Timber Mountain Hiking Guide
Timber Mountain is the closest and most achievable of the Three Ts — the trio of Timber, Telegraph, and Thunder that ridges above Icehouse Saddle in the Cucamonga Wilderness. The approach up Icehouse Canyon is one of the finest walks in the San Gabriels, following a creek through old cabins and pines before switchbacking to the saddle. From there a steady climb north gains the summit and a view that stretches from the Baldy massif to the desert.
Permit: Cucamonga Wilderness permit required for the Icehouse Canyon approach; free self-issue permits at the Mt Baldy Visitor Center
The Permit Requirement
Entering the Cucamonga Wilderness via Icehouse Canyon requires a wilderness permit. They are free and have historically been available as self-issue permits at the Mt Baldy Visitor Center, but the requirement is real and rangers check at this popular trailhead. Sort it before you drive up the canyon. There are also daily quotas at times, so do not assume a permit will be available on a summer Saturday morning — confirm the current system with the Forest Service before planning around it.
Icehouse Canyon to the Saddle
The first several miles follow Icehouse Canyon, arguably the most pleasant trail corridor in the range, climbing gently at first alongside the creek past a scattering of historic cabin ruins under big conifers. Higher up the canyon steepens and the trail switchbacks up to Icehouse Saddle at roughly 7,600 feet, a junction hub where several trails meet. This portion alone is a worthy hike and is where the majority of people turn around.
The Climb to Timber
From the saddle, the trail toward Timber Mountain climbs north through forest, gaining several hundred more feet to the summit. The grade is reasonable and the tread is good, and the pines open periodically for views. The summit itself is forested, with the best views found by moving around the top to find gaps. Total round trip runs around nine miles with roughly 3,400 feet of gain — a genuinely strenuous day dominated by the elevation as much as the distance.
Extending to the Three Ts
Timber is the gateway to the full Three Ts traverse, continuing over Telegraph and Thunder toward the Baldy Notch. That full outing is a serious undertaking with substantially more distance, gain, and commitment, and it is usually done as a point-to-point requiring a car shuttle or a very long day. Many hikers do Timber first as a standalone to gauge their fitness and the conditions before attempting the whole ridge.
Altitude, Season, and Snow
Summer and fall are the practical seasons. Snow lingers at the saddle and above well into spring, and the traverse becomes a mountaineering objective rather than a hike when it is present — every winter this area produces accidents involving hikers who did not expect consolidated ice. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August. Carry all your water, since the creek in Icehouse Canyon requires treatment and there is nothing reliable above the saddle. Leashed dogs are allowed in the wilderness.
Hiking tips for Timber Mountain
- Get your free Cucamonga Wilderness permit before driving up the canyon; rangers check at Icehouse and quotas can apply on busy days.
- Treat Icehouse Saddle as a decision point — plenty of people turn around there and still get one of the best hikes in the range.
- Do Timber as a standalone first to gauge your fitness before committing to the full Three Ts traverse and its car shuttle.
- Assume snow and ice at and above the saddle well into spring, when this becomes a mountaineering route rather than a hike.
- Carry every drop of water you need; the Icehouse creek requires treatment and there is nothing reliable above the saddle.
Nearby trails to explore
- Icehouse Canyon
- Ontario Peak
- Cucamonga Peak
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Timber Mountain is the entry point to the Three Ts and a serious Cucamonga Wilderness day. Use TrailMates to find Inland Empire hikers who know the current permit system and are building toward the full traverse. Download the TrailMates app to connect.