Discovering new trout streams in local mountains is my passion. I spend hours pouring over old stocking records, topographic maps, satellite imagery (Thanks, Google), outdated fishing reports, and more in my search for wild trout, both in the San Gabriels and the San Bernardino mountain ranges. I don't keep these fish - rather it's the thrill of hiking to a hidden stream and discovering wild trout that offers all the satisfaction that I need to make an epic fishing trip. I rarely share these creeks, mostly due to the devastation hordes of people have done on more well-know watersheds, like the San Gabriel River and Lytle Creek.
However, there are several creeks that I can't seem to find any information on, let alone get to access. Some of these might end up being a trip in the far future, but some appear almost completely unrealistic to ever explore. Thus, I'm posting about these in hopes anyone who has information would be willing to let me know what these lone spots are like.
Banning Canyon
San Gorgonio River
Millard Canyon and East Millard Canyon
Wood Canyon
Wood Canyon
All of these watersheds appear difficult to access, primarily due to a lack of public roads. The first, Banning Canyon, is enormous, but really lacks all info about it online. What's back there? How can one access it? I'm all ears.
The others, especially Millard Canyon, have access roads that go through the Morongo Reservation. It sounds like they do not offer public access to this national forest area, which is unfortunate,
A couple of reports from others, predominately hikers, have been posted, and shed a little light on the tough situation to get back there:
http://www.summitpost.org/kitching-peak/764739
http://www.summitpost.org/kitching-peak/764739
The USDA Forest Service also lists several trails that access Millard Canyon in the San Bernardino National Forest, including a Bear Wallow Camp, Deer Springs Trail, Kitchen Peak Trail , but state "access trailed closed".
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5402321.pdf
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5402321.pdf
Interestingly, the only mentions as of late about Millard Canyon are related to the Nestle Bottled Water controversy during the drought:
http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2014/07/12/nestle-arrowhead-tapping-water/12589267/
http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2014/07/12/nestle-arrowhead-tapping-water/12589267/
Other, more disturbing mentions of Millard Canyon have also been posted:
http://articles.latimes.com/1998/jul/23/news/mn-6391
http://articles.latimes.com/1998/jul/23/news/mn-6391
I'd love to learn more about these canyons and creeks. Feel free to post here, or contact me at Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/HuntingTheRiverKing/
Or, email me:
Or, email me:
Be nice.