Cucamonga Peak offers amazing views over Southern California’s Inland Empire, east toward Apple Valley and beyond. This hike from Icehouse Canyon is a strenuous 11.6 mile out-and-back route with 4,300 feet of vertical gain and a top elevation of 8,859′. The north-facing slope holds snow much later in the season than other peaks. The first time I hiked Cucamonga Peak, there were several sections of the trail that were covered with large patches of snow even in June.
Time: ~7 hours
Difficulty:Â Strenuous
Elevation gain:Â 4,300 ft
Dogs:Â Yes
When to go: June-October
This hike is the second in my Six-Pack of Peaks series of training hikes that I originally used to train for the hiking the John Muir Trail. This hike features substantial vertical elevation gain and introduced higher altitude — though still just shy of 9,000′
The trail begins at the popular Icehouse Canyon trailhead about a mile beyond Mt. Baldy Village. Permits are required, but are self-serve and available at the trailhead (bring a pen).
The Icehouse Canyon trail is a beautiful, well-forested trail that parallels babbling Icehouse Creek. There is lots of parking at the trailhead (Adventure Pass required) but due to the popularity, it fills up early. We started our hike at 7am and the parking lot still had a few spaces, but was quickly filling up.
There are a number of cabins in the lower canyon that are still in use, as well as the remains of many more that have been destroyed by flood or fire over the years. It’s a beautiful trail but extremely popular. At times it felt like rush hour on the 5 with long lines of hikers and few places to pass.
Icehouse Saddle makes a good place to break for a snack and regroup. There are five separate trails that come together at this junction. You want to look for the Cucamonga Peak trail sign. From here it’s only 2.4 miles to the summit, but they are steep and often hot miles.
The north face of Cucamonga holds snow much later in the season. Even in June, we hit many patches of snow that covered the trail, but nothing that required any technical equipment. Still, our trekking poles were much-appreciated.
I’ve heard reports that this sign has disappeared, making your navigation skills even more important here.
Once you reach this marker to the summit, you’re almost there. And if it’s a clear day, you are rewarded with amazing views in every direction.
Retrace your steps for the return trip, which is nearly all downhill. One pleasant surprise. On our return trip down Icehouse Canyon, there were literally thousands of ladybugs flying about — a good omen for next week’s hike up Baldy!
Trail Advice
- Permits are required even for day hikes. Call ahead the day before and ask them to post it on the bulletin board.
- National Forest Adventure Pass is required for parking at the trailhead. Parking fills up quickly. Carpool and get there early.
- There is water available in Icehouse Canyon, but treat or filter before drinking. The second half of the trail is dry. I would recommend two liters for this dry and often hot section of the trail.
- The second half of the trail is steep, dry and exposed. On a hot summer day, I would opt to hike a different trail.
Note that this is a wilderness hike. Come prepared with the ten essentials, including a map that you’ve studied beforehand and the knowledge of how to navigate and find an alternate route in case of wildfire or other emergency.
There are many trails that lead from Icehouse Saddle and signage may be confusing or non-existent. I recommend carrying the Harrison Mt. Baldy and Cucamonga Wilderness Map, and backing that up with the GPX track loaded in GaiaGPS on my full-charged phone.
Cucamonga Peak Trail Map
PRO TIP: I track all my hikes using GaiaGPS. It’s the best solution for staying on the right trail, it works even when you don’t have cell service, and there are versions for iOS and Android. The app is free, and you can get a discounted membership for maps here.
Photo Gallery
I’ve posted even more photos on Flickr.
Additional Resources
- Call Mt. Baldy Ranger Station (sometimes called the Mt. Baldy Visitor’s Center) at (909) 982-2829 to get your permit
- Trailhead location on Google Maps
- Download the GPX file (right-click and Save Link As…)
- 3D trail view in Google Earth
Baldy Village Weather Forecast
[forecast width=”100%” location=”91759″]
Title photo credit: Erik Nielsen. All other photos: Jeff Hester
Looks like a great hike Jeff! Great pics too. I would love to spend some quality time in that cabin. The problem with gaining 4000+ feet in elevation is that you have to come down too! How do the knees feel today? Great report. Thanks for sharing.
