Thunder Mountain Loop via Three Ts Trail
15.3 mi
Distance
6 hrs 56 min
Time
terrain
4,023 ft
Elev Gain
Overview
This is a difficult loop trail to Thunder Mountain in Cucamonga Wilderness.
This trail goes by Columbine Spring, Icehouse Saddle, Timber Mountain, Telegraph Peak, Manker Flat, and Icehouse Canyon Trailhead.
Sights to See
Rate this Hike
★★★★★
Solo hiked Fri 08/18/2023 Up Bear Canyon Trail - West/East Baldy Peaks -Mt Harwood - down Devil’s Backbone Trail – up 3 T’s Trail (Thunder Mtn - Telepraph Pk - Timber Mtn) - Cucamonga Saddle - Icehouse Canyon Trail. Parked early at Icehouse Canyon and walked down Baldy Road to Baldy Village before traffic. Nice to finally go up the Bear Canyon Trail after putting it off for years - well worth the effort. The trail is unrelenting like a good drill sergeant, giving you a good workout the entire way. The narrows at the top of Cattle Canyon resemble Devil’s Backbone with great views off each side. Forgot how panoramic Telegraph Peak is on a clear day. Another nice loop of alternating ascending/descending hiking to keep things interesting. Besides the great views, the very cool breezes at each saddle were really NICE on a warm day. Went out to Cucamonga Saddle but hit my turn around time before going up the rest of Cucamonga Peak. Going down Icehouse Canyon is always a rocky end to a hike but also a beautiful exit in the afternoon along the shadowed stream. Met a lot of nice people on both sides of Baldy Notch as well as the exploding lizard population. Not too many bugs along the way. Careful with your head going under some of the Bear Canyon tree falls - hit the top of my head on one a mile up! Brought 4.5L water knowing things are dry until Icehouse (didn’t want to stop at the Notch). Logged 23.7 miles/8185 vertical ft. with Gaia ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Hiked 11/22/22 solo. Started early at Icehouse Canyon and went up Timber, Telegraph, Thunder and North Thunder in absolutely awesome weather with no wind. Some ice but mainly snow to Timber so no micro spikes, just careful poled steps where necessary. Put on micro spikes on the way to Telegraph with very little post holing but then had to break out the ice axe because of semi-frozen snow sluffs taking out the trail up/down Telegraph. There just wasn’t a trail on the steeper slope traverses. Didn’t need to break out the crampons but if you don’t use an axe, you’re going to need them with poles. Once off Telegraph, bare hiking boots/shoes are good enough. Completed the loop by walking down the Baldy Ski access road and then Mount Baldy Road back to Icehouse Canyon. Logged 17 miles and 5056 vert ft. Very adventurous and fun hike!
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Public Tracks
Hike the Three T’s Trail
The Three T's Trail hike is one of the more peaceful hikes in the Mt Baldy area. This loop trail starts at Icehouse Canyon, climbs to Icehouse Saddle, then hits Timber Mountain, Telegraph Peak, Thunder Mountain, and then descends down to Baldy Notch, Manker Flats, and back to Icehouse Canyon. It's a long hike, but a favorite for those avoiding crowds.
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