The Excellence of Etiwanda

Hike the Etiwanda Preserve Loop in San Bernardino County

The Etiwanda Preserve Loop is a perfect trail to hike slow and enjoy the views. This 3.3-mile loop trail circles the base of the preserve, giving you a chance for some solitude as it is the less-visited section (most people skip this part and just visit the waterfall).

The trail climbs 603 feet in elevation before making its way back down around the mid-point, offering epic views every step of the way. The loop can be hiked in either direction, but going clockwise leads to a slightly gentler grade for the uphill.

When you approach the gate entering the preserve, head to the left, down the fire road. The first half mile of trail follows this road, with views of suburban Inland Empire to your left, and the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains to your right. After a half mile you’ll see a junction—make a right, heading towards the mountains. Soon you’ll see a sign marking the boundary of the Etiwanda Preserve; once you cross the boundary, the hike gets more fun!

There are frequent informational placards throughout the trail teaching you about everything you see around you: the geology, plant life, water management, etc. Short detours will take you to a platform overlooking a freshwater bog (during wet seasons), and another leads to a viewpoint with signs labeling the surrounding mountain ranges and points of interests (in case you want to know what you’re looking at). Both detours are right next to the trail and the added mileage is negligible, so it’s definitely worth spending a few minutes to learn more about the area.

As you make your way around a fenced-off drainage area, you’ll reach a junction marking the halfway point of your hike and the highest point of your climb; take the fork to the right and begin making your way back down. Throughout the hike you’ll see lots of small trails breaking off, but for this loop you’ll always want to stay on the big, wide trails (usually wide enough to fit a car). As you hit junctions, continue heading right to form a loop.

Throughout the entire hike the views remain much the same: towering mountains on one side, panoramic views on the other, making it nearly impossible to lose your bearings, even if you get tempted by one of the offshoot trails. The preserve is fairly small but has lots of cool things to see (including the popular Etiwanda Falls).

PSL BONUS: Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii in Rancho Cucamonga features fall drinks such as Island Pumpkin Pie, Maple Wave, and Caramel Apple. Bad Ass Coffee is located at 11460 Kenyon Way, Rancho Cucamonga. Open Monday to Friday 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Etiwanda Preserve is open daily from sunrise to sunset (sunset time is posted at gate). Gate locks at sunset, so be sure to be out of the parking lot before then. Parking is $3, payable online using the QR code posted throughout the parking lot. Map. This is an ecological preserve, so no dogs allowed.

Story and photos by Natalie Bates, @wanderwithnatalie

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  2. Hike the Oursan Trail alongside Briones Reservoir in the East Bay

    Opt for Oursan

    Hike the trail less traveled in the East Bay's Briones Regional Park. The Oursan Trail is pure serenity on a wide hiking path skirting the northern shores of Briones Reservoir.

    View
  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View
  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  2. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View
  3. Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California

    Apple of Your Eye

    That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View