Like Santa Rosa Plateau, North Etiwanda Preserve had the advantage of being close enough to get to easily while offering the possibility of lifers. I saw one, and for much of the time I was there, had a good time. The last mile or so was a bit bleak and hot.
I was the first visitor of the morning and had the place to myself for a while. The preserve is a wedge of rising field sandwiched between the city of Rancho Cucamonga and the mountains.
The trail was rocky and shade was non-existent, but it was only about 60° when I arrived. Looking west across the sprawl of Los Angeles suburbs.
In attempt to make items of historical interest out of junk, there were several signboards giving details on past efforts to get water from the mountains. Remains of pipes and pumps and whatnot were scattered about here and there.
This chimney is all that remains from a house that was here at some point.
Another view of the house from a point further up the slope, with Rancho Cucamonga peaking through the smog.
A side trail — that turned out to be quite a bit longer than I’d expected — promised a view of a waterfall.
And indeed, there was a waterfall, which I expect is quite nice by California desert standards. Ninety percent of the people I saw on the preserve were on the trail to the falls. I only stayed long enough to take this photo because I was still hoping to see another lifer.
When I got back to the main trail, it was warming up. I soon entered an area where a fire had consumed all the sage and other scrub not long before and the landscape was unattractive and the birds scarce.
On a knoll, I found a photo labeling the various geographical features that would be visible if not for the ever-present smog. When it was clear enough to take the photos on the sign, I have no idea.
The white ridge of rocks cutting across the center of this photo marks an earthquake fault.
One thing I took away from here — I would not want to be out on those shadeless flats when it was any hotter than it was on this day.