I did this trail yesterday, too. I started late, so I probably didn’t see you, but… question: did you lose the trail at any point? I was solo, and lost the trail near the top after a big snow patch. Oddly, I ran into a party of three that lost the trail at the same time… and later heard another story of people that lost the trail as well. I wanted to summit, but after looking for the trail for 15 min. decided to head back down.
No, I didn’t lose the trail but there were a couple of places where the snow patches “strategically” covered a switchback. If you followed the direction of the path you were on, you could easily have missed the switchback.
With the heat we’ve had, I don’t think that will be a problem again until it starts snowing in the fall. The snow was rapidly melting.
Excellent source you have here! A lot of the information out there on these trails is spotty and inconsistent, but your info seems to be the best I’ve come across so far! Thanks for the hard!
You can easily lose the trail near the summit if you take the wrong direction. There is this part right before the summit where a trail branches off and goes to the left. I took that way and eventually there is no trail anymore. I thought I was still on cucamonga peak trail so I figured this part right before the summit has no trail and continued walking, talking paths and making sure I was going up hill. eventually i found a trail leading up hill and took it to the summit. Coming back down was scary, got lost in the area where there is no trail trying to find the way I had come, after about 30 minutes I found it ( The area with no trail is not that big so I knew I would find it eventually ). On my decent I realize my mistake when I cam to junction of the cucamonga peak trail and the off branch I had taken. There was a piece of laminated paper pointing the other direction saying cucamonga peak trail, I don’t know how I missed it! Oh yeah how come you put no for dogs? I brought my dog with me and he was fine, he did better than me!
Bradyn, yes, the sign marking the last stretch to the summit is hard to find. Is the wooden sign (see the photo above) gone now?
And you are correct about dogs. Being in the National Forest jurisdiction, dogs are allowed. If your dog can handle the hike, by all means, they are allowed. I’ve updated the info accordingly.
Jeff,
We hiked this trail yesterday, 12/22/13, and yes, the wooden sign was gone but the post was still there. There were plenty of “potholing” foot prints in the snow so we had no problem finding the peak. The sky was clear so we could see all the way to Gorgonio and San Jacinto. Took us almost 9 hours to finish the trail due to slow pace in the snow.
Thanks for the update, Jason. Even without snow that trail can be fairly indistinct. Glad you were able to follow some tracks to make it easier. Did you need yak tracks or snowshoes?
Hi Jeff, i was wondering how i can download the gpx file to my gps device. When I click on the link, I just see the lines of code.
M, if the link opens as text, try right-clicking and “Save Link as…” (the message is a little different in each browser). This will save it as a .GPX file on your computer. You can then use whatever software you use for your GPS to transfer the file, or you can load it into Google Earth to visualize the trail in 3D. FUN!
I will be visiting in late September of this year. Would you recommend this hike for that time of the year? If not, do you have any other suggestions? I am coming from Chicago and don’t know the area that well, but I would like to do something this strenuous.
amazing hike to the saddle but we could not make it to the peak.
What is the average temperature at the peak in the summer? Would I have to take a light jacket? I am planning ton doing this hike once the snow melts.
It really varies! When I’ve hiked it in June and run into large patches of snow. But it can get also get pretty warm or even uncomfortably hot. Should you take a light jacket, even in the summer? Absolutely. Always carry the 10 essentials, and that includes some form of clothes for the unexpected. I had a couple friends who did a summer hike up to nearby Ontario Peak. They were attempting to take a cross-country “short-cut” back down the mountain and got stuck on a ledge overnight. They were rescued by helicopters the next day, and had to spend a chilly night in the mountains. So… Prepare for the worse, and hope for the best! 🙂
Hope is never a good plan.
