San Gorgonio Wilderness Adventures - Fish Creek
I was really itching to get out into some snow...
So I headed up highway 38 into the San Bernardino mountains to the Heart Bar campground just outside the northern edge of the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The road in was closed for the winter so we had to hike in a bit on the road, but not too much. Our goal was to get to Fish Creek saddle, and luckily this was just a day hike so if the extra miles made it too far we could just turn around sooner... but if you know me and my dogs we handled the extra miles no problem. Anyways.. a short distance passed the campground we left the road and caught the trail going across the east side of the aptly named 'Big Meadow'.
Hiking passed the Heart Bar campground
Pup enjoying Big Meadow
From Big Meadow we climbed up a steep horse trail, up onto the ridge where the Aspen Grove trailhead was. We took the Aspen Grove trail and dropped down the other side of the ridge down to Fish creek. Here is where we started to really encounter the snow. We followed the trail up the creek to the junction at lower Fish Creek meadows. It was totally covered in snow an was really beautiful and serene.
Views climbing up the horse trail
Fish creek
A recently fallen Jeffery Pine
Lower Fish Creek meadow
After a small break at the lower meadow we headed up the Fish creek trail passed upper Fish Creek meadow, the Fish Creek backpackers camp, and eventually we made it all the way up to the Fish Creek saddle! There was quite a bit of snow, but the trail was still more or less followable and the snow conditions were great. No ice, no slush... it was just right!
Hiking up the Fish Creek trail
The junction for the Fish Creek camp
My boy Pup, with Lake peak towering behind him.
Another shot of my Pup looking picturesque
This branch was telling me to go climb Lake peak(right) and 10,000ft ridge(left)... but not today
A snowy Fish Creek saddle... to bad I didn't bring camping gear!
After reaching the saddle we turned around and headed back down the trail a bit and stopped at a snow free spot with a good view and we took a little break. The sun went down behind the mountains and I sat there and watched the shadow move across the northeastern part of the San Gorgonio wilderness. It was way cool. After that we headed back down the trail. Back by the Fish Creek camp and meadows, the Aspen groves, over the ridge back down by Big Meadow and back to Heart Bar. It was dark when we got back, but that was really just another great addition to a really fun adventure!!
Our snow free kick it spot
Saying goodbye to the sunlight
Hiking back down
Sunset in the San Gorgonio Wilderness
Thanks for reading!! 
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Another awesome hike. That shot of the tree pointing to those 2 peaks is pretty amazing. What are the odds of finding that?
See ya in 2 days!
You always take the most awesome hikes.. great sunset
Snow! And the dogs look so happy. Siris freakin loves to play in snow. But man, come out sometime before April and I'll show you some snow. ;)
So pretty! I guess that's next on my list of day hikes!
Wow you have some amazing photos in here my friend. I truly enjoyed going through your post and see so many amazing photos of beautiful nature. It seems like you really did have a great time on this hike. I am sure your boy Pup enjoyed himself as well.
Thank you for sharing part of your hike with us. Keep them coming. :)
Thanks man! We did have a good time. Pup loves the snow.
He sure seems likes it. Keeping going on adventures, my friend. Love seeing it. :)
Ok, who had more fun? You or Pup?
Looks like a beautiful, sunny day for a great walk!
I think you should climb that branch, the view of the mountain would be awesome up there ^_^
Haha! I really like that picture. I just happened to look up and see the branch lining up with those peaks perfectly like that.
Wow, I thought that area got burned down a couple of years ago. It is amazing to see it intact. I love camping at the yellowpost sites along Coon Creek Rd there, and once we rented Coon Creek Cabin for a weekend. Marvelous location! Thanks for sharing your hike.
wow, that place is beautiful. I really like how nature takes its place, is the weather alright? i know lots of people prefer camping in the summer but i think winter has its own beauty too at the camp site
Nice photos. No fish in the Fish Creek? I always wondered what survives in the cold mountain streams.
Thanks @chr7is! There were some tiny little 1-2 inch minnow trout in the creek. It's a pretty small creek though. This creek flows into the Santa Ana river a bit lower and the river does have some good trout fishing.
Ok sounds interesting. That is something that I have noticed in America, you have minnows in a lot of rivers/ponds. In South Africa we don't really have bait fish, we mainly have tilapia and carp as a source of food for the higher-ups (Bass).