Telegraph Peak via Three Ts Trail(edit)

based on 17 tracks & routes | |

DIFFICULT

#200 hike out of 461 in Cucamonga Wilderness |

DIFFICULT

16.7 mi

Distance

7 hrs 38 min

Time

2,745 ft

Elev Gain

Overview

This is a difficult out and back trail to Telegraph Peak in Cucamonga Wilderness.

This trail goes by Thunder Mountain.

This particular trail is a combination of dirt roads and single-track trail. The dirt roads are the access road to the Mt. Baldy Ski Area and additional dirt road in the Mt. Baldy Ski Area itself up to Thunder Mountain. As you depart Thunder Mountain heading south to the Three Ts trail, you will transition from graded gravel to single-track hiking trail as you go down to the saddle between Thunder and Telegraph. After the saddle, there are several long switchbacks as you go up Telegraph Peak. Near the top of the peak, you will see a junction and go left up a slightly steeper section of trail approx 0.3 miles in length to the peak. Care should be taken as you approach the northwest side of the peak as the grade becomes very steep and children and animals should not be left unattended.

This hike is often punctuated by stopping at the Top of the Notch restaurant, which is at the top of the access road at the ski area. Also, to avoid the 3 miles back down to Manker Flat, you can purchase a ticket to ride the ski lift down and then walk down from the bottom of the ski lift (parking lot) to Manker Flat.
https://winter.mtbaldyresort.com/scenic-lift-rides-the-notch/

Getting Started

Parking is often plentiful along the Mt. Baldy Road at Manker Flat.

Taking Children

This would be a difficult hike for children 8 and younger. Children 12 or older would be able to do this without too much trouble, but care should be taken for the last 0.1 mile of the trail due to very steep grades.

Sights to See

Telegraph Peak

Rate this Hike

★★★★★

Temecula_Dan 1 year, 5 months ago

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. Very adventurous and fun hike!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Public Tracks

There are no published trips for this hike. There are 17 private trips.

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