That’s why you ALSO need to prepare for the worse. 😉
So I’m completing the six pack and just hiked Wilson yesterday. This one is next on the list but you recommend going in June. Just to clarify, is it not hikable in March?
Hi Tina! Awesome that you’re doing the Six-Pack! Right now, Cucamonga is probably going to have some patches of snow and ice on the north-facing slopes. I posted this on the SoCalHiker Facebook page and got some feedback on current conditions. Generally there is some snow and ice and trekking poles and microspikes are recommended: https://www.facebook.com/SoCalHiker/photos/a.10150297100429344.355109.281739894343/10153073944739344/?type=1&permPage=1
Ultimately it’s up to you and your comfort level. Plan for the best, prepare for the worst. Be aware of the weather forecast and conditions and be ready to turn around if need be. So yes, you can hike Cucamonga now. If we get a big snowstorm, that’s a different situation.
Each of the peaks in the Six-Pack gets progressively taller, so conditions become more of a concern as you go. Since we have had a lot of warm weather and not a lot of snowfall, you might be okay.
Did the hike yesterday! Awesome day!!! Thought I’d mention that the permits are self service now. There’s a brown box at the trailhead that has the forms! 🙂
Is there snow on the trail? Looking to do the hike on Fri or Sat this week.
Jeff – I could be wrong, but with respect to the view, I don’t recall that Mt. Baldy is visible from the top of Cucamonga.
@hiking nut — I don’t have a photo to prove you wrong (and I’ve been wrong before) but I do have this simulated view from Caltopo: http://caltopo.com/view#ll=34.2227,-117.5852&e=30&t=&z=3&c=0,0
It might not be clearly visible because of the trees, but it theoretically *should* be within line of sight.
Has anyone been up there in the past week or so? We’ve tried twice, and both times we were stopped by snow. I’ve become obsessed with reaching this summit! We are going to try this weekend and we are going to make it no matter what, but it would be nice to know if there’s any snow to worry about!
Went this weekend and had snow on the ground up to summit and most of it melted on the way down. The view was unmatched!! There is a self serve permit box at the trail head, so you don’t need to call ahead
Did this hike on 5/24/15 and there wasn’t even the slightest bit of snow. All melted. Trail was in good condition except for one switchback where a lot of people have cut it and now the “use path” is stronger than the real trail. No big deal, if you are hiking with a phone or GPS load the map into your phone and you’ll be fine. The summit sign is gone, but the post is still there and now clearly marked with white arrows leading to either Etiwanda or Cucamonga Peaks.
I would add that the view is better than Baldy and rivals San Jacinto IMHO, especially when the marine layer is laying low across the IE and the surrounding peaks are jutting out of the clouds.
Great hike! One thing that should be noted is that only one wilderness permit is needed per group of 12. We were all scrambling to get a permit and the ranger at the visitor center told us that were were covered by one permit. Also, is there a survey marker at the top? Couldn’t find one. Thanks!
Great point, Jazmin! That’s something I sort of took for granted, having taken permits before. One thing to be aware of is that each jurisdiction has different rules about how many people you can have on one permit. If in doubt, check with the ranger!
I’m planning on doing the “Badwater L2H” hike, like I said planning…lol I’m using this Six Pack of Peaks as training for it, along with some other local hiking. I did Mt. Wilson a couple of weeks ago and was surprised at how difficult it was, but I did summit it and back down the Upper Winter Creek Trail. Next up Cucamonga…Your information and familiarity with these hikes is extremely helpful.
Last week someone was lost in the area of Cucamonga Peak and I personally turned a couple around doing the Six Pack going to Cucamonga Peak via the Ontario Peak Trail. To those going here for the first time, there are 5 trail signs in the area that do not exist at this time. Cucamonga Peak is one of them. When you start up from Cucamonga Saddle the trail is a series of switchbacks. After the last switchback the trail cuts across Lytle Creek drainage for the first time, this drainage the trail junction for Cucamonga Peak. Too many people come up here refer from this site that are clueless. The do not have map…only the forest service hand out witch is useless.
