+ Great hike. Exhilarating, breathtaking (literally and figuratively)…read more . The hike takes about 12 miles, 6-8 hours, and about 4100' elevation gain. + Good views of San Gabriel mountains and LA county. + There was one shared Cucamonga Peak sign at the summit to hold for photos. - Parking on a Saturday at 6am gets very crowded. Take heed. Arrive early or park a 1-2min walk down the street. - The only restrooms are the two at the trailhead. No hand sanitizers. Better than nothing. Tips: . Bring plenty snacks and +3L of water. . I recommend checking out HikingGuy's guide before you go: https://hikingguy.com/hiking-trails/los-angeles-hikes/cucamonga-peak-hike/ . And get a hiking parking pass ($5) to scratch off your visit date to keep on your dashboard.

Ontario Peak was my first peak hike ever, but Cucamonga solidified my love for hiking and my goal…read moreis to climb all the SoCal peaks. I hiked this in November 2024 and it was cold! However, the cloud coverage was absolutely breaktaking. I had never seen anything like it before. It is inspirational and captivating. Hiking poles recommended and slow and steady will always get the job done. I carpooled and we arrived early for parking. An adventure pass is required. Please go out there and create your own adventure.

This is incorrectly listed as Arcadia, CA. It is located in Wrightwood, CA…read more I did the Inspiration Point hike today via AllTrails and it lead me out this way. I believe this is Section D of the PCT. It's still beautiful even though the Bridge Fire from 2024 burned many of the trees to the ground. There is some shade and the mountain views are absolutely breathtaking. The Grassy Hollow Visitor Center doesn't exist anymore. There was no one there. No ranger station or check-in. The campground is closed. It's now just a place to enjoy a peaceful hike and immerse in nature. I saw cyclers on highway 2, some motorcycles, and lots of people driving fast or racing around the mountain curves. I only encountered one other person on the trail. From what I saw the bathrooms are not functional. There's a sign saying that a parking pass is required but again, there's no ranger station to purchase tickets. Even near the Blue Ridge Trail down the road, the ranger station was closed so I'm not sure. I have an interagency pass that I display on my dashboard in lieu of the Adventure Pass. Make sure you have your first aid kit, hydration and just be careful. There's no cell reception in most of this part of the PCT. Nonetheless, it's beautiful. Enjoy!

Pacific Crest Trail review…read more. We were staying at a nearby campground and we were looking for a smaller family-friendly trail to hike. We found a section of the PCT that started at the Inspiration Point parking lot and kinda looped back through the Grassy Hollow campground and back to Inspiration point.. This was a great short hike.. The views were amazing you'll get a taste of what the East Angeles National Forest is all about. - Grassy Hollow is closed because of the pandemic. Unlikely to reopen until 2021. But you can still hike through it. There was a working bathroom there. - Parking at Inspiration Point does require an adventure pass ($5 at most stores in Wrightwood). BUT, if you parked across the street it seemed to be free. - Make this is a lollipop hike. When your hike is starting from Inspiration Point, and you get to grassy hollow campground, go right and continue along the PCT.. walk around until you see a man made road and turn left. This will take you back to Grassy Hollow campground and then back to Inspiration Point.

First Puppy play date in the snow‍‍ Our friends bought the brother to ours. So much fun! Great…read morefriends = Great puppies‍‍ The puppies and all 4 of us had a blast. Puppies "Brothers 8 Months old." They had a great time playing up and down the snow hills. Walk a 100 yards on the trail, and you will see a little cove for the dogs and kids to play, sled in deep untouched snow. A hidden gem. Safe where we went, no traffic, away from the busy highway. We so enjoyed the puppies first time experiencing the snow with our puppies. TIP: STOP. Weekends: You need a day parking pass $5.00 Where do you buy one. At the visitors center, before going up to the end of Wrightwood. Weekdays you do not need a day parking pass. Rules not unforced during the week days. Top of Wrightwood. Plenty of Parking. Clean Bench, maps of the trail , and two restrooms. Bring your own: seat cover & TP. Hand sanitizer. Mount High Cafe I hope you have as much fun as we did! Great hidden gem.

