Icehouse Canyon to Ontario Peak

Hike Name: Icehouse Canyon to Ontario Peak Location: southwest CA Length: 13 Submitted by: Larry Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more California trail reviews California national parks California state parks
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Description
This long hike is perfect for the experienced backcountry hiker. The trail climbs from The mouth of Icehouse Canyon up 3.6 miles to Icehouse saddle. You pass a number of cabins along the way and Columbine spring about 2.5 miles up. This spring is down just below the trail and runs well into late summmer, even in the driest years. This is the last reliable water source on this trip. After a few switchbacks you reach Icehouse Saddle, a hub of trials in the San Gabriel high-country. You'll notice it gets cold and windy at Icehouse Saddle. From Icehouse Saddle go right and take the trail that stays on the north side of the ridge. After about a mile more you reach Kelly's Camp where you can spend the night if you decide to do this trip in two days. This campsite is underdeveloped because it is in the Cucamonga Wilderness. It is one of the most remote sites you can find though. After the camp you begin an ascent through some low brush and lodgepole pine. This is a great place to spot mule deer grazing. We spotted a mother deer feeding with her fawn. Later on we saw a massive buck feeding up on the ridge. Once you reach the top of the ridge you'll notice how high you really are. You can see Ontario Airport below and the huge crowns of Mt. Baldy and Telegraph Peak behind you. You'll see a small sign on a rock that says, "Bighorn Peak: 0.7, Ontario Peak: 1 mile. You can take the side trip to the summit of Bighorn Peak, but this adds another mile and a half to the trip length. If you go to the right you begin the acsent to Ontario Peak. This is prime area to spot Nelson Bighorn Sheep so keep your eyes open. A few hundred yards up we spotted a crew of four male bighorns just below us.
A little later we saw a group of five more bighorns, four females and one male, running over the ridge. You pass two or three false summits before you identify Ontario Peak's rocky summit block. After a few more switchbacks you are rewarded with the satisfaction of conquering 8693' Ontario Peak. Head back the same way. The effort for this trip was worth it just because we saw nine bighorn sheep and five mule deer.

Directions to Hike
From Foothill Blvd. in Claremont, drive north on Mills Ave. You have to hang a right to stay on the main road. Keep driving straight till you get to the Mt. Baldy Vistior's Center. Pick up the appropriate permits here. Keep driving for a mile or so until you get to Icehouse Canyon road and park in the parking lot. Hike up the gated road and it will turn into a trail.

Contact Information
Mt. Blady Visitor's Center
Mt. Baldy Road
Mt. Baldy, CA 91759
(909) 982-2829
Tues-Sun. 8:00 am- 4:30 pm

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