting benefits of wild places to the human spirit and fabric of
our nation. That year, in a nearly unanimous vote, Congress enacted
landmark legislation that permanently protected some of the most
natural and undisturbed places in America. The Wilderness Act of
1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System, the
system of all America's wilderness areas, to "secure for the
American people of present and future generations the benefits of an
enduring resource of wilderness."
The United States was the first country in the world to define and
designate wilderness areas through law. Subsequently, countries
around the world have protected areas modeled after the Wilderness
Act. Wilderness is part of our history and heritage and is passed as
a legacy to future generations. Indispensable to the American past,
the legacy that is wilderness will remain indispensable to the
American future.
Wilderness FAQ'sShould I call ahead
before visiting the Wilderness?
Yes - Call the local Ranger Station to check on road / trail
conditions and what type of permits are needed. "Know
Before You Go" During winter months some locations may
be inaccessible due to snow or closed.
What is the Wilderness?
Wilderness is a federal land designated by Congress. It is a
place "where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by
man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain....which is
protected and managed to preserve its natural condition."
(Wilderness Act 1964)
In the Wilderness, preservation of the land, its natural processes,
native vegetation and wildlife is the first priority of management.
Human use is secondary. All mechanized equipment and vehicles
are prohibited (including mountain bikes).
Where are the Wilderness Areas?
The San Bernardino National Forest has eight designated
Wilderness Areas covering 151, 341 acres
* San Bernardino National Forest
System Lands only
Maps of these areas (except
Bighorn, Cahuilla and South Fork San Jacinto) are available at
Ranger Stations for $8.00
Do I need a permit?
All Wilderness Areas except Santa Rosa and Bighorn
Mountain, require a free Wilderness Permit for day hiking and
camping. The Permits can be reserved up to 3 months in
advance. Visitors to the San Gorgonio Wilderness, can complete
an on-line
application. The number of people admitted to the Wilderness is
limited-on some summer weekends Wilderness areas fill to capacity
well in advance. The best advice is to plan ahead.
Please contact the local Ranger Station for the area you plan to
visit:
How many people can enter as a group?
Group size is limited to 12 people per permit; 8 stock per permit.
Can I have a fire or cook in the Wilderness?
Lightweight
stoves are recommended.
Campfires are
not allowed in the Wilderness Areas.
Can I take my dog into the Wilderness? Yes, dogs are
permitted. Your dog must on a leash no longer than 6 feet and
under your control at all times.
Interested in Lending a hand in the Wilderness?
The San Gorgonio
Wilderness Association The San Gorgonio Wilderness
Association is a non-profit group dedicated to protecting the San
Gorgonio Wilderness, and to serving the public visiting the forest.
These services are provided through the generous donation of time by
nearly 120 volunteers, who enjoy our National Forest and Wilderness
areas and wish to help protect these precious resources for use by
themselves and future generations.
The Forest Service Volunteer
Association in Idyllwild, helps patrol and maintain trails in
the San Jacinto Wilderness. They have a downloadable
Wilderness Permit for mail-in applicants, camping and hiking
information.
Front Country Recreation Volunteers in Lytle Creek provide
information to the public, repair and maintain trails, pick up
litter, and monitor resources across the Front Country Ranger
District and Cucamonga Wilderness. Volunteers attend a two-day
training workshop in April every year.
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Located
as a backdrop to the desert communities of the Coachella Valley, the
National Monument serves as a model for community based support. It
reflects the vision of the local jurisdictions and national desires
to ensure special landscapes within our country are protected as
open space for current and future generations.
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