North Etiwanda Preserve — Attraction in Rancho Cucamonga

I was told they charge, they in fact don’t. However, I was also told they had an additional parking section, so can’t guarantee if that other section charges a fee of any kind.

As for my experience, completely free with the only price to pay being your time and commitment towards an interesting and adventurous life.

The parking area begins at the bottom on a rocky area. From there the trail begins with two different routes that ultimately lead to the same location up top.

The climb is the equivalent of the treadmill on full incline, but with medium to small rocks that could hurt your ankle if you’re not careful with the placement of your feet if running or even just walking.

Traffic on Sunday was fair around 7:15 AM. Mostly families or couples and kids. The flow picked up about three hours in.

After about half an hour or a little more you come across what most seem to call the end with a rocky cliff, the algae on the rock makes these boulders extremely slippery and I witnessed multiple kids or adults standing near which I don’t recommend or suggest.

This area has a steep fall with a rocky drop and a small current from the creek.

Kids, and families will all be in this area enjoying the stream and the nature.

We ventured further than the typical path at this point with the only signs of traffic being a 2015 rock sprayed in graffiti. I documented the trail on ALLTRAILS which I suggest you download for your hike’s statistics and community.

You’ll begin to come across trees with markings going back years of couples and hearts or the occasional troll statement which you also have to love.

Somewhat of an advanced path that includes fallen tree branches as bridges and rocks and boulders you can jump on to not get wet and still venture further.

We ultimately decided to end it at a certain point, but the extra adventure and thrill was worth it.

Extremely careful as there is poison ivy and plenty of spots where you can fall and hurt yourself or ankles.

Plenty of mosquitoes so the repellent was a luxury I’m glad I didn’t forget.

Take snacks and water as it gets deep if you choose to go further as well as another person with you as the service is non existent at most points and absolutely nobody from the main cut off point was in sight or near to hear you.

And to all the new hikers or those in a bad mood, acknowledge your fellow hikers going up or down. Weren’t in this journey together.

Have fun! And put your phone down to enjoy the life...

Great hiking trail but here are some pointers!

Get a map or make sure you can use your phone for maps, there is a couple forks on the trail but just don't take side trails keep going as straight along the hiking path as possible, to get the the waterfall! It's worth it.☺️

No dogs or horses Allowed I believe if you get caught you will be fined, and I just don't feel it's safe for dogs, I would have taken my dog but after seeing the terrain I would not recommend it.

-Not good for kids in Strollers, (has lots of rocks and slight incline ever now and then, but Not dangerously steep!) or kids that get tired easily, but it's good to get them exercise!

-Scenery is beautiful!! Desert all around no shade or benches, but it's nice, not steep just very full of rocks so if you can take hiking boots if not just take regular walking/ running shoes and watch where you are walking!

-TMobile Phone signal is good I was able to receive messages and send as well they just took a little time. Btw I have TMobile

-NO BATHROOM so go before!!!

-It is about 5-6 miles round-trip, it took us about 1 hour and 15 mins Going up, because of breaks and such. Coming down about 40 mins, so in total about 2 hours, we are not in that great of shape so depending on your athletic abilities timing will very but not by much.

Once you get to the waterfall it is BEAUTIFUL some might call it more of a creek😍 And of you keep going to your left once you enter the waterfall area you will find an...

First things first, be aware of the parking both the amount and hours of operation. Make sure and confirm with the sign on site as hours have varied between it, websites and even here (Google). You can only park in the main lot and they’ve blocked the sides on the way up where people have been towed. The main lot can sometimes get crowded and make sure to leave on time as you WILL be locked in and risk tickets/fines/tows or at a minimum a long wait for someone to come and unlock .

That being said it is a nice wide open hike that you can take up to the waterfall. It does branch off in a few areas so pay attention where you want to go (usually when there are more people it’s easy to follow someone else). The waterfall area at the top can get crowded as it is not that large. You can also go to your left when you’re there to a stream but it is not a main path so rather rough. Don’t be surprise if you slip and get wet (or worse if you’re not careful). The same goes for the main fall if you get too up close and personal. On your way back down you can see all kinds of things down below and on a clear day even more. Make sure you give yourself enough time to get back down and out of the parking lot before it closes (they lock you in).

Keeping this a 5 star since I can’t drop want to make it a 4 just because of...