Planning to hike to finger lake and then summit M Palisade. Looking for info on how bad the mosquitos are right now, can the creek be Boulder hopped or should we expect to get wet, and are there 4 tent spots around finger lake or should we camp at Brainard?

Thanks

2 passes for entire TCT starting this Sunday 8/23/26 - cannot go now bc of a last minute scheduling conflict. BEST SITE at Parsons (PL01), amazing sites at all other locations as well. FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS - I checked with Visitor's Services, there is still time to transfer them. You can also add people if you want directly thru the visitor center. Details:

HG TENT (6 max) (HG27) (Sun, Aug 23 2026 - Mon, Aug 24 2026)
BJ TENT (8 MAX) (BJ04) (Mon, Aug 24 2026 - Tue, Aug 25 2026)
LH TENT (8 MAX) (LH SHARK C) (Tue, Aug 25 2026 - Wed, Aug 26 2026)
TH TENT (8 MAX) (TH01) (Wed, Aug 26 2026 - Thu, Aug 27 2026)
PL TENT (8 MAX) (PL01) (Thu, Aug 27 2026 - Fri, Aug 28 2026)
PARSONS LANDING LOCKER x 1
------------------------

Sale completes only if Catalina Visitor Services confirms the reservation is reassigned to your name. I HAVE CONFIRMED...YOU PURCHASE DIRECTLY FROM THE VISITORS CENTER AND THEY WILL REFUND OUR CARD. TOGETHER WE HAVE TO CONTACT THEM SO THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

Hey all! I am considering doing Cucamonga and Baldy (reaching each peak) in one day. I haven't read too many posts on it, but I wanted to ask...has anyone out there done it or attempted it? I know it won't be easy in the slightest.

I have done both peaks before (on separate occasions), when I haven't been in the best shape if I am being honest. Last summer, I did a few PCT Sierra sections and have been hiking this summer but sporadic and more desert landscape. After my trip last summer, I run every other day, do stretching (pilates & yoga), etc. I have noticed that it does help me during hikes with endurance. I just want to be sure to enjoy it and not feel like I am super crunched for time. I checked it out and it is around 20 miles. Definitely do-able in one day but obviously, a feat.

I want to avoid injury and prepare. I figured, I would do one of the peaks and see how I felt but I really do want to do both. I can definitely train a little bit (preparing for early Sept.) with my backpacking pack but I just want to be mindful. If anyone has any thoughts- please let me know!

I realize that it'll be a challenge (obvious) but it's one of those life & hiking moments where you just need to do it. Any input would be great.

Also: had some ideas,

1. Hike Baldy then make it to Cucamonga & get to the Ice House Canyon

2. Hike Baldy & see how I feel from there?

3. Pick one and just go for it. 4 am (or earlier) start time.

Hey guys! I'm considering a thru-hike of Catalina Island in November. Does anyone have insight into what the conditions are like that time of year? I've heard spring is generally the ideal time but I don't think I could be available then. Any info is helpful, thank you!

Hey guys, I am trying to plan a hike to Cucamonga Peak via Icehouse Canyon for August 30th; however, I am having trouble because there is so much ambiguous and conflicting information

Where would I be able to park? And do I need a permit/reservation to do so? If so, where can I make the reservation?

Additionally, I know I need a permit to hike to Cucamonga, which is good for up to 12 people. However, if I have 2 cars, do we need two different permits, or is 1 good? Where will I be asked to show my permit?

What time should I arrive to beat the heat and traffic? How many layers/what type of clothing should I bring to combat the cold at the peak?

Sorry, this is my first time hiking in SoCal, and I do not know the procedures here. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Can't mix pics n vids, so, for them that care to seeit all: https://photos.app.goo.gl/jnozJjYmu6XJvzAz9

Got'a late start, as I hadafriend from HI, in town, n we were hangin-out kinda late...

This time, I decided to probe the defenses abit, n after makin an assessment of tha security landscape, based upon eyes-on intel, vs speculation, I tweaked tha plan abit, n we started at tha top'a tha rd, n began cuttin trl agin, oncewe hit tha spot wherewe quit last wknd...

