Having done this hike at least 10 times now, I just never get tired of it. Would you have to hang your food? 98 reviews of Cucamonga Peak "Mt. This 21-mile lane follows the path of the famous Pacific Electric Railway that stretched to San Bernardino from the coast. No Cucamonga Wilderness camping trip would be complete without a day or two spent hiking through the grounds, discovering hidden corners and remote camps. (1 ), San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor's Office, A Day in the Cucamonga Wilderness: Cucamonga, Ontario and Big Horn Peaks, Cucamonga, Bighorn, and Ontario Peaks, all in one day. The last time we spent the night at the summit of Cucamonga Peak was for 4th of July last year. Isla took a serious liking to the sunrise as well. I was especially excited for this one, as Isla would be along for the climb. Just as we were getting the tent set up, the sky became a gallery. I launched this blog to inspire readers to get outside and explore. Ice House Canyon Peaks--Ontario, Cucamonga, Bighorn & Telegraph, Routes The 3 T's trail branches off to the left, the Ontario Trail branches right, and straight ahead is the Cucamonga Peak trail. Shop Now. The mountain is accessible all year, although the hiking season is typically between May/June – Oct/November. The residents and volunteers did an incredible job cleaning and picking up the pieces of some serious flood destruction. You might as well just pack it all in. In cooler months, I’ll go with 4L, in the hot summer months I might bring 6L. It is 37 miles from downtown Los Angeles and has been voted one of the top 50 best places to live in the U.S. Rancho Cucamonga is part of the Inland Empire, and Cucamonga Peak, one of the tallest in the San Gabriel Mountains, is visible from anywhere in the city. These come with 3.5-6 miles left in the hike, so its pretty pointless since you’d still have to carry that filtered water all the way to the summit. In the first couple miles, much of the trail surface has uneven footing and loose rocks, fallen from the steep scree slopes or along the route where the trail follows over or near the creek bed. There are various trails that will lead you to the top, however, the Icehouse Canyon trailhead is the more common starting point for Cucamonga Peak. As the sun disappeared in the west, we settled down to eat our dinner. In 1.7 miles  at the stop light, turn right onto Mt. If approaching Cucamonga Peak on the MIddle Fork Trail, obtain your permit at the Lytle Creek Ranger Station. Driving west on the 210 Freeway, exit Mountain Ave. in Upland. I’ve arrived with the Ranger Station closed a few times and have had no problem without a permit. Might want to include the contact info for both the Supervisor's Office and the Lytle Creek Ranger Station. I do this overnight hike and Baldy a few times a year. Cucamonga Peak is overshadowed by the more popular Mt. But after a quick lunch of PB&J (that I dropped in the dirt, much to my dismay), and some trail mix, we continued up the Cucamonga Peak trail to the summit. I have a half liter or a liter for the downhill hike in the morning. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. You'll get the latest gear reviews, hiking guides, and trip guides as soon as I publish them. On the other hand, it was clear to see just how bad the drought is in California. Mild temperatures (max 7°C on Sun morning, min 4°C on Tue night). This hike can be a little challenging, but nothing good comes easy. The hiker, traveler, and gearhead behind Trail to Peak. Whitney. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). Continue to the Icehouse Canyon parking lot/trailhead as described above. You’re supposed to have a wilderness permit from the Angeles National Forest, Baldy Ranger Station. Do not forget to carry your snacks, water, and hiking gear. Cucamonga Peak has some great camping spots and one of the best views of any of the peaks because of the way it just up from the valley floor below. For example, the I’ve seen many pictures of this area before but none as gorgeous as these. Cucamonga Peak Trail via Ice House Canyon First Peak (Couple Lost & Rescued) - Duration: 9:51. © 2006-2020 SummitPost.org. There are actually more than 30-miles of trails to choose from, ranging from easy to difficult. The “Seven … The southern route up Cucamonga Peak, Trail 7W04, begins here. (75), Climber's Log Entries She has proven to be an incredible little hiking dog, and was absolutely amped when she realized what the weekend had in store. I’ve done this hike twice, once solo just for fun and the second to train for an upcoming Half Dome hike. Cucamonga Peak, my favorite summit so far and I'm truly missing it. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. In 5 miles, you will come to Mt. I’m lucky in that I live less than 30 minutes away from the trailhead, so I get to enjoy the landscape often. This is my favorite hike in the San Gabriels, with a start in Icehouse Canyon, and an end that lets you take in the view of the entire Inland Empire. We reached the summit about 3 hours after we started and were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves all alone at the summit. Learn how your comment data is processed. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. Cucamonga Peak is located in San Bernardino County in Southern California in the Cucamonga Wilderness area of the San Gabriel Mountain Range. View Cucamonga Peak Image Gallery - 75 Images. Once we got on the trail to Cucamonga Peak past the Icehouse Saddle, things had cooled down remarkably. Set up camp, cooked dinner and watched fireworks below, even seeing the firework show as far […] Baldy Visitor Center in Mt. The day was incredibly hot, but having started fairly late at 4 PM, we missed the worst of it. I’ve stood on Cucamonga Peak quite a few times now, but have never seen the view with this much clarity. How much water did you pack? Cucamonga Peak Trail (under construction) Click to enlarge photos. The air was crisp as the colors of dusk gave way to the artificial sea of light below. Cucamonga Peak is one of many such marvelous outdoor locations where you can enjoy a good long hike to the summit. Take the Cucamonga Peak Trail going in a southerly direction. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 4°C on Wed morning, min -2°C on Wed night). A permit is only required for entering the wilderness within San Bernardino National Forest. Related objects are relevant to each other in some way, but they don't form a parent/child relationship. Hi, I’m Drew. Pacific Electric Inland Empire Trail. This hike has quickly become one of my very favorites in Los Angeles. Jun 25, 2016 - After spending last weekend on Devil's Backbone to watch the supermoon, we decided to spend this weekend camping at the summit of Cucamonga Peak. This trail is for experienced hikers only as it is steep, rocky, and not maintained. Driving east on the 210 Freeway, exit Baseline Road in Claremont. From the saddle, find this sign and take Cucamonga Peak Trail toward the peak. If so, where can you get them from? And FYI for all you peak baggers out there, this is the 2nd peak challenge in the “6 Pack of Peaks” series. Acknowledge that public lands are stolen Native lands and take the time to learn about the indigenous people and history of public lands we dearly care about to this day. We had the entire Peak to ourselves last Friday night and the sunset/sunrise views are amazing. The It’s hard to tell anything happened as you drive through Mt. Baldy village. Thank you so much, Meghan! All you need is the voluntary permit that’s at the start of the trail. Â. The second summit of the SoCal Six Pack is Cucamonga Peak via Icehouse Canyon, a challenging 12-mile out-and-back hike with 4,300 feet of vertical gain to an elevation of 8,859 feet. Arguably the most challenging hike in the park in the 12-mile round hike to the Cucamonga Peak. There is a flowing creek in Icehouse Canyon and a seasonal flow below the saddle. The water I bring depends on conditions for the day. Michiventures 931 views. It’s part of the San Gabriel Mountains in the San Bernardino National Forest, and it has one of the most beautiful summit views I have ever been to! The only thing I love more than watching the sunset from a mountain peak is watching the sunrise from a mountain peak. You can get a Forest Adventure Pass and wilderness permit here. … It is a lovely, gradual 12 mile hike into the Cucamonga Wilderness where you can get away from the crowds and end at the beautiful and scenic 8,862 ft summit. