Table Of Content
Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use. Aside from a bar, there are next to no services in Mount Baldy Village. Make sure you pick up all of your supplies before leaving the metro area and heading up the hill. Icehouse Saddle itself is simply a weathered sign and a couple of downed trees that are great spots to sit down and catch your breath. Trail signs mark the destinations and distances of the trails that branch off from this point. On the descent, if you keep an emergency poncho in the bottom of your backpack (for completely different circumstances), you can put it to use as a makeshift toboggan.
Gear for the Three T's Trail
Departing from the parking lot along Icehouse Canyon Road, the trail takes course along the northern bank of a creek that flows down the canyon. Crystal clear water tumbles past oaks and sycamores, and this is a fine venue for a directionless romp through nature for those disinterested in following the trail. A half-dozen cabins are spread out along the bottom of the canyon, along with another half-dozen stone foundations (ruins left over from the early days of the Angeles). The trail passes these current and past dwellings, ascending gradually into a wilderness with less and less human impact. You need a parking pass for the Icehouse Canyon Trailhead lot.
Three T's Trail (Timber , Telegraph + Thunder Mountain)
If you are ending at the saddle, at least go up the ridge a little to the north to get a better view as the saddle view itself is a little lacking. Head back down the way you came or, for a longer but more gradual descent, take the Chapman Trailhead about .6 miles from Ice House Saddle. The hike down has the best views particularly of Baldy and I saw many things I missed on the way up.
Cucamonga Peak Trail Map
The views are very nice and the time we went there was snow on the ground, but sneakers were still fine with some decently warm socks. Busy on a Saturday morning, but the farther you go up the less people you see.Definitely recommend for a good workout, but not too hard where you can't talk along the way. Above the snow-covered waterfall, the trail becomes more generous again and there is only one more steep passage over the last third-mile.
I use the affordable National Parks Pass, which gets me in every park, monument, and national forest. You can also use a (Southern California only) Adventure Pass, or buy a $5 day permit from the visitor's center. Don't attempt it if you haven't done long mountain hikes and if you don't have a good level of fitness. Likewise, if there's snow and ice on the route, don't attempt it unless you have winter hiking and mountaineering experience. The trail is well-worn because it is a route for hikers attempting several of the high country peaks or others just out hiking the canyon with no particular turnaround point in mind. You may see quite a few other hikers during the busier seasons.
Julian Sands’ car found in hunt for A Room With A View star who vanished on hike 6 days ago in ‘worst sto... - The US Sun
Julian Sands’ car found in hunt for A Room With A View star who vanished on hike 6 days ago in ‘worst sto....
Posted: Wed, 18 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
From the saddle, hikers and backpackers may continue on in several directions to explore nearby peaks and venture deeper into the Cucamonga Wilderness. The single-track to Icehouse Saddle climbs 2,600 feet over 3.6 miles and is an exceptional hike. Once you reach the saddle you can take a few different trails to numerous peaks to get a better view, extend the day or camp for the night.
Nearby Adventures
In addition to the free permit that I just described (book online here), you will need a (free) California campfire permit. Again, it's not an official camping spot, and you might be asked to leave, but at this point, many folks do an overnight there, and you'll probably be fine as well. If you don't feel comfortable walking on the road, it's usually easy to hitchhike at the end of Manker Flats and get a lift from other hikers down to Icehouse. If you want to do some other great hikes from Icehouse Saddle, check out my directions for Cucamonga Peak and Ontario Peak. It's designed to let you take in the beauty of the Three Tee's Trail and then you have a nice long descent back to your car. If you want to avoid the more developed portions of the hike, simply hike to Telegraph Peak and return the way you came.
Sunset Peak via South Trailhead
The hike is accessible in all seasons, but in winter there can be snow and ice so special equipment may be useful, but not required. In mid-January there were patches of ice on the trail but were easily crossed in boots and trainers. You can take the trail and end at Ice house Saddle or continue on to other destinations for a longer hike or overnight camping. 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.
You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter. Before you start, you will need an Adventure Pass for parking ($5/day or $30 annually) as well as a free wilderness permit. Permit and pass can be purchased at the Mt. Baldy visitor center. The parking lot can fill up on weekends so get there early. There are basic toilets at the beginning of the trail but not on the trail itself.
Offering one of the coolest summits in the San Gabriel Mountains, the hike to Cucamonga Peak very popular. Cucamonga Peak, at 8,862 feet, has spectacular views from SoCal's high peaks to the urban development below. The hike up to the peak is tough but not brutal, the scenery and views are spectacular, and the summit area is a lot of fun. If you want to avoid the more populated trails, you can simply turn around here and retrace your steps back to the Icehouse Canyon Trailhead.
The final approach to the summit is also an avalanche zone. If you don't have winter mountaineering experience, don't do it. People have fallen to their deaths here in the winter. There's some confusion around permits for Cucamonga Peak, especially after some changes were made in 2020. To do this hike from the Icehouse Canyon Trailhead to Cucamonga Peak, you can fill out a permit at the trailhead, or do it online here before you go. For some other approaches to Cucamonga Peak, you do need to obtain a permit beforehand.
Permits are required, but are self-serve and available at the trailhead (bring a pen). View San Gabriel Mountains in a larger map Or view a regional map of surrounding Los Angeles trails and campgrounds. Not long after crossing into the Cucamonga Wilderness, the trail begins to climb more seriously. Your heart starts to pound and your thighs start to burn… and then you hit the real steep section, an arduous march up a slippery slope called “the waterfall.” Have a look around for inspiration. Normally, the trail crosses to the north side of the canyon and climbs a series of switchbacks to get to Icehouse Saddle. However, when that white thing that is usually foreign to Southern California covers the ground, the consensus becomes to take a direct track right up the center of the canyon.
The rest of the hike directions here follow a loop route back to the hike start. Did the hike at the end of November (2015) and the weather was chilly so you needed a base layer and a decently warm jacket (gloves were helpful near the top too). The hike was doable by people who don't hike often, but are generally fit people (they were sore the next day).
Poncho sledding, as it could be called, adds even more enjoyment to this winter hike.
No comments:
Post a Comment