Spouse and I did “ECBO” via Icehouse Canyon – hitting Etiwanda (8662’), Cucamonga (8862’), Bighorn (8441’), and Ontario (8696’) in a 19.25-mile loop with 6,000 feet of total elevation gain. Our moving time was 10 hours. Including breaks, we were on the trails from 6 AM to 6 PM.

The trail to Cucamonga was well maintained, strenuous but straightforward. Etiwanda got very steep at the top – it reminded me of the last portion of Strawberry – and the peak is tiny, so don't plan to hang out there if you're in a group. It has fabulous 360 views.

Then we headed to Bighorn and things got rough. The section leading from Cucamonga to Bighorn Peak was basically off-trail, super steep with loose dirt and scree. It felt like I was backsliding 1.5 steps for every 2 steps I took up. I was pulling myself up with poles, and I think I would have given up and turned around without the poles. The portion down from Bighorn and up Ontario was less difficult, and then we hurried down from Ontario as quickly as possible because we realized we were running out of water.

The Icehouse Canyon parking lot was full and people were parking on the side of the road way up the street by 6 AM. The trail to Cucamonga was crowded. But we had Etiwanda to ourselves, and the trails to Bighorn and Ontario were very sparse. (Ontario might have been empty because it was getting so late in the afternoon.)

Take a lot of water if you choose to do the full ECBO. We brought 3L and ran out with about 3.5 miles left. It was miserable and I felt like an idiot. Had we brought a filter, we could have refilled in Icehouse and been fine, though you should definitely bring 4L for safety even if you have a filter.

Overall, I highly recommend this hike if you are in good shape and want to feel accomplished!