Best place for elevation gain, Socal

I'm new to the area and just visited Tahquitz rock the other day. What a great first climbing experience in California.

Getting back to my theme and goal of alpine rock climbing, I'm looking to go a little higher in elevation. It doesn't have to be technical.

I just want a good place to gain a few thousand vertical feet, while winding up at an altitude of around 10k+ would be the goal.

What is everyone's "go to" around here for a good elevation gain/high altitude hike, close to North County San Diego?

I saw San Jacinto mountain while we were at Tahquitz and I think this is around 10k, but are there things that are closer or better access?

Thanks!

Google!
Youll get results faster.
San Gorgiono is highest peak in socal but i dont know where that is exactly.

Snow Creek on the north face of San Jacinto will get you about 10,000 feet of vertical from base to summit.

Baldy (Mt. San Antonio) is 10k+ and about 45 min from Downtown LA.

James....like Pete said Mt. San Antonio/Mt. Baldy (10,062 ft) is about as accessible as any. Starting from Manker Flat via the Ski Hut is 2,200 ft. or from Baldy Village is 5,800 ft. And if you want to road bike up from Foothill or Baseline Rd. stash the bike at Mt. Baldy Village and go up south ridge, like we used to do, it's great training for Mt. Shasta, Mt. Rainier, or Denali.

PRRose wrote:Snow Creek on the north face of San Jacinto will get you about 10,000 feet of vertical from base to summit.

Be careful if you do this one. The bottom of the canyon is private property owned by the Desert Water Agency, and they are serious about keeping people out. They have all kinds of surveillance equipment. If you try to cut across their land, you WILL be caught, and they are very likely to press charges.

There is supposedly a legal way around the property that involves ascending the ridge to the east of the drainage until you are clear of their property, and then cutting down the ridge and traversing across towards Snow Creek. This will require gaining and loosing an additional 1000 feet or so. There is more info here: summitpost.org/snow-creek/1…

As far as other spots to hike/run, there are a ton of steep trails all over the San Jacinto Mountain (home of San Jacinto Peak and Tahquitz), San Gabriel Mountains (Home of Mount Baldy), and the San Bernadino Mountains (home of San Gorgonio). I'd suggest getting a map and a pair of trail running shoes and getting after it. In the winter, these same spots provide great opportunities for ski mountaineering.

Cheers and have fun,
Cory

To get up to higher elevations, what's been mentioned is all ~2 hours away: Baldy, San Gorgonio, and San Jacinto.

A local hike that isn't high elevation but is certainly an ass-kicker for training is the main trail on El Cajon Mtn (different than the trail that goes to the climbing walls). It's ~11 miles R/T and ~4K gain due to lots of up/down each way. Bring water and sunscreen.

Just breathe through a straw. Same affect, no driving.

Cactus to Clouds... palm springs to San Jack.... without all the snow creek drama.

or better yet.... jam up to Lone Pine, tons of challenging things to train on.

Why you messing around in the minor leagues ? Drive up the freeway another few hours and be in the Southern Sierra . Drive a little further and you can find places to park and sleep that are higher than anything in So. Cal.

White Mountain Road and Mosquito Flat come to mind ....

What Guy said. C2C or Skyline are probably yer best bet for one shot gain. Iron Mountain in the San Gabes is tough as well.

If you want a lot of elevation gain/drop I really like going from wrightwood to mt baldy, and back via backbone trail. You hit like 3 peaks 2x.