Rancho Cucamonga received $1 million in federal funding to create an official trailhead and trail into Cucamonga Canyon and Sapphire Falls to reopen the area to hikers. The city estimates the project will take at least two years to complete.
The funding is part of $30 million announced by Rep. Pete Aguilar for 15 community projects across the Inland Empire and comes from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“Cucamonga Canyon is an amazing outdoor space that people from all over Southern California seek out,” said Aguilar. “We need to make sure it is preserved and protected and, most importantly, that it’s safe for our community. This funding and this project will help enhance safety for everyone who uses these trails.”
San Bernardino National Forest closed the canyon in August 2013 due to high fire danger which was exacerbated by severe drought.
According to the Rancho Cucamonga website, officials decided on a full closure of the area, which includes Sapphire Falls, until a management plan could be adopted for the trail to maintain safety and allow for first responders to answer calls.
According to AllTrails, an online trail guide, with public access closed, hikers make their way into the canyon via private property. The in-and-out trail stretches over 9 miles.
Ty Harris, Rancho Cucamonga Fire District’s deputy chief, said the canyon has steep cliffs and the hike to Sapphire Falls is long and difficult.
“I have been on critical and traumatic calls in that area for people trying to get to the falls in an unsafe manner,” Harris said. “Because it is such a long hike through private property … they would cut through the forest in an unsafe manner and it resulted in very tragic situations.”
In an email, Aguilar said there have been 68 calls for service in the canyon since 2018.
The planned trailhead will be built off of Skyline Road and Almond Street on Morgan Ranch property, according to the city. The project will include the trailhead, trail into the canyon, and a parking lot specifically for trail users.
The city is looking for land near the trailhead to create a parking lot open during trailhead hours to mitigate parking in the nearby neighborhood. Currently, there are signs in the neighborhood warning hikers they could be ticketed.
“That was part of the problem we experienced in the past. There was nowhere for people to park and no access,” said Harris. “So they were parking in the neighborhood and dumping their trash and it was just a mess.”
Mike Parmer, assistant to the city manager, said Rancho Cucamonga is working on an environmental review of the project before moving to the design and construction phases.
“So we anticipate this happening within the next couple of years,” Parmer said, “but there are a couple of steps we have to take in order to move this project forward.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct an error. Mike Parmer is assistant to the city manager in Rancho Cucamonga.
