Travel guide to the top of Morton Peak in CA

Morton Peak is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.410m (4,625ft) above the sea level, located in San Bernardino County, in the U.S. state of California.

Morton Peak

Can you drive to the top of Morton Peak in California?

Located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, the rough dirt road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s called Forest Service Road 1S13. Starting at the paved CA-38, the road is 4.18km (2.6 miles) long.

Is the road to Morton Peak in California challenging?

Tucked away in the San Bernardino National Forest, the dirt road to the summit is pretty narrow. A high clearance vehicle is recommended. The peak is named after R. B. Morton, official of the Redlands settlement in the late 1800s. The summit hosts a fire lookout. Originally built in 1934, the current tower is a product of a 2001 refurbishment project. The tower is periodically staffed by volunteers. Caution: Bears, rattlesnakes, bobcats, and mountain lions frequent the area. Four-wheel drive vehicles may also be required after rain/snow.

Is the road to Morton Peak in California steep?

Set high in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, the road to the summit is very steep, hitting a 13% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Starting at the paved CA-38, the ascent is 4.18km (2.6 miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 411 meters. The average gradient is 9.83%. The summit affords tremendous 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and canyons.

 

Drive Us to Your Road!

With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.