Availability
No official facility record or USGS lake, reservoir, river, or stream was verified within 0.5 mile of the mapped camp-area marker. Carry all water needed for the stay.
Backpacking camp
Shields Flat camp area
San Gorgonio Wilderness, California
About this place
Shields Flat is an official itinerary area, permit zone, or source-backed named overnight reference represented by a reachable point on the pinned agency trail network in San Gorgonio Wilderness.
The marker is a route-access reference, not a tent pad. Move off the trail only where travel is permitted, remain inside the authorized zone, and choose a legal durable site under every current setback and closure.
Water planning
Water at this camp
No reliable water source verifiedDrinking safety
Do not plan to collect water at this camp area.
Seasonality
Not applicable—no source is reliable enough to use in the itinerary.
Fire planning
Campfire & stove rules
No campfires or charcoalCampfires
Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited at San Gorgonio Wilderness camps, including existing unofficial rings.
Backpacking stoves
Portable gas stove allowed with permit. Use a portable gas stove only; wood-burning and twig stoves are not allowed.
Permit
Carry a valid California Campfire Permit for portable stove use in this remote National Forest area.
Current restrictions
Check San Bernardino National Forest alerts before departure; emergency restrictions can suspend stove use.
Seasonal access
Closures & seasonal access
The wilderness has no universal annual closure, but winter snow and ice, post-fire hazards, storm damage, and emergency forest orders can close individual trails or access roadsPlace closure
No recurring date-based closure of Shields Flat is published. The source-connected approach conditions below and temporary emergency orders still control access.
Seasonal access
Source-connected approaches: Vivian Creek Trailhead, South Fork Trailhead, Forsee Creek Trailhead, and 2 more. The wilderness has no universal annual closure, but winter snow and ice, post-fire hazards, storm damage, and emergency forest orders can close individual trails or access roads.
Before driving
Check San Bernardino National Forest alerts and the exact trail page immediately before departure; carry winter equipment when conditions require it.
Mapped approaches
Choose a trailhead for Shields Flat camp area
Each option has a sourced trail route to this camp area. Choose one to open its itinerary builder with this destination in context.
- South Fork Trailhead10.0 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Vivian Creek Trailhead11.5 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Momyer Creek Trailhead14.9 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Forsee Creek Trailhead15.3 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- San Bernardino Peak Trailhead19.1 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 34.126738° N
- Longitude
- 116.809825° W