San Bernardino National Forest: Mormon Rocks Interpretive Trail (Blog Hike #991)

Trail: Mormon Rocks Interpretive Trail (Trail #6W04)
Hike Location: San Bernardino National Forest
Geographic Location: southwest of Victorville, CA (34.31755, -117.50088)
Length: 1 mile
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: February 2024
Overview: A loop hike with good Mormon Rocks views.
Trail Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sbnf/recarea/?recid=26543
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=955772
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming December 10)

Directions to the trailhead: On Cajon Pass in southern California, take I-15 to SR 138 (exit 131).  Exit and go west on SR 138.  Drive SR 138 west 1.4 miles to the signed Mormon Rocks parking area on the left.  Turn left and park in the gravel parking area on the left.  Do NOT park in the paved parking lot in front of the firehouse; it is reserved for the firefighters that live and work there.

The hike: Jutting out from the south side of Cajon Pass, Mormon Rocks have marked the west end of the Mojave Desert for over a century.  Historic US 66 passed the rocks only a few miles from its western terminus, and the rocks get their name from Mormon pioneers who camped in this area during the mid 1800's.  Made of sandstone that was uplifted by a subfault of the famous San Andreas Fault, the rocks today tower more than 200 feet over I-15 and SR 138.

            A roadside parking area lets motorists walk to the base of Mormon Rocks, but to get a more expansive view of the rocks, you will need to hike the 1 mile loop trail described here.  This trail was built by the Forest Service fire engine crew in 1975, so you can thank a firefighter while you hike this narrow but well-constructed trail.  I had a great short hike when I came here on a chilly Wednesday afternoon in early February.

Mormon Rocks Trailhead

            To begin a clockwise journey around the loop, head east through a gap in the metal-pole fence on a single-track dirt and rock trail.  The trailhead is marked only by a wooden post with a sign warning that the parking lot gate closes at 4pm.  Very quickly the trail begins climbing, using some switchbacks to moderate the grade.  You walk past some of the smaller Mormon Rocks in this area, but the big rocks lie across the road to the north.

Small rocks south of SR 138

            At 0.25 miles, the trail angles right and flattens to commence a sidehill course.  Good views of the larger rocks to the north and east can be seen now, and higher snow-dusted mountains to the west made for a fantastic scene on my visit.  The same "pineapple express" storm system that deposited that snow days before I arrived deposited plenty of water at this elevation, and I had to step over or through several wet areas on my hike.

Main view of Mormon Rocks

Snow-dusted mountains to the west

            After a short fairly level area, the trail climbs again to reach its highest point near 0.6 miles.  The difference between maximum and minimum elevation on this trail is about 200 feet, so the climb is over rather quickly.  The highest point sits on a knife-edge ridge that offers fantastic views in all directions.  There are no trees but plenty of grasses and low shrubs on this hillside.  A few interpretive signs are present but not as many as you might expect for an "interpretive trail."  A series of narrow but gradual downhill switchbacks deposits you at the firehouse, and a short walk across the parking lot completes the hike.