A poorly named but richly rewarding challenge, the Sierra Club designed the Hundred Peaks Challenge "to encourage [its] members to explore and enjoy the mountains of Southern California and... to stimulate interest in climbing these ranges." The number of peaks has increased over the years with a current total of 280 peaks over 5,000 ft, a lifetime of challenge. More info at http://angeles.sierraclub.org/hps/
Highest peak
San Gorgonio Mountain
11,499 ft / 3,504 m
Most prominent peak
San Jacinto Peak
8,319 ft / 2,535 m prom
Most summited peak
Mount San Antonio
583 summits
Most difficult peak
San Gorgonio Mountain
Class 1
Difficulty breakdown
Class 1/2 23 peaks
Class 3/4 1 peak
Class 5+ 2 peaks
Highlights
Latest summits
"Lots of water in Horsethief Creek on the way in. The way up Sheep was somewhat confusing, I ended up climbing to a saddle and then following the ridge up. Great views of Coachella Valley, San Jacinto and San Gorgoino.
The gully up to Martinez is steep. Lower part is brushy, upper part is solid. Fun class 3 summit block with amazing views of the rest of the Santa Rosa range and the Salton Sea.
Long walk back to the car, especially the climb back out of the creek.
" — edg • Jan 15, 2024
"Lots of water in Horsethief Creek on the way in. The way up Sheep was somewhat confusing, I ended up climbing to a saddle and then following the ridge up. Great views of Coachella Valley, San Jacinto and San Gorgoino.
The gully up to Martinez is steep. Lower part is brushy, upper part is solid. Fun class 3 summit block with amazing views of the rest of the Santa Rosa range and the Salton Sea.
Long walk back to the car, especially the climb back out of the creek.
" — edg • Jan 15, 2024
"I started at 5 AM, the first early start in a long time. Then I started hiking up Shoemaker Canyon Trail to get to the use trail to Rattlesnake Peak. Then eventually, I reached the cliff that was the Rattlesnake Peak use trail and then hiked up it. Then I get into the sun and went up a steep trail. Then after about 2K feet of climbing I reached First Peak, the peak before the start of the steep climb. It has amazing views into the valley. Then I climbed up a steep hill and the Rattlesnake Backbone. Then after a while I started seeing views of South Mt Hawkins. Then RAttlesnake appeared ahead. It was a very steep climb up to the top, but I made it. The summit was very worth it though,, it had amazing views, a witness post, 2 signs, a benchmark. Then I descended the steep trail down the side of Rattlesnake and then after a while reached a ridge and then a slide section, perfect for boot-sking. Then after crawling through the bushes, I rwached a steep decline towards a creek bed. Then after spotting a landslide I reached a small spring and a flowing stream. Then I went through both Shoemaker Tunnels and then ended the hike" — lc444 • Jan 10, 2024
"By carefully studying the maps, I found a route from Hwy 33 that avoids the private property in Brubaker canyon. The route first crosses the (dry) Cuyama River, ascends a drainage between two cliffs, then skirts the ranch by following the fence line up and down an annoying number of side canyons. Once in Brubaker canyon proper, there's the remnants of the old road for most of length. At the head of the canyon the road improves and switches back uphill to meet the Tinta trail.
There was no water in the lower part of Tinta creek. From Upper Tinta campground, the climb starts steep up to the ridge and then undulates for a surprisingly long time before reaching the rocky outcrop that is the Lizard Head summit. I enjoyed seeing many peaks I had already climbed and many more that I want to.
I retraced my steps and then continued up canyon. There was a small amount of water in the creek within half a mile of the upper trailhead. The well graded road was a welcome change after the use trails and cross county. I did not linger on the Cuyama summit since I needed to descend the cross country south east ridge and was losing daylight.
Sunset caught me about half way down the ridge. Th..." — edg • Dec 26, 2023
"By carefully studying the maps, I found a route from Hwy 33 that avoids the private property in Brubaker canyon. The route first crosses the (dry) Cuyama River, ascends a drainage between two cliffs, then skirts the ranch by following the fence line up and down an annoying number of side canyons. Once in Brubaker canyon proper, there's the remnants of the old road for most of length. At the head of the canyon the road improves and switches back uphill to meet the Tinta trail.
There was no water in the lower part of Tinta creek. From Upper Tinta campground, the climb starts steep up to the ridge and then undulates for a surprisingly long time before reaching the rocky outcrop that is the Lizard Head summit. I enjoyed seeing many peaks I had already climbed and many more that I want to.
I retraced my steps and then continued up canyon. There was a small amount of water in the creek within half a mile of the upper trailhead. The well graded road was a welcome change after the use trails and cross county. I did not linger on the Cuyama summit since I needed to descend the cross country south east ridge and was losing daylight.
Sunset caught me about half way down the ridge. Th..." — edg • Dec 26, 2023