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San Gorgonio Pass facts for kids

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San Gorgonio Pass
Banning Pass
San-Gorgonio-pass-wind-farm IMG 6704 060421 143600.jpg
A small segment of the San Gorgonio Pass wind farm
Elevation 2,600 ft (792 m) NGVD 29
Traversed by I-10
Location Riverside County, California, United States
Range San Bernardino Mountains
/ San Jacinto Mountains
Coordinates 33°55′12.1″N 116°58′14.1″W / 33.920028°N 116.970583°W / 33.920028; -116.970583
Topo map Beaumont
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The San Gorgonio Pass, also known as Banning Pass, is a low area between two tall mountain ranges in California. It sits about 2,600 feet (790 meters) above sea level. To the north are the San Bernardino Mountains, and to the south are the San Jacinto Mountains.

This pass was created by the San Andreas Fault. This is a huge crack in the Earth's crust where two large land plates, the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate, slowly slide past each other. Because of the tall mountains on each side, the pass is a special place where the weather changes. West of the pass, the climate is like the Mediterranean climate (mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers). East of the pass, it becomes a Desert climate (very dry and hot). This also makes the pass one of the windiest places in the United States. That's why you can see the San Gorgonio Pass wind farm here, with many wind turbines.

The pass is a very important route for travel. It connects the Greater Los Angeles area to the Coachella Valley. From there, you can travel further into Arizona and other parts of the United States. Both Interstate 10 highway and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks go through this pass. When the railroad was finished in 1883, it was a big deal, becoming the second transcontinental railroad in the U.S.

The San Gorgonio Pass is one of the deepest mountain passes in the 48 contiguous states. The mountains on either side rise almost 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) above it. San Gorgonio Mountain is on the northern side, and Mount San Jacinto is on the southern side. Mount San Jacinto has one of the largest rock walls in North America. Its peak is only about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Interstate 10. The pass is also called Banning Pass because the town of Banning is located about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) east of the pass's highest point. The town was named after Phineas Banning, who founded it.

Geology: How the Pass Was Formed

The San Gorgonio Pass is a major natural boundary between two different types of mountain ranges. To the south are the Peninsular Ranges, which are made of a type of rock called igneous batholithic rock. To the north are the Transverse Ranges, which are large blocks of land made of many different kinds of rock.

Experts say the pass is the biggest break along the San Andreas Fault. One active part of the San Andreas Fault goes right through the San Gorgonio Pass, running close to Interstate 10. Other active faults, like the Banning, Garnet Hill, and San Gorgonio Pass Thrust faults, are also connected to the San Andreas Fault here. These faults work together, causing the land to move sideways and push upwards. This movement helps create the San Bernardino Mountains and is part of the overall motion between the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate.

Geography: Land and Weather

Climate in the Pass

The San Gorgonio Pass area sometimes gets snow during the winter. This usually happens once or twice a year. However, the snow rarely stays on roads or city streets for long.

Topography: Rivers and Valleys

The San Gorgonio River flows through the pass from west to east. It eventually joins the Whitewater River near the town of Whitewater. This area is at the northwest end of the Coachella Valley.

Transportation: Moving Through the Pass

The Southern Pacific Railroad (now Union Pacific) first built train tracks through the pass in 1875. Today, Amtrak passenger trains, like the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle, still use these tracks. Many freight trains also travel through the pass. There are also plans to add daily passenger train service from Los Angeles to the Coachella Valley, with at least one stop in the San Gorgonio Pass area.

The highest point of the pass is in Beaumont. It's just east of where Interstate 10 meets State Route 79, at about 2,600 feet (790 meters) high. However, the narrowest part of the pass, which is often considered its heart, is further east near Cabazon. From Cabazon, the road goes steeply downhill towards the Coachella Valley. The pass is considered to end where Interstate 10 meets State Route 111 near Whitewater Canyon.

In 1952, a new highway was built through the pass. This highway carried U.S. Route 99, U.S. Route 70, and U.S. Route 60. You can still find parts of the old U.S. 99 route between Whitewater Canyon and Cabazon. For example, Main Street in Cabazon, Ramsey Street in Banning, 6th Street in Beaumont, and Roberts Road in Calimesa were all once parts of U.S. 99.

The Banning Municipal Airport is a small public airport located in the pass. It is run by the city of Banning.

Places in the San Gorgonio Pass Area

Populated Places

Places of Interest

Other Important Facilities

  • Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility
  • San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Puerto de San Gorgonio para niños

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