Making your 2018 New Year’s Resolution to get fit, stay active, or spend more time outdoors? If you live in the Foothills of Southern California, you’re in luck! There are numerous ways to stay active throughout the year, inside and out. Here are some of the best ways to get active and stay fit in the Foothills.
Opt Outside
Scenic parks, beautiful streets lined with trees, lush wilderness areas throughout a bustling city… The Foothills are ideal for those who want to spend more time outside without having to go far. Take a short drive to a neighborhood or city park, to enjoy walking trails, a game of tennis or basketball, or even a skate park. Don’t want to drive? Just head out your front door down a tree-shaded sidewalk for a nice, refreshing walk.
Join a Gym Class
The Parks and Recreation departments of many Foothills communities offer a huge variety of active classes and fitness programs. Learn to dance, kickbox, or swim. Take up yoga, pilates, or Zumba. Even take a group fitness class, bootcamp, or personal training session.
Find a Facility
Want to work out on your own? Find a local facility that won’t cost much and offers plenty of variety. Besides your neighborhood YMCA, local favorites are the Alexander Hughes Center in Claremont, the RC Family Sports Center in Rancho Cucamonga, and the San Dimas Recreational Center, which has all the amenities of a mini health club!
Head for the Hills
If you’re really looking for a way to get outside, get active, and appreciate where you live, then it’s time to head for the hills, the San Gabriel Foothills, that is. Start easy, with a nice 5-mile loop at the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park or the paved Thompson Creek Trail, both of which offer plenty of scenic mountain views and slight to moderate elevation gains.
The Marshall Canyon Regional Park is another local favorite, as it’s home to a variety of activities. Camp, dance, or play some volleyball. Hike into the mountains, or take your mountain bike. There is even horseback riding at the Fred M. Palmer Equestrian Center.
Work Your Way to Higher Hills
Ready to start climbing some bigger hills? Start with Potato Mountain, a 1,150 foot elevation gain over 4 miles for absolutely breathtaking views of Mt. San Antonio (Mt. Baldy).
Next, head to the Mt. Baldy Wilderness Preserve for the Stoddard Peak Hike, a 6-mile 1,000-foot elevation climb for beautiful views across the Preserve.
For your third hike, head east to Big Dalton Canyon Park and try the Mystic Canyon Trail and Monroe Truck Trail loop for a 1,600-foot climb over 5.8 miles that yields views across the LA metro from along the big Dalton Canyon north rim.
For your last moderate hike, try out the Icehouse Canyon Trail to the Icehouse Saddle. It climbs over 2,600 feet over 7.9 miles for stunning views of Mt. Baldy and Ontario Peak.
Conquer the Big Mountains
Now it’s time for the big challenges. Start with the slightly smaller hike, to the summit of Cucamonga Peak. It might be a long 12 miles and 4,300 feet, starting from the Icehouse Saddle Trail, but the breathtaking mountain and city views will be worth your efforts.
Mt. Baldy
Mount San Antonio, nicknamed Mt. Baldy for its iconic snow-capped peak, is that breathtaking giant that looms up over its fellow mountains, begging to be climbed. Rising to 10,068 feet, it’s a very challenging hike… but it's well-worth the challenge. The 360-degree mountain views from Devil’s Backbone, the wildflowers around the San Antonio Falls, the lush forest and wildlife… It’s a hike truly unlike any other in Southern California.
Ready to Get Outside in the Foothills?
Make 2017 your year—to get outside, get active, and buy your dream home in the Foothills of Southern California! Contact me today and I’ll help you explore the outstanding communities of the Foothills, learn more about buying a home here, and start searching homes for sale today!