Icehouse Canyon Day Hike
Thanksgiving Weekend!
Saturday - November 27
Let's get out there and melt away the pounds.
Start time: 7:30 A.M. Meeting Place: Trailhead near the restroom.
Details: Moderate – 9.0 miles – 3355 ft gain/loss – Trail: Icehouse Canyon
OC/LB taking the Chapman Trail back to the beginning of the trailhead which makes for a nice looped hike.
The scenery is stunning. Precipitous canyon walls rise steeply into the blue sky. Soaring peaks and ridges contour the skyline. Huge boulders dot the canyon bottom. A year-around creek provides a delightful soundtrack. Majestic fir, pine, and cedar reach to the sky while alder, oak and sycamore fill out a shady canopy in places. Snow can linger in shadowy recesses long into the spring and early summer. Old cabins and cabin ruins sprinkled along the lower canyon remind hikers of a simpler yesteryear.
The V-shaped canyon starts at Icehouse Canyon above Baldy Village and extends east a mile and a half and 2600 feet to Icehouse Saddle, a conspicuous notch in the Telegraph-Ontario Ridge. The classic, hand-built trail provides a portal for a web of trails which extend deep into the magnificent high country. The upper half of the trail lies within the Cucamonga Wilderness, a 12,781-acre sanctuary set aside by federal law to remain pristine and wild. From the saddle to the top of Timber Mountain is another 700 feet and roughly 1 mile. For those not wishing to go on to the peak, the saddle provides a nice resting and waiting place.
Returning back to the trail head, we have the option of taking the Chapman Trail, which adds one additional mile to the trip, making the entire trip about 10 miles. The photo above shows us taking the Chapman Trail on a previous hike.
Wonders await on the Icehouse Trail. WOW!
Getting to the Trailhead:
From the 210 Freeway extension, driving east: Exit Baseline Road in Claremont. Turn left on Baseline. In one block turn right onto Padua Avenue. In 1.7 miles turn right onto Mt. Baldy Road (stop sign). After 7.2 miles you pass the Angles National Forest Mt. Baldy Visitor Center in Mt. Baldy Village. Continue 1.5 miles to the Icehouse Canyon entrance. Veer right and park in the large parking area.
From the 210 Freeway extension, driving west: In Upland, exit Mountain Ave./Mt. Baldy Exit, Exit 54. Turn right and proceed north on Mountain Ave. Drive 5 miles to Mt. Baldy Road. Turn right (north) and after 5 miles you pass the Angles National Forest Mt. Baldy Visitor Center in Mt. Baldy Village. Continue 1.5 miles to the Icehouse Canyon entrance. Veer right and park in the large parking area.
The trail starts at the east end of the large parking lot, just to the right of the ruins to the old Ice House Canyon Resort.
A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for parking.You will need to obtain this beforehand as the Mount Baldy Visitor Center will be closed when we start. Here is a link to locations that sell the pass:
You may also use:
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The America the Beautiful — The National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass covers all:
National Parks
National Forests
National Wildlife Refuges
Bureau of Land Management sites
Bureau of Reclamation sites
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites
The parking lot can get full on weekends hence the early start time as well as recommending carpooling.
What to Bring:
You should bring your ten essentials (Click here for the list.), a day pack, water (2 to 3 liters), trekking poles, sunscreen, hat, trail snacks, lunch, and plan on wearing hiking boots or shoes (preferably waterproof).
Carpooling is recommended to help reduce gas cost and parking. There is NO FEE for this trip.
Lance Whitmier will be leading this hike.
He can be reached at: President-OCLB@GreatOutdoors.org
"Love this trial as it is one of my favorites! Looking forward to seeing a group of us out enjoying the fresh air and (hopefully) sunshine after eating ourselves silly on T-Day!"
Lance & Buddy on the Icehouse Trail.
Special COVID Related Requirements:
Participants must comply with the following requirements as a condition of registering for this event:
- I will follow Federal, State and local COVID guidelines as well as the directions of the leader.
- I will maintain social distance (min. 6') and wear a face mask if social distancing is not possible
- I will not attend if feeling ill or have any symptoms of COVID.
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I will contact trip leader if I test positive for COVID within 14 days of the event
‘I Accept’ and will comply with these requirements as a condition of participating in this event.
NOTE: Due to COVID restrictions, please DO NOT show up for this hike unless you have completed a registration process here and have answered the required COVID questions. Also, do not bring any unregistered guests on this hike.
