Etiwanda Peak

Etiwanda Peak on the Left, with Cucamonga Peak, photo by Kathy Wing

Etiwanda Peak, taken from Cucamonga, photo by Chris Waldheim

Etiwanda Peak, taken from Cucamonga, Photo by Chris Waldheim.

Peak Name

Etiwanda Peak

17F

Elevation

8662

feet

Status

active

Region

Cucamonga Peak Area

Range

San Gabriel Mountains

Nearby peaks

Cucamonga Peak

Location

34.228397,-117.57251

Description

Named informally by the first HPS members after the community below, the name has stuck. As Cucamonga’s little sister it is a worthy destination and the two are usually hiked together, if one has enough energy left after climbing Cucamonga.

Route 1 follows the Cucamonga Peak Trail (described in that peak guide) from Icehouse Canyon to Cucamonga, continuing another mile for a short scramble to the summit of Etiwanda. Route 2 starts from the east off of the I15 in the Lytle Creek area and winds its way around steep ridges to Etiwanda and then on to Cucamonga.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1- From Icehouse Canyon

Elevation Gain

4600′

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

17 miles round trip on trail

Estimated time

9-10 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, strenuous

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take the 210 freeway east to Baseline Road exit in the City of Claremont. Turn left (west) at the bottom of the off-ramp onto Baseline Road.
Almost immediately, take the first right (north) onto Padua Ave.
Go 1.8 miles north on Padua to the intersection with Mount Baldy Rd. Turn right (northeast).
Take this road northeast and then north about seven miles to Mt. Baldy Village.
Continue another two and a half miles (through Baldy Village) to a fork at Icehouse Canyon. Turn right.
Go a short distance to a parking lot. Park here.

Hiking route

From the parking area (5000′), trail 7W07 starts just to the right of the old Icehouse Lodge foundation.
Hike up this trail about 3/4 mile to a trail junction with the Chapman Trail.
Continue straight up the canyon past Columbine Spring to another junction with the Chapman Trail.
Turn right and follow the trail up to Icehouse Saddle. It is also possible to take the Chapman Trail. It adds about 1 1/2 miles.
Take trail 7W04 which goes southeast toward Cucamonga Peak. Follow it along the east side of Bighorn Peak, through a saddle, and up switchbacks.
At the top of the switchbacks there is a trail junction with a sign “Cucamonga Peak”.
Keep left and continue on the trail about 1 1/2 miles passing the saddle east of elevation 8603′.
Continue farther to where an obvious use trail forks to the right. Follow this up to the summit.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2- From South Fork Lytle Creek

Elevation Gain

4800′

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

13.5 miles round trip

Estimated time

6-7 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, strenuous

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-10 east and I-15 north to Sierra Avenue. Turn left at the bottom of the off-ramp.
Go 1.6 miles to a dirt road on the left. Turn left. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 1.0 mile, junction at a power line. Go straight.
At 5.6 miles, fork with 1N36 (closed) on the left. Keep straight.
At 7.7 miles, fork. Keep straight. (This is the turnoff for San Sevaine.)
At 9.5 miles, fork. Keep right. (This is the parking spot for Buck Point.)
At 11.6 miles, fork. Turn right into the Joe Elliot Tree Memorial.
Continue into the Memorial as far as you can. Park here.
The road may become too rough for 2WD vehicles past the 8.2 mile point.

Hiking route

From the parking area (about 6000′), hike up the road which becomes a trail.
At the Wilderness boundary the trail forks. Take the right fork.
Continue to about 8300′ where the trail reaches a saddle south of elevation 8386′.
Where the trails levels off and starts down, look for a prominent use trail on the left. Follow this up to the summit.

Route Notes

Notes: The road from Sierra Avenue is closed except in the fall season. Contact the USFS (see below) for details.
Lytle Creek Ranger Station
San Bernardino National Forest
Star Route 100
Fontana, CA 92336
(909) 382-2851

Printable Route

Road Type

High-clearance

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Additional Peak Information

Special conditions: Etiwanda Peak is in the Cucamonga Wilderness. A permit is required. Day use and overnight permits can be reserved through the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association on their web site swga.org.

Historical note: George and William Chaffey started an agricultural colony near Rancho Cucamonga in 1881, and named it after a friend of the family, an Indian Chief of a tribe near Lake Michigan. The Peak is named after the colony.