Dobbs Cabin Camp

Hiked: 6/17/2023
Distance: 12.8 miles round trip on trail
Summit Elevation: 7300'
Elevation Gain: 3567'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 3.0
Round trip time: 6 hours 45 minutes
Recommended water: 100 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free at Momyer Trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate

Leisa and I headed to the San Bernardino Mountains for a training hike. Dobbs Cabin Camp is at the end of a spur on the Momyer Trail. This was my first time on the Momyer Trail. I remembered reading about it years ago and how overgrown the upper section was. The parts we traveled were in great shape and well maintained. From the parking lot, we dropped into Mill Creek and looked for a way across. The creek was wide, 20'-30' across, up to 3' deep in places and flowing strongly. We tried a log crossing, but it was about 5' short. We searched up and down the creek, eventually crossing a road well above the trail that had only a couple inches of water flowing over it. Then, we hiked back to the start. We decided we would wade across on the way back.

Momyer started relatively flat, then gained 1700' in 1.5 miles. Quite steep, but the trail was firm and we made steady progress. Once we made it to around 7200', the trail flattened out as it side hilled across the mountains. There were a few parties on the trail, mostly backpackers, some going out, and some coming back. Leisa met a small rattlesnake near the San Gorgonio Wilderness sign. It slid into the brush before I could get a photo. We had another short creek crossing at Alger Creek. Since we spent so much time crossing Mill Creek, we decided to stop for a break about a mile short of Dobbs Cabin. As we were getting ready to go, Leisa gasped and pointed behind me. I stood up in time to see a large cinnamon colored bear (all CA bears are black bears) running past a log over a small bump. I walked over to the bump to see I could see him but she appeared to be gone. Leisa said the bear looked startled when she saw her and immediately took off. We continued up the trail a few hundred feet until a meadow opened up. We glanced down hill and saw the bear standing on her hind legs behind some brush, trying to figure out what we were. She never seemed threatening, just curious. A few seconds later, she bounded ahead of us, crossed the trail and effortlessly cruised up a 40 degree slope. That was our last encounter with the bear, but the highlight of the day.

Incomplete log crossing

Mill Creek and Galena Peak at the end of Yucaipa Ridge

Alger Creek

Curious bear

We descended about 200' to reach Dobbs Cabin Camp and found no traces of the cabin. We later learned it was no longer standing. The camp was at the confluence of two creeks and there was plenty of water. Dobbs Mountain looked massive from this angle. We took a final break before heading back. We met a baby kingsnake and a gopher snake on the return trip. Back at Mill Creek, we were prepared to wade across when I noticed someone had completed the log crossing we tried in the morning. Another log had been wedged in and some big rocks were added to keep it stable. So we took the log crossing to finish up. A fine workout and fun encounters with wildlife. That's the life.

Dobbs Mountain in the background