Ontario Peak

8,693 ft · San Gabriel Mountains · updated 12 min ago

Weather warning: Flood Watch: Flood Watch issued October 9 at 12:16PM PDT until October 11 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CAFrom the National Weather Service. Read it

StormIceWindColdNew snowa reason it's dangerouscautionnot a factor

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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

WindModerateGusts to 23 mph

ColdLowFeels like 41 °F

New snowLow0 in in 3 days

AvalancheNo forecastNo avalanche center covers Southern California.

Hiker photos and reports, last 14 days

No hiker reports yet. Been up recently? Your 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.

How we worked it out, at the summit

	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Already there	0″	0″	0″	0″	0″	0″
+ New snow	–	–	–	–	–	+0.3″
− Melted	–	–	–	–	–	−0.3″
− Settled	–	–	–	–	–	–
= On the ground	0″	0″	0″	0″	0″	0″
Rain	–	–	–	–	0.18″	1.66″
Low / high	46° / 66°	50° / 64°	51° / 65°	46° / 60°	42° / 52°	37° / 44°
Gusts (mph)	16	13	12	18	25	33
Froze to crust	–	–	–	–	–	–
Hiker reports	–	–	–	–	–	–

Before Tue: 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.

Conditions people have died in on these mountains

Hard ice after thaw and freeze, on steep groundSnow melts by day and freezes at night for 2 to 3 days. The most common killer on these peaks. (9 deaths in our list)Crampons, not just microspikes, an ice axe, a helmet, and the training to use them. On the worst days even crampons have not been enough: avoid the slope.
Rain on snow, then a freezeRain falls on old snow or rock, then freezes into glaze. Likely on December 29, 2025. (3 deaths in our list)"Icy and then rained on… led to a very serious fall" (San Jacinto trail reporter, 2020).
High wind on an exposed ridgeGusts over about 40 mph knock people off balance and stop rescue helicopters, so a survivable fall becomes fatal. (6 deaths in our list)Stay off the trails during significant weather (San Bernardino County Sheriff).
During a storm, in cloud or whiteoutPeople lose the trail, often off the north side of the summit, or start as a storm arrives. (3 deaths in our list)Don't start in a storm; carry navigation and a satellite messenger.
Extreme cold, or a night outWind chill below about 15 °F turns any injury or delay into hypothermia. (2 deaths in our list)Warm layers, a headlamp, and a plan for a night out.
Late start, short daylightA 2 p.m. start in February; afternoon shade refreezes. (1 death in our list)Set a turn-around time and keep it.
Alone, separated or off-trailMany who died were alone, separated from their group, or took a shortcut. (3 deaths in our list)Keep the group together, stay on the trail, turn back together.
Avalanche after heavy snow and windNo death here is confirmed as an avalanche, but avalanche danger has stopped searches. After heavy snow and wind, avoid steep open slopes like Baldy Bowl.

From public reports of deaths on Mt Baldy, San Gorgonio and San Jacinto, 2010 to 2025. Highlighted: also present on your route today.

No snow expected. Check again the night before.

Going up Icehouse Canyon and Ontario Peak Trail from Icehouse Canyon trailhead

Lower Icehouse CanyonNo snow

5,000 → 6,250 ft

No snow or ice in the model for the next 24 hours.

Faces south-west21° slope, up to 28°Sun on a clear day: about 8.6 h, 7.3 h in its shadiest part

Shaded canyon floor. Ice on the trail and creek crossings lasts long after sunny slopes clear.

Upper switchbacks to Icehouse SaddleNo snow

6,250 → 7,600 ft

No snow or ice in the model for the next 24 hours.

Faces south-west26° slope, up to 37°Sun on a clear day: about 8.9 h, 8.3 h in its shadiest part

Steep, shaded switchbacks. The Sheriff names Icehouse Canyon as one of the two places most deaths and rescues happen.

Icehouse Saddle to Kelly CampNo snow

7,600 → 8,250 ft

No snow or ice in the model for the next 24 hours.

Faces north23° slope, up to 30°Sun on a clear day: about 8.4 h, 7.8 h in its shadiest part

Climbs west from the saddle through the trees to Kelly Camp.

Kelly Camp along the ridge to the summitNo snow

8,250 → 8,693 ft

No snow or ice in the model for the next 24 hours.

Faces north18° slope, up to 25°Sun on a clear day: about 9.8 h

Exposed ridge with drops on both sides. Windy; snow drifts on the north side.

Summit, 8,693 ft

Coming down Chapman Trail and Ontario Peak Trail, to Icehouse Canyon trailhead

Kelly Camp along the ridge to the summitNo snow

8,693 → 8,250 ft

No snow or ice in the model for the next 24 hours.

Faces north18° slope, up to 26°Sun on a clear day: about 9.8 h

Exposed ridge with drops on both sides. Windy; snow drifts on the north side.

Icehouse Saddle to Kelly CampNo snow

8,250 → 7,600 ft

No snow or ice in the model for the next 24 hours.

Faces north23° slope, up to 31°Sun on a clear day: about 8.5 h, 7.8 h in its shadiest part

Climbs west from the saddle through the trees to Kelly Camp.

Icehouse Trail from the Chapman junction to Icehouse SaddleNo snow

7,600 → 7,150 ft

No snow or ice in the model for the next 24 hours.

Faces south-west24° slope, up to 34°Sun on a clear day: about 9.4 h

The last switchbacks to the saddle. The Sheriff names Icehouse Canyon as one of the two places most deaths and rescues happen.

Chapman Trail: along the edge to the Icehouse TrailNo snow

7,150 → 6,830 ft

No snow or ice in the model for the next 24 hours.

Faces south-west33° slope, up to 36°Sun on a clear day: about 8.9 h

More steep, exposed spots the closer you get to the Icehouse Trail, some facing north-west with little winter sun. The trickiest part of the Chapman route.

Chapman Trail: Cedar Glen out onto the edgeNo snow

6,830 → 6,360 ft

No snow or ice in the model for the next 24 hours.

Faces south-west30° slope, up to 40°Sun on a clear day: about 9.5 h

The trail runs along the edge of a slope that drops away at 35 to 40°. Snow catches here and can freeze into ice fields across the trail.

Chapman Trail up to Cedar GlenNo snow

6,360 → 5,650 ft

No snow or ice in the model for the next 24 hours.

Faces south24° slope, up to 31°Sun on a clear day: about 9.4 h

Switchbacks up to the meadow and camp at Cedar Glen. Usually the easier part.

Icehouse Canyon to the Chapman Trail turnNo snow

5,650 → 5,000 ft

No snow or ice in the model for the next 24 hours.

Faces south-west23° slope, up to 29°Sun on a clear day: about 8.5 h, 7.8 h in its shadiest part

Shaded canyon floor. Ice on the trail and creek crossings lasts long after sunny slopes clear.

Icehouse Canyon trailhead

About 0.3 in of snow is forecast in the next 2 days; about 1.8 in of rain is forecast, and rain that freezes turns to ice.

Your pack

0 of 4 ticked.

Tell someone your plan

Start 07:00 · turn around by 13:00 · back by 16:00 (change them under the days at the top).

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

Check these before you go

0 of 8 checked. Look for anything posted after the last storm.

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 · National Weather Service grid SGX 51,83 (fetched 12 min ago) · Open-Meteo (fetched 12 min ago). How it works

The risks, near the summit

Hiker photos and reports, last 14 days

How we worked it out, at the summit

Conditions people have died in on these mountains

Your pack

Tell someone your plan

Check these before you go

What this estimate can't see

Help us improve the estimate