Note: I’ve started a new category “Great Hikes” which features especially good hiking experiences in native habitat and wildlife (for now in Southern CA.)
I tend to prefer hikes where I have the place to myself. Frankish Peak north of Upland CA satisfies that need, and a recent May late afternoon hike resulted in zero fellow hikers but multiple wildlife sightings amidst beautiful scenery. It’s very steep however, rising 1900 feet in 2 miles, so keep that in mind. (it’s also why there are so few people…) Highlights: the hilltop effect of mating butterflies, particularly three Red Admiral butterflies chasing one another (two males and one female), illustrating how butterflies congregate on tops of hills for their mating rituals. Also, the cascading call of the canyon wren and the beautiful blooming chaparral and views of neighboring Ontario Peak. Photos below:
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- The trailhead off of Euclid, right across from dam road
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- About halfway up with the trail behind me
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- The trail above me
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- Another trail view w/steepest part behind me
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- Manzanita Stands – a favorite native plant
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- hmm, need to id this one
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- Yucca
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- Almost there. Ontario Peak in background
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- Another wildflower – id anyone?
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- Red Admiral taking a buckwheat break from the mating chase
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- Red Admiral closing up its wings to become camouflaged
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- Flowering Chamise
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- More flowering chamise
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- Spanish broom is beautiful but invasive
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- Calfornia buckwheat and chamise in back
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- Westward view of Mountain Avenue
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- Houses on chaparral edge – not very firesafe
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- Ontario Peak towards the top
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- Yerba Santa
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- Beautiful lighting on the way down
Wildlife sightings: Lots of birds (California quail, canyon wren, bushtits, lesser goldfinch, dark-eyed junco, California towhee – many others I couldn’t id), lizards, mating butterflies towards the top. Also deer tracks and plenty of coyote scat.
Distance/Trailhead: 4 miles to the top and back but can do shorter. The unmarked trailhead is off Euclid Avenue, at a turnout right across from the San Antonio Dam road (where the road curves north to eventually go up to Mt Baldy)