Take responsibility for yourself. If you don’t have a map get one, take a half an hour the night prior and study that map. We are in our 4th year of drought and this fire season has already cost us the SG Wilderness. If a fire in errupts Ice House Saddle area while you are on Cucamonga Peak, do you know how to hike out from there?
Great reminder, Ranger Bill. Reading something on a website (even SoCalHiker) is no substitute for a good map and the knowledge of how to navigate. Cucamonga Peak is a wilderness hike — and people need to equip themselves with the knowledge they need to get back safely in a wide range of conditions — inclement weather, wildfire, injury, etc.
I’ve added a warning to the guide to help remind readers that this is a serious hike that requires serious preparation. It’s not a just a stroll in the local community park.
The loss of the sign for the right turn off of Cucamonga Peak Trail that leads to the summit is a serious problem. I just did this today and all that was there was a wall of rocks covering the continuation of the trail (past the turnoff for the summit) and a small cairn intended to put you on track to the summit. The problem is that the trail condition in this direction is pretty bad, so I ended up adding an extra three miles to my hike and had to do the last mile in the dark (thank god for flashlights).
Just wanted to let folks know to be figure out where this turn is. It shows up on my map, but it was still easy enough for me to miss. I left some rocks pointing an arrow toward the summit “trail.” They probably won’t last long though.
Hi Im trying to go backpacking with a group of friends to possibly this location in either February or March. I was wondering if those are good months to go and can we camp at the top as we are trying to do some backwoods camping for the weekend. If I cant do backwoods camping in this spot could you let me know which trails allow that?
Thank you
Technically, you can camp at the summit (no campfires allowed). My wife and I did this back in September. In February or March the peak will very likely be covered in snow, and getting there will require crampons and winter travel skill. But if you’re up for that…
By backwoods hiking, do you mean backpacking to primitive camp?
Hi I wanted to go and spend a night on top tomorrow, solo. Any inputs that you might throw at me before my trip?
Hey Robert, be prepared for sub-freezing temps and wind. Remember that campfires are not allowed. I assume you are prepared with the proper knowledge and equipment? Oh, yeah, there’s a storm coming in this weekend, too.
Anyone planning on doing this one as a group for the 6pack of peaks??….
How icy is Icehouse canyon presently? Is it passable in a good pair of snowshoes or are crampons a must with the amount of ice and slick conditions?
Is there a way I could get from here to mt baldy if I wanted to hit both peaks in a backpacking trip?
Planning on doing an over night stay at the summit, on April 23rd. We’ll play it by ear, and hope that we don’t get anymore snowfall up there. If we do get snowfall, we will still camp, but we will come prepared with appropriate gear to stay warm through the night. Anyone is welcome to join us 🙂
Michael,
Let me know how that trip goes. A group of us are backpacking up in May. I am hopeful that it is warmer than below freezing at the top, but I assume we can find a place to camp mid way up as well.
Jim
I’m interested in taking a boyscout troop on this hike. But where exactly do you camp overnight? What is the campground like and how far is it from the trailhead (e.g. how many hours of hiking to get to campground and then to the peak?). Our goal is to find a moderate to strenuous hike of around 6-7 miles that has a campground for us to camp overnight and then go back the next day. Any suggestions would be great!
I’ve been wanting to hike Cucamonga for a few months now. I’ve called the Baldy visitors center every few weeks to check on conditions. I’ll share the information she gave me.
As of today 4/23/16 they told me there is still a considerable amount of snow and ice. They stressed having crampons and and ice ax (and the skills to use them) with you if you attempt Cucamonga at this time. I’m told that this is due to the fact that the route is partially north facing.
She took the time to remind me that several people have died this year due to conditions. She stressed that while it may be possible for the basic hiker to reach the summit, getting back down in the snow/ice is where people get in trouble.