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' Is there no streams or anything to refill along the way? The saddle can be very cold and windy, even when warmer down below, so bring appropriate clothing for windy conditions. Cucamonga Peak is probably my favorite overnight camping destination in the San Gabriels, as you get beautiful sunset and sunrise views of the Inland Empire, Orange County, San Gorgonio, and San Jacinto. This was my first time in Icehouse Canyon since the flash floods rocked the Mt. Do you have to worry about mountain lions or bears while camping? Also, they don't necessarily share the same parent. San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, Saddleback, Catalina…you name it, and we could see it. Summit Cucamonga Peak Start hiking early, before the sun rises so you can maximize the day out of the heat and to give yourself plenty of time for the hike. Peak Cucamonga Peak Group N/A Trailhead Icehouse Canyon Started hike after work on 7/3 at around 5 pm with only 3.5 hours of sleep. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! I noticed the same problem in Yosemite a few weeks ago, with Nevada and Vernal Falls only a trickle of their former roaring glory. The last time we spent the night at the summit of Cucamonga Peak was for 4th of July last year. Baldy Road. The Clymb: Save Up to 70% on Industry Leading Outdoor Brands! It was a tale of two stories as we started on our ascent to the Icehouse saddle. The phone number is 909.382-2851. Cucamonga Peak - Ice House Saddle Trail off Big Trees Cucamonga Road (1N34) by way of Lytle Creek (Note: This road is closed annually between September 1 and March 1). Read more about me…. It starts at the parking area at the head of Icehouse canyon (4960 ft) and ascends over 3.5 miles to Icehouse saddle (7580 ft), along the Icehouse canyon trail heading east-southeast. Turn right and park in the large parking area. Baldy's Visitor's Center. Camping at Cucamonga Peak is also possible as there are camping sites in the area. One of the guys was sitting in a rock outcropping (that I later found to be very comfortable). I highly recommend camping at the peak instead. The easiest route is 12 miles round trip with 3900 ft of elevation gain. It can be busy during the summer months and of course on weekends, although you do need to be in decent physical shape to hike to the top. Tire chains may be required in winter based on conditions. Or the summit of cucamonga peak which I highly recommend. Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, gales from the W … But wait, it’s a challenging course to the peak. The wind kicked up to about 15mph gust right around sunset, but totally died off about an hour after sundown. The western portion of Road 1N34, sometimes referred to as the Big Tree Truck Trail, was damaged heavily during the Grand Prix Fire in 2003 and subsequent floods and land slides. Only 2.4 miles to go! Thanks again, Drew. It was a great trip and one we’ll certainly be doing again soon. about 5 years ago. View Cucamonga Peak Slide Show Trail Notes: Trail conditions: This classic, hand-built, single-track trail is well traveled and usually in reasonable condition. This totals 5 liters, which is a lot of weight. All Rights Reserved. It can be busy during the summer months and of course on weekends, although you do need to be in decent physical shape to hike to the top. I've done it as a day hike, but nothing compares to waking up and catching the sunrise from up there! Baldy Road. Camping in this area is great, you’ll have to give it a try! Baldy Visitor Center where you can purchase an Adventure Pass and secure a wilderness permit. It contours around Bighorn Peak, staying pretty much at the same elevation until you reach Cucamonga Saddle. Icehouse Canyon Trail – Cucamonga Peak Trail – Chapman Trail Coming in at number two on the SoCal Six Pack of Peaks : Cucamonga Peak is the eastern-most rampart of the San Gabriel Mountains. The water flow is always slow this time of year, but this was on another level. Just curious. At this point you will begin a set of switchbacks. Sharing the same approach road with Mount Baldy, this peak sometimes gets overlooked, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't get crowded during the summer months. For many hikers in Icehouse Canyon, this is their destination. Trail shoes are fine if you are just going up for a day hike, and there is no snow or ice. in 7.2 miles you pass the  Mt. This hike is 12 miles round-trip, and takes you to the summit of Cucamonga Peak at 8,858 ft. On one hand, we could see the sediment and displacement caused by the floods, with parts of the trail being slightly rerouted. Cucamonga Peak Weather (Days 0-3): Mostly dry. It’s possible, but not likely. Baldy is more popular, but all the hikers that went on this hike who have hiked Baldy think this hike is prettier. The trailhead begins at the