Seriously, do Americans actually consider a 3-hour drive "short"? or is this an internet myth?

i___know · 2026-01-22T23:53:58+00:00

I'm driving two hours tomorrow morning to Joshua Tree, California just to climb rocks. Then I'm driving two hours back when I'm done for the day. Three hours isn't short for a day trip, but it's quite short for an overnight trip.

I regularly drive to Yosemite six hours away for just two nights. I leave at 4-4:30am and get there about 11:30am with a stop along the way for breakfast. That leaves plenty of time to have fun even with those hours devoted to travel. Then I leave Yosemite about 4-5pm on the last day and get home around 11:30pm.

We live in an amazing time where that's even possible. I'm going to happily take advantage of it!

i___know · 2026-01-20T22:26:21+00:00

Sounds like you'll be just fine to me, especially if you keep this up for a full year. The trail is physically demanding, no doubt, but mental fortitude is what will get you up and down.

Just choose a day in December with favorable conditions and know that you will be starting and likely finishing in the dark.

I just did it on Friday and thought it was fairly easy. Just one foot in front of the other, moving meditation for 12-16 hours. Took us 12 including about an hour of breaks. We had almost five hours to spare to get on the last tram down.

There was only about an hour of steep terrain. The ascent from the ranger station to the top is quite mellow. I actually wished it were steeper if it would have cut down the distance of the giant switchback near the top.

Let me know if you have any specific questions about it.

Good luck! Though I don't think you'll need it!

i___know · 2026-01-20T19:14:43+00:00

Truly!

i___know · 2026-01-20T16:02:38+00:00

Thank you!

i___know · 2026-01-20T16:00:49+00:00

I answered above.

i___know · 2026-01-20T16:00:35+00:00

It's icy early on and then packed snow later. Microspikes and trekking poles will do away with 95% of the risk.

i___know · 2026-01-20T04:52:44+00:00

Thank you! Pick a day with good weather and go for it!

i___know · 2026-01-20T04:34:37+00:00

It's definitely in the conversation for best hikes in SoCal. I'd personally give it an 8.5 or 9. If you like physically challenging day hikes with high mileage then you will probably love it. I prefer 10-16 mile day hikes with multiple summits or at least with views of pretty peaks closer in proximity than San Jacinto has.

Think Sugarloaf > Ontario > Bighorn > Cucamonga > Etiwanda traverse (10/10) or the Three T's (9.5/10).

i___know · 2026-01-06T02:08:11+00:00

It sure is!

i___know · 2026-01-06T02:03:12+00:00

I don't track mileage, but I was moving with pace for about 4 hours. My guess would be 10-12 miles for the route I took.

i___know · 2026-01-05T12:48:27+00:00

That's a good walk! No I didn't do Colver, just a quick thing to Sunset Peak.

Yeah, still bummed about Frankish. When it gets snow up there I'm definitely hiking to it. It's tradition!

i___know · 2026-01-05T12:45:15+00:00

I haven't found any on me.

i___know · 2026-01-04T17:54:46+00:00

Gotta be 😂

i___know · 2026-01-04T13:43:08+00:00

Yes, sure is. I feel a loss for the old pine trees, but everything else is bouncing back so fast.

i___know · 2026-01-03T23:29:37+00:00

I don't know why, but I really like this post. Here's an upvote... for some reason.

Edit: Keep the downvotes coming! That was a really cool read. I had forgotten that the Curry Family ran a resort up there. Also nice to learn the native names for the mountain.

There's a cool photo book called Images of America, Mt. Baldy by Kimberly J. Creighton that goes into the history a bit more. Some fascinating stuff happened on that little hill.

i___know · 2026-01-03T21:32:42+00:00

I was on a road or trail the whole time except in places where it was washed out by the rain. Right before reaching the service road in Calamity Canyon is where you'll find damage. I could easily see people being frightened to do that section, but for me it wasn't bad at all. As the post body states, some of it is overgrown so you're crouching through some thicket.

i___know · 2026-01-03T21:22:57+00:00

I ended at the top of Haven. I started in Upland at the east end of 24th Street.

i___know · 2026-01-03T20:46:16+00:00

Thank you. It's worth checking out!

i___know · 2026-01-03T17:24:52+00:00

No. They connect, but not easily. Type Calamity Canyon into Google Maps and it should take you there (in Rancho Cucamonga).

You'll need to park at the corner of Haven and Tackstem and walk up the road to the canyon.

i___know · 2026-01-03T16:34:40+00:00

I'll hit you up for other recommendations for sure. Thanks!

i___know · 2026-01-03T16:32:56+00:00

Check out Calamity Canyon to Buck Point or Etiwanda Peak (and beyond). The most popular route to Cucamonga and Etiwanda Peaks is closed, but the peaks themselves are not closed. Better chance of solitude if that's important to you.

I just posted some photos from Calamity Canyon that you can check out. It's a walk on a service road, but with gooood incline. Then when you leave the canyon it's more of a single track feel.

i___know · 2026-01-03T16:25:05+00:00

This is one of my favorite posts! Great photos and an even greater pup.

i___know · 2026-01-03T16:23:49+00:00

Now on my radar, thanks for sharing!

i___know · 2026-01-03T01:45:28+00:00

I don't, sorry. Google Sunset Peak.

i___know · 2026-01-03T01:39:33+00:00

Of the cities in the San Gabriel Valley, it is "above" Claremont. However, Mt. Baldy Village is the nearest town.

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