On the upside, conditions are supposed to be good for Mt. Baldy (no snow/ice) via Ski Hut or Devils Backbone, but it may be windy with highs during the day in the 40’s at the top.
Have fun and be careful out there!
Thanks for the info Wes. We went up to Badly via ski hut last Sat, 4/16. There was no snow on the trail at all. The plan was to make a loop with devils backbone, but it was way to windy for devils backbone with 70+ MPH winds on the summit. Cucamonga will hopefully be safely passable without crampons or ice axe in about a month. But this depends a lot on your risk tolerance.
We hiked Cucamonga Peak today. No need for crampons or ice axe. Just a couple of small snow patches to hike through.
I’m going up Saturday with no crampons…
Scott Williams, how was your hike on May 4? Was your hike eventful w/o crampons? I hope to hear from you. Thank you.
I hiked from Ice House Canyon Trailhead to Cucamonga Peak yesterday, 5-29-16. Very large crowds most likely due to the Memorial Day Holiday weekend. I pulled into the parking lot at 7AM and the lot was full. No snow on trail. Ran into a few backpackers with plans to pitch a tent at the summit. There were a couple go overnight campers at the saddle. Great weather. Cool breezes, but the sun came out late morning, making it uncomfortable for late starters. Bugs are starting to be present. Lots of bees swarming at the peak, a few horse flies, and some gnats around the water down low. Bugs are not a real problem now, but I would recommend bringing some spray or nets as the weather heats up. This trail is very rocky and an ankle twist would be very easy to do. Do yourself a favor and hike this trail in a good pair of boots with ankle support. Kudos to all that made the summit. Looked like a party at 11AM. Must have been at least 45-50 people at the summit.
The sign right before the peak has disappeared. Someone had thrown up a wooden stake with a white arrow pointing in the right direction, but too had fallen when we went today! Make sure to take a right when you hit this area – the left trail looks more well-worn but will bring your further from the peak.
My buddy and I hiked up cucamonga peak yesterday and it was great. Around a hundred made it to the summit. Stayed for about an hour before going down. I was just wondering if there was a geological survey marker somewhere on top.. Not even a sign was visible, lots of hikers were asking especially the first timers.
Hiked Cucamonga Peak on June 17th. 7hrs 15mns hiking time + 45mns of breaks = 8 hours total. Absolutely beautiful scenery. The early morning hours were wonderful – nice and cool in the shade of the mountains. After the saddle it’s more exposed. On the way back, there was more sun and heat. The trail is pretty rocky in some areas so have good shoes and be nice to your joints, take your time. Ran out of water for the 1st time on a hike but it was near the end and my friend had extra; I drink a lot. No wildlife of note, just an adult and a baby rattlesnake. There were some old mining shafts that some guys explored and said there was some fresh poop in one of them – maybe mountain lion, they guessed. No sign or marker at the top, unless I missed it. Thanks for great information on this site!
Forgot to add that I second what Laura says above – there’s no real sign right before the peak, but there is (or was, on that day!) a wooden stake with a white arrow pointing towards the peak – straight up (vs to the left). Someone had added in sharpie – “Cucamonga” with an arrow pointing up and “Etiwanda” with an arrow going left, but I imagine that will wear away quickly.
Excited to be doing this one. My buddies and I do Wilson all the time and decided we would do the 6 peak challenge this year. I’ve done Wilson 4 or 5 times so far this year. I actually ran up the other day and got up in 2 hours and 1 minute haha. Glad to finally move onto other peaks. We want to do Whitney next year and the JMT starting in Yosemite in 2018. Love this site – Thank you Jeff for all the handwork 🙂
I’d love to camp out at any of these peaks when doing the challenge. Can we camp at any of these along the way? Allowed? Level ground?
