Saxton Camp

For our fellow Californians who are drawn to the majestic peaks and challenging trails of the San Gorgonio Wilderness, Saxton Camp stands as a strategic and essential stop on your high-elevation adventures. This isn't your typical roadside campground; rather, Saxton Camp is a backcountry gem, specifically designed for those preparing to tackle the formidable summit of San Gorgonio Mountain or simply seeking a serene wilderness experience deep within California's stunning mountain ranges. Nestled within the pristine San Gorgonio Wilderness, it offers flat ground and a vital opportunity to acclimate to the elevation, making it a crucial basecamp for serious hikers and backpackers. If your journey involves breathtaking vistas, rugged trails, and the satisfaction of reaching new heights, then understanding the role and offerings of Saxton Camp is paramount to a successful and enjoyable wilderness expedition. It provides the necessary staging ground for your high-altitude aspirations, ensuring a safer and more comfortable climb into the clouds.

Saxton Camp is uniquely situated deep within the renowned San Gorgonio Wilderness, a designated wilderness area within the San Bernardino National Forest, near the picturesque community of Forest Falls, California. The address, Fall Creek Trail, Forest Falls, CA 92339, USA, indicates its true backcountry nature. It is crucial for local users in California to understand that Saxton Camp is not accessible by vehicle. Instead, it is a wilderness campsite reached only by hiking along established trails, making it a destination primarily for experienced backpackers and hikers.

The camp's location along the Fall Creek Trail positions it strategically for those embarking on multi-day treks, particularly individuals planning to summit San Gorgonio Mountain. Its elevation provides an excellent opportunity for acclimatization, allowing hikers to adjust to the thinner air before attempting the peak. Access to the San Gorgonio Wilderness typically requires permits, which must be obtained in advance from the U.S. Forest Service. Trailheads leading into this wilderness area are generally found near Forest Falls or Big Bear. While the hike to Saxton Camp can be challenging, the reward is an immersion in a pristine, untouched natural environment, far removed from urban noise and light pollution. Its remote setting ensures a true wilderness experience, making it a highly sought-after spot for serious outdoor enthusiasts in California who appreciate the solitude and challenge of high-altitude exploration. Proper planning, including research on trail conditions and permit requirements, is essential for any visit to this remarkable backcountry location.

As a true backcountry wilderness campsite within the protected San Gorgonio Wilderness, Saxton Camp offers very specific and fundamental "services" tailored to the needs of wilderness travelers rather than conventional campground amenities. The emphasis here is on natural resources and self-reliance, with visitors expected to pack in everything they need and pack out everything they bring.

• Flat Ground for Camping: A primary service is the availability of great, flat ground for setting up tents. This is highly valued in rugged wilderness terrain, providing a stable and comfortable base for overnight stays.
• Proximity to Reliable Water Sources: While there is no water available directly on site at Saxton Camp, a crucial service is its location in relation to fairly reliable creeks. These are found approximately a quarter-mile below the camp and one mile above, providing essential water sources for filtering and purification. This allows backpackers to resupply their water, though visitors must always carry a reliable filter or purification method.
• Strategic Acclimatization Point: For those attempting the summit of San Gorgonio, the camp serves as an excellent service for acclimatization to the elevation. Spending a night here can help hikers adjust to the altitude, reducing the risk of altitude sickness on higher climbs.
• Designated Wilderness Campsite: The camp functions as a recognized and permitted campsite within the wilderness area, providing a sanctioned place for overnight stays for those who have obtained the necessary permits.

Saxton Camp boasts several critical features and highlights that make it an indispensable and highly regarded stop for serious hikers and backpackers venturing into the San Gorgonio Wilderness. These aspects directly contribute to its suitability as a backcountry basecamp.

• Strategic Location for Summit Attempts: Its most significant highlight is its prime location within the San Gorgonio Wilderness, making it an ideal basecamp for individuals "heading to the summit" of San Gorgonio Mountain. This strategic positioning is invaluable for multi-day trips aiming for the peak.
• Elevation Acclimatization: The camp serves a vital function in allowing hikers to "acclimatate to the elevation." This physiological adjustment is crucial for preventing altitude sickness and ensuring a safer and more enjoyable ascent to higher altitudes within the wilderness area.
• Flat Ground for Tents: The presence of "great campsite flat ground" is a highly appreciated feature. In challenging mountainous terrain, finding level spots for pitching a tent can be difficult, and Saxton Camp provides this essential comfort.
• No Campfires Allowed (Wilderness Regulation): A key feature, and an important highlight for wilderness preservation, is that "no campfires allowed" are permitted. This rule helps protect the fragile ecosystem and reduces fire danger, emphasizing Leave No Trace principles. Visitors should plan accordingly for cooking needs.
• Proximity to Reliable Water Sources: While no water is on-site, the "fairly reliable creeks a quarter mile below the camp and one mile above" are a critical natural highlight. This proximity to water, though requiring filtration, ensures that backpackers can replenish their supply, which is a major concern in wilderness travel.
• Wilderness Permit Requirement: The necessity of obtaining "permits required" for entry and camping within the San Gorgonio Wilderness is a defining feature. This system helps manage visitor impact, preserve the natural environment, and ensures a more solitary experience for those who make the effort.
• True Backcountry Experience: Saxton Camp offers an authentic backcountry experience, appealing to those seeking solitude, challenge, and deep immersion in nature, far from developed facilities.

As a backcountry wilderness campsite, Saxton Camp does not have a direct physical contact point or dedicated phone number for the site itself. All inquiries regarding access, permits, and current wilderness conditions should be directed to the managing authority.

Address: Fall Creek Trail, Forest Falls, CA 92339, USA

For information on permits, trail conditions, and general wilderness regulations for the San Gorgonio Wilderness, please contact the San Bernardino National Forest:

San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor's Office (general inquiries): (909) 382-2600 (This is a general contact for the forest, not specific to Saxton Camp directly, but provides essential information for accessing the wilderness area).

For Californians with a passion for serious hiking and backcountry exploration, Saxton Camp is an exceptionally suitable and indeed crucial destination. Its primary appeal lies in its strategic location deep within the San Gorgonio Wilderness, making it an indispensable basecamp for those aiming to summit San Gorgonio Mountain. The ability to "acclimatate to the elevation" here is a significant advantage, providing a safer and more comfortable approach to high-altitude challenges. For locals who understand and appreciate the principles of wilderness travel, the "flat ground" available for camping offers a welcome respite after a demanding hike. While the absence of on-site water means you must be prepared with filtration methods, the proximity to "fairly reliable creeks" ensures that water replenishment is feasible, a critical factor for multi-day treks. The "no campfires allowed" policy reinforces the commitment to preserving the pristine environment, aligning with the values of responsible wilderness users. Ultimately, Saxton Camp offers a genuine, unadulterated wilderness experience right in California's backyard. It's a place where the rewards of stunning natural beauty and personal accomplishment are earned through effort, making it ideal for those who seek to push their limits and connect deeply with the state's most magnificent mountain landscapes, far from the crowds of more accessible areas.

Saxton Camp

Fall Creek Trail, Forest Falls, CA 92339, USA