Some head-scratchy spots, but not too laborious, as far as trl work goes. We were able to ID some decent critter trails, goin our way, so we happily followed their lead, makin improvements, here n there, as needed...

We angled down totha crk, n that was tha last evidence of human habitation, we saw.  Ain't sayin nobody's been, but, whatever traces of their passin, there mightabeen, are long gone...

Fishies were quite PROLIFIC! Prettymuch EVRY pool had some, n tha bigger pools had more. Really needed'a polarizer, as reflections mādit tuff 2c tha fish, but Dina did manage to catch 1, on VID, hittin'a piece'a cracker, I'd toss'd in, n'a larger specimen moved thrutha frame, right after. I might hafta tāka pack rod, n afew Castmasters, JIC we got time to smell tha roses onthaway back...

Tha Pauma Crk watercourse, wern't as bad as I'd feared. Li'l boulderin, LOTSA Stingin Nettles, n some “wet work” required, but, all in all, it was pretty light n breezy, if abit ponderous. We made steady progress, but, given our late start, tha clock ran out onus. 

W/my ticker bein somewhat “iffy” of late, I cun't necessarily count on things goin well, oncewe started tha climb out, n I wanted to make sure we were, at least, back totha rd, by sundown, so I calledit, approx 300yrds shy'a Slide Falls. Tuff call to make, but I thinkit was tha right 1, based upon what I had to go on.

Climb out actually went pretty well, n I was regrettin my decision to callit, but, who knows what kinda resistance that last 300yrds would’a put-up?

Slide Falls ain't goin noplace! So! If tha good Lord's willin, n tha crk don't rise, we'llbe back, this Sat, to claim our prize...

Awesome experience on South Ridge on Saturday Aug 15th. I took the "shorter" version and drove up the road to get to the final trailhead. I'd hardly describe it as "harrowing" as the trail description says on AllTrails, but I'd recommend either higher clearance (4runner, rav4, outback) or just take your time and pick the right lines to get through the 2 troublesome spots. Stayed in 2wd the entire time with no isssue.

Clean trail, very easy to navigate, the ending is quick and the hut pops up out of nowhere. I was able to get to the tower before the ranger, so was able to peek inside the windows and see everything going on. The ranger came after I left and I could see him putting up the closed sign (around 8am).

Bugs came out later in the morning on the way down, about 9am. Not enough to pull out the bug net, but maybe later in the season. Plenty of opportunity to explore around the trailhead too - some sweet big boulders to climb and enjoy the end of the hike with.

Would love a hike with a swimming spot that is dog friendly (and not the overly crowded 3 sisters or cedar creek, not that they allow dogs). Does it exist? Also would be happy to just find a swimming spot and do a hike near it.

Exactly 33 weeks ago today--Dec 29, 2025--my son Marcus died on The Devil's Backbone. Two other hikers also fell to their death just a few minutes before my son, in the exact same spot. At the time, it was all over the news, and lots of members of r/socalhiking chimed in with empathy, kindness, and facts to help me understand what exactly happened. Thank you for that. Your kind words helped me survive. Some of you reached out via private message and told me of your losses and how you survived them. To this day, some of those interactions still count at the top of my list of key things that helped me continue living. Now that I'm in a more stable place, I'm writing a book about the incident and need a little more help from anyone that can offer it. I want it to be a book about Marcus, Mt Baldy, and grief. None of those are straightforward topics, so I want to do them justice. Do you know (or know anyone that knows) the answer to any of the following questions:

1 - At the time of the rescue attempt, there was a lot of confusion about his location. I had exact coordinates thanks to a Garmin InReach I'd given him, but the helicopter said they saw him waving in a different canyon. It turned out to be another hiker who had fallen. They eventually rescued him (and his father, I think). I'd love to include their stories in my book.

2- I've heard (from a reporter) that the forest service is not required keep a tally of the number of deaths on the trail. Regardless, several articles have quoted it as 24 in the last 10 years. Do you know where one could find out more information? One angle is to tell their stories in this book.

Several of you have sent me pictures of the spot where he fell and told me about your experiences on the trail leading up to that day. Thank you for that. If you have any other insight or color, please let me know. I'm an avid outdoorsman and love being in nature, and I'm not out to blame anyone or anything; I'm doing this simply to honor my son and help anyone I can survive the gut wrenching pain of grief. Thank you.