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. Or the summit of cucamonga peak which I highly recommend. The sunrise and sunset views from Cucamonga peak are great, and there are many good campsites. There is no water at either of these camps, and you can fill out a permit at the Icehouse canyon trailhead.
I have also spent the night on Baldy, and San Gorgonio at High Creek camp.
Is is possible to do this solo? or are the trails too tircky..
It is possible to do this trail solo, but it is definetly safer to do it with a group. If you do it solo, make sure you have a map and know where you are going, and make sure somebody else knows your plan and where you are going.
Great hike! Went up last night with a couple friends and spent the night on the peak. As others have mentioned, make sure you stay to the right when you finish the switchbacks and the terrain is leveling out up top (the stake is still there with the white arrow). We missed it initially, as it was dark, but fortunately had the GPX track to compare against and got back on the trail quickly.
Does anyone know why it smells like flour up there? Yes, flour. Really strong smell when you hit the Saddle and at points heading up from there. I’m from the East Coast so forgive my naïveté.
In other news, I found a FitBit on the way down at the second mile marker (7:40 AM this morning 7/21). I tried to drop it at the ranger station but it was closed. If you lost it and happen to see this, please post!
Wanted to backpack this over Labor Day weekend, what do you think the weather will be like. Any chance of water along the way? Will most likely just pack for no water but thought I’d ask. I’ll have to go through the comments and all to make sure I have the correct directions but will also bring GPS and maps as well. Thanks for the great site.
Did this hike a year ago before I around this time, it was really fun! The good thing is that it’s always cooler around the mountains even when it’s 90 down in Rancho, but I would still definitely pack for water. There was no snow when I went. Hoping to find something as fun as this in north carolina
FYI I recently hiked Cucamonga Peak and there’s a summit sign! It was great to take pictures with it.
We have a few of us doing this Sat. Any recommendations for staying overnight on Friday.?
@Angela: In Baldy Village the Mt Baldy Lodge might be your best bet: http://www.mtbaldylodge.com/
Did this trail with a friend and my dog on 9/23. The weather was great, but very cold at times. Having a GPS was a huge help as finding the right trail was a little confusing at times. The three other parties we encountered were all following this guide. Thanks so much Jeff for providing this!
Hi
Is there a camp ground near the peak? and what about water?
There are places to pitch a tent on the peak however there is no water. The nearest water would be from Columbine Spring which is a mile below Icehouse Saddle in Icehouse Canyon
Does anyone know if there is water at Columbine Spring currently or coming out of the pipe at Kelly Camp? I spoke to a ranger today and he said that a few weeks ago there was just a trickle. We are hoping to avoid carrying all our water for a 1 night trip and trying to determine if we need to cache water along the trail.
Jennifer, there may be some water, but personally I wouldn’t count on it. When I’ve done an overnight on Cucamonga, I’ve carried 5 liters — enough for cooking and staying hydrated. YMMV…
Putting this trip on my list! Just a quick question to anyone, do I need to fill out a permit ahead of time, or can I fill one out the day of at the Mt. Baldy ranger station? Thanks!
No need to get a permit in advance at this time. There is a box at the trailhead with blank permits that you can fill out. You keep a copy and put the original in a slot for the ranger. Be aware that sometimes they run out of blank forms, and in that case, you’d have to stop by the visitor center in Baldy Village.
We are recent transplants to Southern California, and last summer was our first time hiking this trail. I consulted your guide before going, and had a blast. Fast forward to now, and we got in a last minute climb on Baldy Bowl about two weeks ago, after a solid freeze left good conditions on the face. As you said, Cucamonga tends to hold snow later in the season. With most of the San Gabriels snow free, we decided to go have a look this week. A bit of snow crossed the trail here and there after Icehouse Saddle, but nothing too serious. However, where there should have been switchbacks for the final climb, the entire face was covered in a sheet of frozen snow! We broke out the ice axes and crampons and had a blast going strait to the top (it made for a very different mapmyhike path than our first hike). Anyway, we had a blast, and I just wanted to say thanks for introducing us to this amazing trail!
