Hiking in Southern California -- Claremont Loop

As April comes to a close, we come to the end of our hike a week April. Another part of our quest to get healthier. I had thought that after this month we would change to a different type of outdoor activities. The thing is I have really been enjoying our treks to different places and hike around the new adventures we are having on each different trail. Since we have yet to come up with many other plans to to remain active, hiking it is.

Claremont Loop The Claremont Hills Wilderness Park is located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Angeles National Forest.

This hike was done on my birthday. What a joy it was to spend this day with Tessa, Adam, Natalie, and the Bibbles. After my past week's climb up to Cahuenga Peak, a hike labeled HARD by the AllTrails site, it was nice to go on a lengthy hike (6+ miles) but without the height inducing panic from last week. The joy of hiking trails that are 10 feet wide instead of less then two feet wide with drop offs on both sides. 

While this hike is listed as a 5 mile hike, by starting at the parking lot, our watches marked us at over six miles, which included a few treks up off shoot trails. 

The Claremont Hills Wilderness Park 5-mile loop trail is one of the most well-known and highly appreciated hikes in the Inland Empire. The climb features 870 feet of elevation gain traveling steadily up a wide, moderately challenging fire road. Google

Another cool day with highs in the low 60s but plenty of sunshine, made for the perfect casual hike. The tiny human walked over three miles of this six mile hike. Her curiosity inspecting the tiny creek for 'do dos' (baby sharks) and rock hunting, kept us at a pleasantly casual pace. We did the Loop counter clockwise. This stretched out the 800+ feet elevation gain as steady but not steep., We tracked this route as a 12 staircase rise.  

  

With many lizards, birds, squirrels, butterflies and hop hops, the most memorable interaction was with a small meadow mouse. The little guy was snacking on wildflowers on the side of the trail. He remained chill as the Bibbles got a got a closer look, thanks to Dad's help.

After long trek up the mountain is near shade-less sunshine,  a short stop in the shade at the covered benches was refreshing. The little one kept requesting a biker, also breaking in the shade, leave, with a polite, "Bye...bye...bye." Cooled and rested, we trudged the last 1/2 mile up, up, up to the peak. While Alltrails lists this hike as moderate, the trail is mostly smooth and definitely well maintained. The moderate rate is most likely based upon the longer distance and elevation gained. It was an easy hike on a warm April morning. By afternoon, the swelter would be intense.

A panoramic view of the valley. 

The path down is steep, keeping our pace slow. The Bibbles spent the last hour of our hike sleeping soundly, as Mom carried her down the trail. With memories of stunning views, we head home sore feet, aching muscles and a sense of accomplishment in our hearts.