Oops! I have no idea why I called the mountains "dainty " On second thought I do, yet let's step…read moreforward. We had a delightful experience! it is an absolutely beautiful place. The creation is beautiful. We all need beauty. There is a lot of ugliness, evil, and error being floated around by various persons so it's nice to be in a place where the unadulterated beauty of the creator shines forth. Wrightwood with all the trees and the streams and the mountains and the birds and the other animals and the snowflakes and the ice and the rain and the sun and the wind and a pretty homes and the delightful architecture and the friendly people, and I hear the church is nice too. Yes I know there is more than one church and if there are other places of worship I apologize; I am not familiar with them.

This review is long over due however, very necessary for me to write about Big Bear Lake Visitors…read moreCenter. Big Bear at large is close to my heart because its easy for me to get to from LA County proper. I ski at Big Bear (Or Snow Valley or Snow Summit) when the snow permits. It's an easy drive for me to and from LA. But lately, over the past 3 years, I've been so in love with Shadow and Jackie, the Bald Eagle celebrity natives. OK- here is my story: My travel buddy and I drive from LA and made a couple stops along the way (One was in Ontario for a party we attended) and the second was Snow Summit to check out the ski conditions. However, my main purpose was to visit and get a real live view of Shadow and Jackie, the bald eagles. The Big Bear Lake Visitors Center was the place to gather your information. They gave us the best times to look for Jackie and Shadow but more important, they have their volunteer rangers who set up long range telescopes over at Fawn's to view the magnificent birds. There is a board at the entrance which lists all activities around the area; for hikers, bikers, eagle viewers alike. Merch for sale Informative with respect to the native animals, birds and the li,e Ample parking Clean restrooms

We just popped in to see what was inside as we were visitors in big bear and were pleasantly…read morepleased with what we found! That was neat. They had a display on the eagle nest, as that is such a popular thing with people, that included a live feed. The folks behind the information desk were very friendly and helpful. We really enjoy the photo area, you can have your picture taken and put over three different backgrounds, with choice of emailing or having the picture printed out right there for you to take with you. Kind of nice to have a physical picture for a change as everyone seems to just provide digital these days. Great place for information for any visitor to big Bear!

Old Mt. Baldy Trail is a wide road trail for most of the way from Manker Flat to Top of the Notch…read more You pass waterfalls and can see people coming up on the gondolas. There is one area near the top that was recently washed out, so it's rocky, but still there is plenty of room to pass others and it doesn't feel unsafe at all. You can also go past this area and go a little future around the rocky path if you want to stay on flatter ground. It's a nice incline, so a good workout. On a clear day, the views are amazing. And you can have a great lunch at Top of the Notch as a reward. Their grilled Turkey Sandwich is yummy. They also have beer, hot cocoa, and other snacks. Then it's a relaxing hike back down. It's the perfect time of year right now, because it's cold and sunny, but no snow on this trail (currently--always check the weather before you hike!). And oh how good you feel after a hike in the hills! :)

Old installations, and overpriced services. Even going to enjoy nature is WAY OVERPRICED. once…read morevisiting this place was enough of experience. You are not missing anything you can see in other areas.

Gorgeous trail in an area of the forest that is recovering from the Bridge Fire in 2024. While it's…read moreshocking to see so many burnt trees, it's also cool to see signs of life emerging from the ashes. There were many pine seedlings to be found along the trail and lots of wildflowers called "fire-followers" that actually require and benefit from the fire to bloom. To find the trailhead, look for the Big Pines Visitor Center. The parking lot for the trail is right across the street and the standard Adventure Pass is required to park in this lot (thank goodness, it is not part of the Mountain High Ski Resort cabal, so you don't have to buy the "Big Pines" parking pass as well.) It was a bit tricky to find the actual trailhead, as it's a few feet away from the parking lot. The parking lot does have restrooms as well as ADA parking available. The trail itself is very well maintained and offers stunning views. It's pretty much uphill all the way to the Blue Ridge Campsite and (of course) downhill all the way back. It's mostly in the shade but can get warm, so make sure you have plenty of water and snacks. Look for fungi, mariposa lilies, butterflies, squirrels and birds. Highly recommended!

