Overview
Keller Peak is the major peak overlooking the Running Springs area in the San Bernardino Mountains. Keller actually has two summits with Keller standing at 7881 ft. and Slide Peak at 7841 ft. Keller Peak is a driveup on asphalt and is crowned with a amazing condition fire lookout tower. Slide Peak is on nearby ski property and it is the highpoint of that operation. Keller Peak is the sixth most prominent peak over five thousand feet in the range with a value of P1042. Both peaks are on the Sierra Club's Hundred Peak List. To make for a longer hike Keller & Slide should be combined with trips to other nearby Hundred Peaks listed summits like
Mill Peak and
Crafts Peak. Keller Peak was also the scene of a tragic World War Two plane crash of B-26 bomber in 1942. The bomber hit just below the summit on the north slope.
Getting There
Drive through the San Bernardino area on the I-215 north to SR-30. Take SR-30 to the junction with SR-330. Go north on SR-330 to Running Springs then taking the SR-18. Go a little over a mile until seeing the turnoff on the right for Keller Peak Road 1N96, closed in the winter. Take this road for 4 miles reaching a junction, go right. In less then a quarter mile the road crosses a little gully. This is the main route for Slide, park at one of the small turnouts. Keller Peak is dead ahead on the road for another 2 miles. Park at the parking area just below the tower. The tower is usually manned in the dry months. Climb up the steep steps to the tower and enjoy the view. The lookouts will gladly show visitors around and answer any questions you have.
Route for Slide Peak
From the parking area (7380) head over to the gully and scramble up around brush and rock to a fence. Go left along the fence until reaching a break in it. Passing under the fence and hike up to the neardy dirt road. Turn right onto the road. The road leads up to the open summit. The register is behind the ski lift tower.
Round trip is around two miles with 500 feet of gain.
Exploration Trail
Exploration Trail starts just pass the start of Keller Peak Road with a signed trailhead. It ascends the northwestern slope of the Keller Peak area. After four miles it terminates at the junction 4 miles up Keller Peak Road. This trail could provide alternate routes for doing Mill, Slide, and Keller Peaks. This would be a great alternate route for when the Keller Peak road is closed to traffic.
Red Tape
You will need a
Adventure Pass for parking at the turnout.
External Links
For camping information and current conditions go to the San Bernardino National Forest for
current conditions website.
Keller Peak is on the
Hundred Peaks List.
Go to
California Mountain Atlas for more prominence information.
For more fire lookout information check out the
National Forest Association.
For more information on the B-26 crash go to this
link.