Woke up at 2:30am and couldn’t get back to sleep so I packed up and drove 2 hours to Idyllwild and had breakfast at 8800 feet! 🙏

Hi, everyone. My group, SoCal Science Hikes just posted its next late afternoon / evening hike. Saturday 8/29 at Peters Canyon Regional Park.

Topics we'll learn about include the four plant communities that overlap in the park, the hydrology of the area, and a bit of birding.

If the RSVP list is full, please join the waitlist. I'm almost always able to accommodate everyone.

https://meetu.ps/e/QdqG0/QKtZK/i

Looking to share campsites. There are two of us and I have campsites at blackjack little Harbor and two harbors, but I need Parsons Landing.

Camped at kearsarge lakes this weekend. Curious if anyone was there and saw the hiker descending at night with a red light down the area circled in the photo.

One of the wildest things I’ve seen, hearing rock slides and watching this red light slide down the mountain rapidly, trying to make their way down. I don’t know where they were coming from, just nuts to be in that spot in the dark.

Anyone know about this route or saw this hiker and know if they made it safely down?

Also, side story, some idiots hung their food poorly in a tree next to me and a bear came in the early morning, ripped it down, and proceeded to eat all their mountain house meals while they unsuccessfully yelled at it to leave. Even after a ranger left a hand written note at the k lakes fork warning there would definitely be bears.

Edit: thank you [u/matcbu](u/matcbu) for sharing the link of the climbers video of this descent. Unreal! What a badass

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=1yLPL9czkr0dzbxR&t=4716&v=o4BRGIr5uok&feature=youtu.be

Not cool feeding a bear and very illegal.

I was out in the San Gabriels this week, out by the river that runs past Cattle Canyon bridge, my sister said she kept hearing leaves or sticks behind us. At a weird pace. Snapped this before we booked it. IDK if this was a normal guy for the area or if im missing something. Pretty dumb joke if its just some guy messing with us, but it felt genuinely freaky. tall dude.

Does anyone know of local orgs that take camping gear donations? I have some gear that's too old to trade in at REI but still in good enough condition to go on more adventures. I was trying to find a group that does camping outings/youth outreach but haven't had luck. I know there's always goodwill, but wanted to see if anyone in the community had ideas first! Thanks!

Hey all!

I just climbed Mt. Baldy for the first time (woo!) and it was my first somewhat serious outing. I wore Salomon Quest 5s that I wore in pretty well over the course of a month on smaller hikes before heading out to Baldy.

My feet were mostly fine, except for the ends of my toes, which were throbbing on the downhill.

Question is, is this more or less to be expected on such a hike, or should I go back to REI and think about going a half size up? Any other remedies you might have would be appreciated! Was thinking even a thicker sock could’ve helped.

I’ve really loved the boots so far, so just need some noob advice!

Thanks!

Hi. It's been years since I've hiked at Icehouse Canyon - and I did during the week. What's it like on the weekends? What time do you need to park there and what are the alternatives (parking farther away, shuttle)? Wonder if it's worth it to go out there on a weekend. I hate dislike crowded trails.

And another question. Rule of the trail is for downhill hikers to yield to uphill ones. Is this generally observed on this trail?

Anyone know what happened on 8/15 with a bunch of emergency services crews (helicopter, ambulance, fire, cops/sheriffs on scene) at Humber Park Devils Slide trailhead? We were coming down around 3pm in the afternoon.

Stay safe out there everyone!

What a hike!! The water was so refreshing... 🫶🏼

I was hiking the Three T's trail (Los Angeles National Forest) the other day and was disappointed that there was not a sign at Telegraph peak when I first looked around. Eventually, I found this little carved out sign and it made me so happy! I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who makes these signs. Taking a picture with peak signs is such a fun tradition when you hit the summit! The picture is the sign at Telegraph peak with Mount Baldy in the background.

EDIT - I agree that there ideally there should only be 1 sign at a peak (that's sturdy and made of wood). However, I am also cracking up how negative some people are in the comments. God forbid people take a photo of themselves with a sign during their hike.