The good: I came on a Tuesday and it was completely empty…read moreand serene. We came with our almost 3 year old but we carried him most of the time. The trail was mostly shaded and there were creeks with running water. We saw blue jays, chipmunks, squirrels, woodpecker and other birds. It was breezy with nice views of the mountains and far out in the canyon areas. The bad: We didn't get to finish the trail because we had a toddler. I think there were only 2 parking spots. I am not sure if there were other areas you can park. It was just on the dirt by the campgrounds sign. The interesting: Lots of the trees were burnt and fallen over. We saw red plants and some interesting mushroom growing on the trees. Some areas of the trail are more narrow with a sloping hill off to the side so be careful if you're coming with kids.

Day after Christmas, a hiking buddy of mine figured the recent rainfall over the weekend was good…read morereason to visit Ice House Canyon. During the winter season, there is the added element of snow and icy roads. For some peace of mind, I brought a pair of crampons and gaiters. The hike started around 7:45am with a cool and crisp breeze. Best to keep cozy and layer up. First three or so miles were pretty similar to what you would expect during the summer, terrain-wise. The trail was fairly clean and clear with a few spots to climb up boulders or take a break near the river. One moment you pass through a cluster of trees surrounded by freshly fallen pinecones, and the next you are met with what seems strikingly like the same scree as the last. At a certain point though, the trail became icy and the air slightly chillier. Upon reaching the end of the saddle, there were a number of folks sipping from their thermos and playing with their pooch. After eating our packed lunch, we ventured further up towards Timber Mountain. It was here where patches of snow gradually became blankets as far as the eyes could see. With that said, crampons were unnecessary. The trail was no longer visible since we could not see the ground, so we kept heading up towards the trees till the sign "TIMBER MTN. ELEV. 8303" was within sight. We were greeted with a stunning view of snow-covered hills. There was also a little box of guestbooks to sign. We decided to take the Chapman trail back down. Whereas Ice House was more spread out, Chapman was more narrowly defined with more ups and downs. A few more areas looked like boulders worth a climb. Most of the manzanitas along the way were healthy and bushy with many of them bearing fruit. If you have the time, Chapman is easily the more scenic of the two and worth the extra mile and a half. In total, we hiked around 11 miles and enjoyed it immensely.

Great trail, great work out. This trail is not for…read morebeginners. Pack enough water! 2,700 ft elevation climb to saddle. Very steep so get ready for that lactic acid build up in the quads. Took me 3.5 hours to get up to saddle and 1.5 hours to get down. Make sure you fill out the free permit form in the brown box at the start of the trail (very important, in case something happens to you on the trail, ie, you get hurt or lost, etc).

Got that free sticker boyyy!!!! Thank you California!!! From New Orleans! The staff was super…read morehelpful and treated us well!

Hello this was my first visit. I was very appreciative for Naomi. She was very helpful, nice, and…read morevery knowledgeable.

