Icehouse Canyon and Cucamonga Peak Trail

Wednesday, Oct 14: High wind. Gusts 45 mph.

8,859 ft. San Gabriel Mountains, Cucamonga Wilderness. Updated 7 min ago.

High Wind Warning issued October 14 at 11:16AM PDT until October 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CAA warning from the National Weather Service. Read it

StormIceWindColdNew snowa reasoncautionnot a factorTap a day or a symbol for why.

Why today is High wind

Storm (not a factor)
No storm on the mountain in the forecast.
Ice (not a factor)
No snow or ice expected on your route.
Wind (a reason)
Gusts up to 45 mph near the top. That's 40 mph or more: hard to keep your footing on exposed ridges.
Cold (not a factor)
Feels like 26 °F at the top with the wind. Above 25 °F.
New snow (caution)
3.5 in in 3 days. 1 to 6 inches.

What we've seen between 6,000 and 8,859 ft: no snow (high confidence together)

NOAA's snow map: 0 in at 13 points (Oct 13)medium
Satellite, 250 m: bare at 132 trail points (Oct 13)medium

The mountain and your route

UpDown

UpDownSomeone has died here in these conditions1Hiker photoFrom the south: the highest ground at each point across. Routes at their real position and height.

The risks, near the summit

IceLowNone expected

WindVery highGusts to 45 mph

ColdModerateFeels like 26 °F

New snowHigh3.5 in in 3 days

AvalancheNo forecastNo avalanche center covers Southern California. New snow and wind: avoid steep open slopes like Baldy Bowl.

Photos from hikers, last 14 days

No photos from hikers yet. Been up recently? A photo and a few words help the next person decide.

From hikers; we check words and photos, not the conditions. The older a photo, the less it tells you; a storm since then changes everything.

From space, last 5 days

Satellite pictures with the trails drawn on. Tap a day to see how the mountain changed.

Satellite picture of the mountain, Tuesday, October 13, with the trails drawn on. No snow seen on the trails. — No snow seen on the trails.
NASA Terra satellite, about 250 m to a pixel: blurry, but every day.

Trails (yours thicker)
Summit, 8,859 ft

Satellites see snow, not ice: thin ice on rock, and snow in deep shade or under trees, don't show. A daily picture is blurry; a sharp one comes every few days.

How we worked it out, at the summit

	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
Already there	0″	0.2″	3″	0″	0″	0″
+ New snow	+0.2″	+3.5″	–	–	–	–
− Melted	–	–	−0.1″	–	–	–
− Settled	–	−0.7″	−2.9″	–	–	–
= On the ground	0.2″	3″	0″	0″	0″	0″
Rain	1.63″	0.02″	–	–	–	–
Low / high	30° / 42°	26° / 32°	27° / 37°	31° / 46°	38° / 49°	36° / 52°
Gusts (mph)	35	37	42	40	48	52
Froze to crust	yes	yes	–	–	–	–
Hiker reports	–	–	–	–	–	–

Before Sun: 0″ on the ground at the summit (the model runs from October 1). When hikers report, their reports show in the last row and beat the model for that spot.

National Weather Service + Open-Meteo, corrected to the summit's height. We count 90% of the melt we calculate. Faded days are forecast.

What each forecast says at the summit

Forecast	Low	Gusts	Air wind
National Weather Servicein the estimate	39°F	45	–
Open-Meteo blendin the estimate	38°F	39	30
NOAA HRRR (3 km)being tested	38°F	39	30
ECMWFbeing tested	36°F	45	33

Wind in mph, water in inches; "Air wind" is the wind in the air at the summit's height. The estimate on this page uses the National Weather Service and Open-Meteo. NOAA's HRRR and ECMWF are being tested alongside it before they're added. How we combine forecasts

Your times

StartBack by

Turn around by

Wherever you are then, head down. Sunrise 6:53 AM, sunset 6:18 PM.

High wind

No snow expected. Check again the night before.

Your pack

0 of 4 ticked. Tap what's in your pack.

3.7 in of snow fell at the summit in the last 3 days; 1.7 in of rain fell there in the last 3 days. No snow seen from about 6,000 ft up since it last snowed: NOAA's snow map and satellite, 250 m agree (high confidence).

Check these before you go

Each one opens in a new tab and ticks off here. 0 of 8 checked.

Tell someone your plan

Start 7:00 AM, turn around by 1:00 PM, back by 4:00 PM. Change them in Your times.

The link opens this page with your day, routes and times, so they see exactly what you planned.

What this estimate can't see

This is a model, not an observation. A 1 °C error moves the snow line about 500 ft.
It cannot see one shaded chute or a boot-packed icy track. Treat any shade as icier than shown.
After the first storms of the season, thin ice on rock is common and hard to see. We lean on the side of more gear.

Model 1.2.2. National Weather Service grid SGX 52,82, fetched 7 min ago; Open-Meteo, fetched 7 min ago. How it works

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Conditions that have killed hikers on these peaks

On Cucamonga Peak today, this one is expected on your route. The number is how many people died in each, on the mountains this site covers, 1958 to 2025, from news and rescue reports.

13High wind on an exposed ridgeGusts over about 40 mph knock people off balance and stop rescue helicopters, so a survivable fall becomes fatal.Stay off the trails during significant weather (San Bernardino County Sheriff).

Trails on Cucamonga Peak

Icehouse Canyon and Cucamonga Peak Trail 6 mi from Icehouse Canyon trailhead
Chapman Trail and Cucamonga Peak Trail 7.7 mi from Icehouse Canyon trailhead

Cucamonga Peak: questions hikers ask

Is there snow or ice on Cucamonga Peak right now?

No snow or ice expected on the trail. Mountain weather changes within hours: check the forecast and the newest reports before you leave. Coming up: Strong wind on the mountain, Thu, 10 PM to Fri, 6 AM. Estimate from Wed, Oct 14, 6:07 PM, updated every hour. Each trail section's estimate is on this page.

Is Cucamonga Peak open for hiking?

We found no Forest Service closure naming Cucamonga Peak's trails as of Wed, Oct 14, 6:07 PM. Closures can be posted any time, so check the forest's alerts page (https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/angeles/alerts) before you go. The National Weather Service has an active alert: High Wind Warning: High Wind Warning issued October 14 at 11:16AM PDT until October 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA.

What gear do I need for Cucamonga Peak today?

For snow and ice, nothing today in our estimate. Still bring warm layers, a headlamp and a turn-around time.

When are conditions on Cucamonga Peak worst this week?

No snow or ice is in the estimate for the next 5 mornings. Mountain weather changes within hours: check again the night before.

How accurate is this Cucamonga Peak conditions estimate?

It's an estimate from National Weather Service and Open-Meteo forecasts, the shape of the land, and hikers' photos, not someone standing on the trail. A 1 °C error moves the snow line about 500 ft, and shaded gullies stay icy longer than any model shows. If the mountain looks worse than this page, believe the mountain.