11.5 miles
3600 feet gain
8/10
Lytle Creek ,CA (92358) 45.8 miles from you Weather Map
Half the fun is getting there. Take the 15 North exit Sierra Avenue and head Northwest on the road for about a mile and a half. You may almost miss the sign to San Sevaine Flats and Joe Elliot Campground. If you do turn around.
Almost immediately this road climbs to command impressive views. It is very narrow, and anyone with a low clearance vehicle won't be able to go very far.
You can make it to San Sevaine Flats in any car, but you'll add 4.5 miles to your trip one way, so prepare to be pooped. After the flats the road is impassable unless you have 4WD. Park past the campground and follow the road to the trail signs.
The trail is not well maintained - you will lose it in more than a few spots, and you will want to wear long pants to protect your legs from the chaparral. Bring a topo and a GPS if you have one. If you have good trail sense you don't need one, I didn't. Still...
The scenery in the Cucamonga Wilderness is breathtaking. Without a doubt, it is the most wild in the San Gabriels. The terrain is steep, dry, rugged, and covered in chaparral. Big Horn Sheep still roam, I saw a buck, fresh tracks and droppings along the trail.
At first, you may even begin to question whether this is a trail or not, as you cross a wash, it seems so overgrown that you can't fathom what later on parts may look like. Don't worry, it gets better, and if you have good trail sense, you should be fine. I never got lost, but I would suggest taking time to explore a bit when the trail gets sketchy, so your return will be smoother. Always look back at least.
The views are top-notch. I could see the Sierras in the morning and Catalina on top at noon. If you look carefully, you can spot the Ski Hut on Baldy.
This is a strenuous trip, but can be done fast. I also took the short trip up Etiwanda, well worth the extra effort.