Bighorn Peak (via Icehouse Canyon)

Objective: Bighorn Peak (via Icehouse Canyon)
Distance: 11.1 miles (out and back)
Peak Elevation: 8,441′
Elevation Gain: 3,400′
Difficulty: Strenuous

The San Gabriel Mountains have two parallel east-west ranges. The front range is to the south and overlooks Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. The northern back range is taller and goes from 6,000′ to 10,000′ with Baldy at the top. A general rule is to hike the front range in cooler seasons and the back range in warmer seasons. Nestled in the Cucamonga Wilderness, in the eastern end of the back range is Bighorn Peak. The trail climbs Icehouse Canyon to Icehouse Saddle and reaches a ridgeline connecting Bighorn Peak to Ontario Peak. You can hike to either peak or both.

Directions to Trailhead

Head east on the 210, and exit Baseline Road in Claremont. Turn left on Baseline Road. Turn right on Padua Avenue. In 1.7 miles, turn right onto Mt. Baldy Road. In 7.2 miles, go past Mt. Baldy Village. Continue 1.5 miles and turn right at Icehouse Canyon Road. The trailhead is at the far end of the parking lot.

Directions to Summit

Trailhead: The hike begins on Icehouse Canyon Trail.
1 mile: At the Chapman Trail junction, continue ahead on Icehouse Canyon Trail.
1.8 miles: There is a sign for the Cucamonga Wilderness.
2.4 miles: Columbine Spring is on the north slope above the canyon.
3 miles: At the second Chapman Trail junction, stay right on Icehouse Canyon Trail.
3.6 miles: At Icehouse Saddle, turn right and follow the Ontario Peak Trail.
4.3 miles: The trail passes the eastern edge (to the left) of Kelly’s Camp.
4.8 miles: The trail climbs through some narrow shrubs to the ridgeline. (Bighorn Peak is 0.75 miles to the east and Ontario Peak is 1 mile to the west.) Turn left, leave the trail and head east up the ridge to the summit.
5.55 miles: You have reached Bighorn Peak. Turn around and head back.

Trek Highlights

The creek-side Icehouse Canyon Trail is dotted with cabins; honey-scented, blue ceanothus; and covered with rocks and streams. At the start, there is a giant tree whose roots restrain giant boulders. The trail becomes rocky just before it crosses a dry riverbed. After crossing the creek and entering the Cucamonga Wilderness area, the trail gently climbs to a big rock. The way is long, steep, and gradual like a slide, but covered with stable little stones. The trail steadily climbs the side of the canyon until it begins to switchback like crazy below Icehouse Saddle.

Right below Icehouse Saddle, the breeze seems to carry you up as the trail levels off. From the saddle, you can see all the neighboring peaks. The pine needle covered Ontario Peak trail hugs the slope beneath the ridgeline. After a mile, you pass Kelly’s Camp and climb through dense shrubs and over a couple logs up to the ridge connecting Bighorn Peak to Ontario Peak. The trail along the ridge dips ever so slightly before climbing the slope of Bighorn Peak. At the summit, soak in the views of Cucamonga Peak to the east, Ontario Peak to the west, and So Cal to the south. On this day, there were gray squirrels, chipmunks, a young deer, bumblebees, screeching California scrub jays, and a hooded oriole.