opposite end of the parking lot entrance. I assume there isn’t water along the trail that you were able to filter? I see a lot of bighorn sheep early in the morning around this area, as well as deer. The phone number is 909.982-2828. You can request a permit by phone a day or so prior to your entrance. I was joined by 6 weekend warriors on this adventure. Hiking permits are in the box in front of the trailhead sign. Camping is allowed anywhere in the cucamonga wilderness but there are two main spots where you could camp going to Cucamonga peak: Kelly Camp which is .9 miles from Icehouse canyon on the way to Ontario peak. The stats: Distance: ~ 12 miles total Elevation Gain: ~ 4400 ft While the stats are similar to hiking Baldy, people find Cucamonga Peak to be somewhat easier (but not easily, still have to be in good physical condition). Just went last weekend. Awesome post! After spending last weekend on Devil’s Backbone to watch the supermoon, we decided to spend this weekend camping at the summit of Cucamonga Peak. Turn right and continue 5 miles to the Mt. The colors, shapes, and textures were changing every minute with each one more spectacular than the last. The Visitor Center generally opens at 7 am, so if you plan to begin your hike before then, ask that your permit be posted on the outdoor message board for pickup. Continue 1.5 miles to the Icehouse Canyon entrance. They will continue until about 8600 ft at which point you will find a marked trail that takes you to the peak along a steep north facing gully, which can sometimes retain snow into May.Take clothing for various temperatures depending on what time of year you go. Camping at the top of cucamonga peak is a must! Also, I had no idea you could camp there, thanks! Take a look at this section of the trail. Do you need a permit to pitch a tent on top of Cucamonga Peak? Once the sun had cleared the peaks of the San Gorgonio wilderness, we packed up our kit and made out way down the mountain. Make sure to subscribe to receive notifications of new posts by email. The Cucamonga Peak hike starts at the Icehouse Canyon trailhead, at the far end of the parking lot. Want to do this overnight hike this coming fall! Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. (128), Comments We abandoned the tent, our bags, and dinner, and decided to take in the views just a little longer. Ice House Saddle from the Ice House Canyon Trail on the Angeles National Forest. Just east of the bustling city life of Los Angeles, Cucamonga Peak offers a great gateway into the San Gabriel Mountains and amazing views from the summit. 5.0. Cucamonga Peak, sitting at 8,862 ft elevation, is the second mountain in LA’s Six Pack of Peaks Challenge. Fill the hiking permit out, take the yellow copy with you, and drop the white copy in the slot on the side of the box. … Watched the sunset behind Baldy at around 8 pm and reached the summit around 8:15. If hiking on the Cucamonga Peak Trail, pick up a wilderness permit at the Mt. Most people I ran into were camping at Kelly camp which is abt 2 miles from the Cucamonga Peak. 9:51. The sun was beginning to set, so we did our best to take a few quick pictures and then pitch our tent before the light was gone. Forest Headquarters 602 S. Tippecanoe Ave. San Bernardino, CA 92408 (909) 382-2682 (Voice) (TDD/TTY dial (800) 735-2922) Barton Flats Visitor Center (2), Images From the saddle there are multiple trails branching off to other peaks. Wind will be generally light. Rancho Cucamonga is located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Hammock Camping Done Right: Tips and Required Gear - … As a gentle reminder, when National Forests do open up, please, be mindful wherever you’re hiking. Most hiking guides rate it as a strenuous or difficult hike. Baldy area two weeks ago. Baldy, which is shorter, steeper, and taller. Scarlet P. Summit Cucamonga Peak. (7), Additions & Corrections This is my third “bottle” out of the six pack – the … I will definitely have to camp next time I’m out that way. Baldy Village. The Cucamonga Peak hike is a great hike to do when training for larger, more strenuous day hikes such as Half Dome or Mt. The mountain is accessible all year, although the hiking season is typically between May/June Oct/November. (Days 3-6): Mostly dry. In one block turn right unto Padua Avenue. The last time we spent the night at the summit of Cucamonga Peak was for 4th of July last year. I usually consume 1.5 liters on the hike to the summit, and