Middle Fork Trail (Lytle Creek)

12 miles - Hard Effort
Or: 5 Miles RT To Waterfall and Back
6-8 Hours (Total)
3,850 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 7,570 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

The Middle Fork Trail along Lytle Creek takes you through the rugged heart of the Cucamonga Wilderness. You'll hike up along a dramatic canyon formed by Lytle Creek, through a landscape reminiscent of Yosemite. Along the way, we'll visit a hidden waterfall, my favorite in Southern California, before reaching the end of the trail at Icehouse Saddle.

In this Guide:

Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions for the Middle Fork Trail (Lytle Creek)
Getting to the Trailhead & Parking
Insider Tips for the Hike

Quick Links: Parks Pass - San Bernardino National Forest - NOAA Weather Report - Top Gear Picks (Sep 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

Where is Middle Fork Trail?

Getting to the trailhead can be a challenge. It's a dirt road whose conditions change every year. The road gets periodic attention and grading, but it seems to be a little different every time I drive it. The challenge is rutting and loose sand. You can usually do this in a low-clearance vehicle if you go slow and pick your way through the ruts. The better option is a higher-clearance vehicle; with a 4x4, you can barrel through it all. I've seen a Honda Accord stuck in rutted sand along the way and an old Prius at the trailhead. It can be done.

Use this trailhead address:
13901 Middle Fork Rd, Lytle Creek, CA 92358

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 2 — The majority of the road has light washboarding.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 3 — Some sections can get very rutted like this.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 4 — There's a large parking lot at the trailhead.

You need a National Parks Pass or Adventure Pass to park here.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 5 — There's a primitive toilet at the parking area.

Middle Fork Trail Permit

You need a free permit to hike on this trail. It's easy to get at the new permit site, permits.sgwa.org. Choose Cucamonga Wilderness and then Middle Fork. You can get a permit for a day hike or an overnight. I usually print a PDF and just keep it on my phone. You can also pick up a permit in the nearby Front Country Ranger Station.

Gear For the Hike

Water From Lytle Creek — Bring a filter so you can enjoy some of the fresh mountain water of Lytle Creek, which once was the bread and butter of the Lytle Creek Water Company in the 1890s.

The mountains of Southern California can be a place of extremes, and the Middle Fork Trail is no exception. In the summer, it can be scorching on the lower slopes, and in the winter, there can be snow and ice. Lytle Creek usually flows year-round, and you can refill with water (filtered) along the way. I'd give the trail a skip in icy and winter conditions. There are very narrow sections on steep slopes that could be challenging.

Insects can be bad along the creek.
Trekking poles will help on the steep slopes.
Bring layers during cooler temperatures. Icehouse Saddle can be windy and cold.
There's a mix of shade and exposure on the trail.

My Latest Gear Picks

Garmin inReach Mini 2 ( Amazon | REI )
HOKA Speedgoat 5 ( Men | Women )
Zpacks Sub-Nero Ultra ( Zpacks | Review )
Alpine Carbon Cork Poles ( REI | Amazon )

As a hiking guide, I test lots of hiking gear. On my picks page, I'll show you all of the gear that I actually use. I don't accept paid promotions or talk about the stuff that doesn't make the cut. It's just the gear that works best, so you don't have to waste your money.

All My September 2023 Top Gear Picks

Middle Fork Trail Maps

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

Best Smartphone Apps to Navigate: AllTrails | GaiaGPS | OnX

Elevation Profile

Water From Lytle Creek Elevation — It's a gentle climb with some rolling slopes until you reach Third Stream Crossing Camp, and then it's tough uphill climbing at about 800/ft per mile.

3D Map

Camping

The Middle Fork Trail is a popular spot for backcountry camping. You can hike a short distance, set up camp, and feel like you are miles away from civilization. There are three camps along the way, Stonehouse, Third Stream Crossing, and Commanche. For Stonehouse, you don't technically need a permit since it's outside of the Cucamonga Wilderness border. For the other two, pick up a free overnight permit at permits.sgwa.org. The campsites have flat areas for several tents; they're not large. My favorite is Third Stream Crossing, which is next to Lytle Creek.