Are there any places to camp on this hike?
There is Kelly Camp, which requires a slightly longer route. You’ll see a junction for that route on your way to the saddle. But my favorite is to camp on the summit. There are no established campsites, so be cautious to follow Leave No Trace principles and remember that there are no campfires allowed.
NOTE: It gets really windy up there at night, but the views (if it’s clear) are spectacular!
What time does this trailhead parking open? Id like to be there early tomorrow morning. Can anyone help?
I believe it never closes and there’s no gate. So come in early as you please. Just don’t forget to put your adventure pass on display. People leave their cars overnight when they stay somewhere up in that high country.
Hiked Cucamonga today….perfect weather, and no snow except at the peak. The snow was only a 10 x 10 patch, so it might not count…lol
Hiking on Saturday, what time do you suggest we start? Permits still available at the sign? this is my last Peak to do to hike all 6, EXCITED! Thank you!
Best is to be there early, by 6:00am parking might be filled already and you will be parking far along the road. Permit is self-serve and always available at the Trailhead. Good luck on your hike and enjoy!
How is the weather for next week most say from march til November
Want to get there like 5am
Happy new year! Did anybody hike or camp yesterday?
Great trail! The there is a tall wood post at the infamous fork in the trail near the summit. Be sure to take the right fork (uphill) to the summit. The left fork goes nowhere, although it looks like a more attractive trail. Amazing views from the summit!
Did this on Saturday (January 27th, 2018). Quite windy on the North/East facing slopes (after saddle) and still snowy/icy in several spots. If you’re hiking through these sections midday and it’s warm, you should be fine. Early morning or afternoon, I highly recommend micro-spikes or at least trekking poles as it’s pretty slippery, particularly on the way back down.
Great pics! Definitely need to try this one
Thinking of doing the alternate hike Ontario Peak…
Is it safe to hike this time of year?
I’ve read Mount Baldy shouldn’t be hiked when it’s snowy because the Devil’s Backbone is too treacherous.
How is Ontario with snow?
Safe?
Thanks everyone!
Hike on!!!!!
Hi Jeremy,
It’s never “safe” — hiking has many inherent dangers. But Ontario Peak is a bit lower and doesn’t have that steep traverse on the backside of Big Horn, so it is often “safer” than Cucamonga, earlier.
Be sure to check out our guide to Ontario Peak and check out our hike logs from the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge. Click the Ontario Peak button to show just logs from that peak.
Thanks Jeff! I will check into the info you sent over. Your page is amazing, thanks for everything!
Planning on doing this hike tomorrow with my girlfriend. Anything we should be worried about in terms of weather/trail conditions?
Planning on bagging this peak Saturday as part of the 6 pack of peaks. Haven’t done this hike yet and I’m a bit of a slow hiker when it comes to the steep parts. Any advice anyone can give me?
Angelica, I am planning on hiking this Saturday to Cucamonga Peak for the sunrise. I would say just keep a slow and steady pace and make sure you bring water and all the essentials but still keep your pack as light as possible. If you have summited Mt Wilson before, you should be able to summit Cucamonga Peak. Good luck!
Ascent: 1 hour 58 minutes
Descent: 1 hour 15 minutes
Bring grippy shoes, 1 gallon of water, 4 bananas and salted/roasted almonds. BOOM. For bonus points take your street bike so you can smash through all the twisties on the way to and from the trailhead. Convince me there’s a better way to spend a saturday.
Hi, I went yesterday April 1st 2020, but I couldn’t hike past the Icehouse Saddle, there was so much snow that every step I took I sank my leg up to and over my knees. I had to turn back.
I want to go back next week, but I’m afraid there will still be a lot of snow. Is there any of the other 6 peaks, besides Mt Wilson, where there’s no snow at the moment?
All other peaks in the 6 pack besides Wilson will have significant snow for at least the next few weeks.