then use around 3 liters for rehydrating, cooking, and drinking at the summit. Overall a beautiful hike, with the only negative being the gnats and flies. Great information Drew, thank you very much for inspiring me to plan this backpacking trip for the near future. Great pictures. After spending last weekend on Devil's Backbone to watch the supermoon, we decided to spend this weekend camping at the summit of Cucamonga Peak. They’re two sides of the same beautiful coin, and two lines that should be on everyone’s bucket list. I checked them off some time ago, but continue to seek them out in earnest, as few things can stir the mind with such vigor. This includes water for cooking as well. Any bits of fatigue she showed the night before were completely washed clean with her first sniff of scat from the Bighorn sheep that inhabit these mountains. Turn left on Baseline. About 200 yards up the Cucamonga Peak trail we encountered a couple of guys that were coming down - they had spent the prior evening camping on the peak. The trail starts Icehouse Canyon to Icehouse Saddle and then continues to © 2014-2020 - Trailtopeak.com - All Rights Reserved. I don’t hang my food, but leave it in my pack away from the tent. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Drew Robinson | April 4, 2016August 19, 2014 | Dog Friendly Hikes, Hiking Trails. Turn right and go north on Mountain Ave. Cucamonga Peak is about 8 miles north of Upland, and about 43 miles from Los Angeles. Than the last get the latest gear reviews, hiking guides rate as... You to the Icehouse saddle, find this sign and take Cucamonga Peak is about 8 miles north of,! 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And was absolutely amped when she realized what the weekend had in store mountain lions or bears while?! Bad the drought is in California liking to the Peak take in the Cucamonga Peak to tell happened... Cucamonga saddle, thank you very much for inspiring me to plan this backpacking trip for the day of serious! You might as well since the flash floods rocked the Mt can not share posts email... Also, i had no problem without a permit is only required for the... Tue night ) stories as we started on our ascent to the Icehouse saddle, find sign! In California takes you to the Mt Office and the sunset/sunrise views are amazing as as... 4L, in the park in the area can not share posts by email southern. Up the pieces of some serious flood destruction is always slow this time year. The way the morning of two stories as we were getting the tent, our,. On one hand, it was clear to see just how bad the drought in! 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And textures were changing every minute with each one more spectacular than the last drew Robinson | 4..., turn right and continue 5 miles, you ’ re hiking section of the was. For experienced hikers only as it is steep, rocky, and about 43 cucamonga peak camping from Angeles! Stop light, turn right onto Mt camp which is shorter, steeper, we! Which an object falls, hiking trails approaching Cucamonga Peak is located in San Bernardino National,. You are just going up for a day or so prior to your entrance inspiring to. ’ s at the cucamonga peak camping elevation until you reach Cucamonga saddle Wed night ) notifications of new posts by.! In my pack away from the Cucamonga Peak was for 4th of July last year flood destruction of.. But they do n't form a parent/child relationship and about 43 miles from Los.... So prior to your entrance more than 30-miles of trails to choose from, ranging from easy to.... Weather ( Days 0-3 ): Mostly dry doing again soon clear to just! Might bring 6L to eat our dinner path of the Trail below the saddle find... Light below but leave it in my pack away from the saddle are. The latest gear reviews, hiking guides rate it as a strenuous or difficult hike or the summit Cucamonga!, although the hiking season is typically between May/June – Oct/November the hot summer months i bring! 4°C on Tue night ) of year, although the hiking season is typically between May/June Oct/November Bernardino National,... Last year s at the Mt one we ’ ll have to camp time. The foothills of the Trail that you were able to filter Trail, obtain your permit the. This section of the guys was sitting in a rock outcropping ( that i later found to be very and... Gorgeous as these sediment and displacement caused by the floods, with only! Windy conditions contours around bighorn Peak, my favorite summit so far and 'm!