Fuller Ridge - Camping?

[Hikin_Jim]

Are there any good spots for backpackers to camp uphill (going towards San Jacinto Peak) from the Fuller Ridge Trailhead? I'm planning a three day backpacking trip. It's about 15 miles and nearly 5000' of gain from the Black Mountain Trailhead on Hwy 243 to Little Round Valley. That's a bit much for the fitness level of the group I'm putting together. I'm wondering if there are any good camp sites for about 3 to 5 people between Fuller Ridge Trailhead and Little Round Valley.

Here's a map of the route. The light green section of trail is where I'm looking for camp sites (not the area highlighted with a green rectangle).

HJ

[jfr]

Most of that light green section runs along a steep slope, with rare camping opportunities. Beautiful huge pines and awesome views north toward San Gorgonio, but not much in the way of flat terrain. But there is at least one "meadow" area where I'm sure you could find a camping spot. Acme Mapper link. Zoom way in on satellite view and you'll see the spot (and the PCT itself). Interestingly, this spot is on the NFS side of the State Park Boundary which is located here. Note that the google terrain map shows the PCT where it actually is, per my GPS, while the old topo map is way off.


View of the "meadow" heading south on the PCT in the morning. The actual saddle on the main ridge is somewhere in the trees to the right.


View of the "meadow" as we headed out toward the parking area. You can see that it's more brush than meadow. But with a bit of effort, I'd bet that a determined backpacker could find a few nice spots along its periphery, under the trees, where the main saddle is located. Photos were taken last August.

[Hikin_Jim]

Most of that light green section runs along a steep slope, with rare camping opportunities. Beautiful huge pines and awesome views north toward San Gorgonio

That's what I'm looking forward to!

there is at least one "meadow" area where I'm sure you could find a camping spot.

Excellent; thank you. That's just what I was looking for.

Note that the google terrain map shows the PCT where it actually is, per my GPS, while the old topo map is way off.

That is completely my experience. Google always has the most accurate positioning of trails when I compare it to my own GPS tracks. There are glaring inconsistencies on some of the maps, so glaring that one doesn't need a GPS to see them (For example: The S Fork Trail near Poop Out Hill or the trail to Dobbs Camp, both in the San Gorgonio Wilderness). The topo maps are laughably wrong. Google is right on. I don't know how they did it short of walking the trails with a GPS receiver themselves although I suspect that the USFS (etc.) probably has GPS files stored somewhere that Google may have imported.

Thanks, jfr.

HJ

[Cy Kaicener]

Just read on Facebook that Kurt Wedberg climbed Snow Creek -- https://www.facebook.com/kurt.wedberg

[Hikin_Jim]

I saw that, Cy. I wonder if there will be a TR?

[Sally]

HJ, I can't tell you about where the locations might be, but every time I do Fuller Ridge, I make a mental note that "There's a nice place to pitch." There are a few of them on the ridge, and it is just a matter of choosing one before you run out of ridge. All of the spots I have picked out have no water, so you have to pack it in.

[Hikin_Jim]

All of the spots I have picked out have no water, so you have to pack it in.

Yeah, that was my thought too. I figure the first reliable water is lower Bed Springs Crossing which you come to just before the junction with the Deer Springs Trail.

I guess there's no water at the Fuller Ridge Trailhead, but what about in the group (or other) campground?

HJ