Middle Fork Trail Hike Directions

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Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 6 — The trail starts at the far end of the parking lot. Take the big trail on the right.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 7 — There's an old-school trail board with some ballpark distances and elevations.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 8 — And some interpretive displays that have seen better times.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 9 — And finally, a sign for the Middle Fork Trail.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 10 — Start heading up the gradual climb. Down to the left is Lytle Creek.

Lytle Creek is named after Captain Andrew Lytle, who led a wagon train of Mormons from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to this valley in 1854.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 1 — As you hike uphill you get nice views down into the valley you just drove up.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 11 — At about 0.5 miles you'll reach the split for the lower trail, which heads down to Stonehouse Trail Camp. Stay to the right on the upper trail.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 13 — The trail follows the upper slopes of the canyon and is spectacular.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 12 — In the distance ahead lies Telegraph Peak.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 14 — There's a downhill section as you approach a stream crossing.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 15 — Cross the rocky stream and continue left on the far bank.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 16 — The lower trail from Stonehouse rejoins. Keep straight.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 17 — Here's the sign at the last junction.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 18 — Shortly after the junction you pass into the Cucamonga Wilderness. Do you know what a Wilderness Area actually means?

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 19 — Keep your eyes open for a dramatic gorge off to your left. That's where the waterfall is that we'll visit shortly.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 20 — You'll descend into a shaded area of redwoods.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 21 — And right after the big redwoods, look for a trail splitting off to the left, which is an unofficial trail to the waterfall. If you get to Third Stream Crossing (coming up in the directions), you've gone too far.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 22 — Here's a layout of the waterfall detour. You'll hop off the Middle Fork Trail, cross Lytle Creek, then hike up the gorge to the tall waterfall.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 23 — Once off the main trail, take one of the many use trails across the creek.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 24 — And then look for a bigger use trail heading toward the gorge.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 25 — And then enter the gorge.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 26 — You'll have to climb up and over a small waterfall. Like before, there are several ways to do it.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 27 — Continue past a few other small falls as you head up the gorge.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 28 — And then the trail dead-ends at a dramatic tiered waterfall, informally known as Third Stream Crossing Falls, about 30 feet tall. Soak it all in and then return to the main trail.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 29 — Sometimes there's a swing at the falls.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 30 — When you get back to the main Middle Fork Trail, continue to the left.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 31 — Continue straight downhill.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 32 — At about 2.7 miles in (including the waterfall detour), cross Lytle Creek at Third Stream Crossing.

Lytle Creek is home to a naturally reproducing rainbow trout population and is eligible for National Wild & Scenic River protection.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 33 — And as you hike away from the creek, you'll see some flat areas, which is Third Stream Crossing Camp.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 34 — There's a sign for the camp.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 35 — And now it's time to work. After Third Stream Crossing Camp you start to head uphill.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 36 — There are some switchbacks along the way.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 37 — When you crest the saddle, enjoy the views and continue upstream, to the right.

Keep your eyes open for Nelson Bighorn Sheep, which live on these slopes.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 38 — As you continue look for the notch in the distance, this is where we're heading.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 39 — The canyon narrows and gets more dramatic, with pines appearing more as we climb.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 40 — You enter a wooded area. The trail can be narrow here.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 41 — And then at around 4 miles you arrive at Comanche Camp, which has a handful of flat tent sites on either side of the trail.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 42 — Here's one of the tent sites at Comanche. Getting to the water involves climbing down to the creek, which can be overgrown with poison oak in spots.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 43 — After Comanche Camp start climbing for the last stretch to Icehouse Saddle.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 45 — The climb has switchbacks as it makes its way up the steep slopes.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 44 — Off to the left are Cucamonga and Etiwanda Peaks.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 46 — As you continue to climb you can see Icehouse Saddle in the distance.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 47 — And then you join the Cucamonga Peak Trail.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 48 — Here's the sign at that junction. If you've hiked to Cucamonga Peak from Icehouse Canyon this junction should look familiar.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 49 — And then here you are, Icehouse Saddle! From here you can continue to Timber Peak, Ontario Peak, or a number of other destinations. Or just relax.

Middle Fork Trail Lytle Creek Directions 50 — That's the hike! From here return the way you came up.

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!).

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