Travel the path less traveled. Ice House Canyon remains a very busy trailhead, but there is something very, very satisfying to have the very last parking spot on the parking lot. Mind you: at 6.05 AM. So this place fills up very fast and early.

The climb to the Ice House Saddle still looked familiar, since it was only 2 weeks ago that we did Cucamonga Peak, our favorite peak so far. We quickly pulled ahead of most other hikers and enjoyed the relatively cool morning while climbing up.

At the Ice House Saddle, we turned right and started the Ontario Peak Trail. The trail starts almost level with spectacular views back on the valley we just climbed. Soon you enter the eerily beautiful landscape of burned out trees and the skeletons of once massive pine trees. Sad but beautiful. This trail follows the contours of the mountain with the occasional climb. Soon you see Ontario Peak with the dead tree at the top. Which tree thought it was ever a good idea to grow on top of a mountain? Never heard of lightning strikes aiming at highest and spiky points? Even dead, it is an imposing sight.

On the way back, we decided to take the slightly longer Chapman Trail. You follow the contours of the mountain with steep drop-offs on the left and an almost constant view of the valley. I loved the detour, but my daughter was getting grumpier that we took a detour on the way back. This extra trail makes this a 14.3 miles hike.
We really enjoyed this #4 of our Six Peak Challenge