THIS is a real hike. Exceptional views, crisp clean air, strenuous trail, Baldy has it all. I've…read moredone this twice. If it wasn't as much of a drive, I'd do it a whole lot more. This hike I'm describing is about 11 miles roundtrip, 4000 ft elevation gain. But the ascent is 4 miles up, so it is steep! You are starting at 6000 ft, and going up to just over 10000 ft. Important: It is important to stay hydrated during this hike, it is easy to get altitude sickness if you go too fast, and this also dehydrates you. Please take caution. Follow Mt Baldy Rd. up to Manker Flats. You'll see a couple of port a potties on the left side & a fire road - this is where you'll begin. You'll stay on this fire road for maybe half a mile, and then you'll have to look out for the beginning of the trail on your left. It's hard to find, just builds out of the dirt ridge with an immediate incline. Once you're on the trail, it gets pretty steep right away. At the beginning you can look up at see a green hut in the distance - this is the Sierra Club ski hut for which the trail is named. It is about 2.5 miles away from where you are. Once you get to the Ski Hut, take a break, enjoy the scenery, then head out for the last 1.5 miles, which are even steeper. You'll cross over some rocks briefly, then begin ascent to the ridge. Once you get up here, you'll notice the amount of green has diminished, and the air has gotten thinner. The last portion up along the ridge is the toughest, it is steep, and you are at altitudes over 9000 ft, so you are simply not breathing in as much oxygen, and so your body has to work harder. But once you get to the peak, it is worth it. Grand views of the Angeles National Forest, & the surrounding area are yours. After sometime at the top, take the loop down Devil's Backbone. The first 3 miles down are filled with great views and some rocky trail. You'll take this until you get to a ski lift 3 miles away where there is some bathrooms and water to replenish. Finally you'll take the fire road down another 3.5 miles, which isn't as scenic, but not horrible. This road meets is really the fire road you first started on, and will take you back to your car. Quality

This really is a great hike…read more Though... I must admit ... we did the shorter route. We took the ski lifts up part of the way, took the devils backbone up to the summit, and went back the way we came. This was by no means easy. It is still a 6 or 7 mile hike. Though it is much longer and harder to start from the falls. I think Mt Baldy is under appreciated. It is absolutely beautiful. It is so nice to get away up there. The hike up is steep, take lots of water and snacks. The view up top is great. Enjoy.

The Big Bear Discovery Center is a place of just that…read more.. Discovery!! A place where Nature is the Star, but Nurture is equally as important. A place where the Great Outdoors is embraced and being one with Nature is encouraged by all. Welcome to the Big Bear Discovery Center! While visiting our friends at their cabin in Beautiful Big Bear, we decided to take the kids to the Discovery Center to see what it was all about. Upon walking into the building, we were immediately immersed into the wildlife that makes up this areas landscape. From the avian wildlife, to the reptiles, to the large mammals that call Big Bear Home, the Discovery Center gave a great snapshot of what nature lives in these mountains. In addition, the various types of rock, plants and trees were also on display which showcased the unique landscape of the region. On the back part of the building, there was a decent sized gift shop where your young explorers can browse all of the nature related toys, books and gear to be a Jr. Ranger. But the fun didn't stop there... Out front, they had a table for kids to do a hands on activity. The day we went, kids could make their own bird feeder using a pine cone, peanut butter and bird seed. After making our homemade bird feeders, we took a short walk to the other side of the building where they had an outdoor area called Nature Discovery Zone where kids could play, dig, build things. There are other activities on site, but this is all we did on our visit. If you find yourself in the Big Bear area and have young kids, definitely a good place to come check out. They do have some snacks and drinks inside the gift shop, but I didn't see any actual hot food to eat. There are picnic benches and places you can sit and relax if you want to pack a lunch and eat in the outdoor area. Now... Who's ready to Discover the behind the scenes of Big Bear!

Where does one go when they're looking for directions to find shadow and Jackie?…read more #flylikeaneagle Here is my story I have been watching the bald eagles in the big Bear San Bernardino territory. I have been watching them for a few years now. Little did I know the big bear discovery center provides information on every type of animal in the area, every type of bird in the area, every type of everything in the area, is found at this discovery center My first visit there and definitely not my last, I plan to learn more about the majestic bald eagles that fly around the big bear San Bernardino mountains Also, in the vicinity are many hiking trails so, are you hikers take note to this review About an hour and a half outside of Los Angeles proper you can get to the big bear vicinity. Do your due diligence and find out all the other experiences you can receive from this area. Make your pic and get additional knowledgeable information from the big Bear discovery center. Go there, be there, or, be square