Johnson’s Pasture

This is a nice easy hike (more like a walk) that can be done fairly quickly.
What I like best about it is, is that it doesn’t seem to be as crowded/​busy as the Claremont loop.
There’s some slight inclines, but nothing too strenuous. The trails are wide and easy to follow. Sometimes you can see deer along the way.
Dog and bike friendly.

Nice trail, easy to get to. The trail head is weirdly nestled in this semi-​private neighborhood. I felt intrusive parking in there, didn’t know if it was allowed or not so I went out of that little area and parked on a residential street. There’s another trail head, at the end of Via Santa Catarina. I actually started at the end of Mountain Ave, and walked Cobal Canyon Fire Trail. OOPS! It ends up joining up with Johnson’s Pasture Rd. so we were ok.
What I liked best about Johnson’s Pasture were the views at sunset. The views overall are nice, very peaceful and quiet. I love how the mountains are the main view ahead of you while hiking.
It’s got really wide trails, I saw several smaller trails off to the sides as well. It’s not very strenuous at all. It appears to be dog and bike friendly. Liked this hike very much! Not crowded, not too difficult, gradual inclines, some shade, great views, trees, grass, and nice locals.

Good way to get my zen as I climb the local hills.

Good until you connect with Claremont Wilderness trail which sucks and is filled with poop and people.

I was kind of bummed when I went to go hike this trail. It was a beautiful day outside, so I decided to take my dog on a nice nature walk.
First of all, it was kind of in a weird spot… I had to park in a private neighborhood to get to the trail. Not that this is bad, I just sort of felt like I was intruding.
Then, maybe 100′ into the trail, my dog had to relieve herself, only for me to notice that she was squatting less than a foot away from a baby rattlesnake’s face. Not what you wanna see when you are alone in the «wilderness». I understand that is normal, but I was definitely not equipped to deal with a poisonous snake bite.
I was also a little nervous because there was not a single other person as far as I could see. All of the other reviews said that it was a pretty busy hike with a fair amount of people sharing the trail.
I was really excited to experience the trail, but that baby snake made me decide to high tail it outta there.
I would love to go back and get to hike the whole trail, so next time I will go with more people, and keep my eyes peeled for hike ruining creatures!

The Drucker Hiking Society did this hike on 3÷2÷2011.
It is a short, beautiful hike with a great view of the city. If you’ve got an hour to an hour ½ to spare head on up for some serenity. In addition to the humans having fun, we had two dogs with us and they had a blast!
A few of our members were looking for a longer hike, and If you wanted to do that you can continue on to the Claremont Wilderness trail.
Directions: Go up Mountain Ave. in Claremont (not Upland) till it dead ends. Turn right on Via Santa Catarina. Loop around the cul-​de-​sac and park on the opposite side of Via Santa Catarina. The trailhead starts at a gate at the end of the cul-​de-​sac.

The short like to Johnson’s Pasture is a nice, easy way for people to escape the heat of the Inland Empire without having to drive too far up into the mountains. It is also a good access point for other trails in the area, such as the nearby Claremont Hills Wilderness Loop. Highlights include a nice grove of eucalyptus trees and panoramic views of the Inland Empire. While it wouldn’t qualify as a true wilderness hike, it might well inspire hikers to explore some of the areas farther up in the Angeles National Forest.

This is a lovely place to walk (watch out for mountain bikers) and to observe our local flora (though it’s highly disturbed) and fauna (which is abundant if you take the time to look for it). Within the last year, my hiking group has encountered deer, tarantulas, countless snakes (mostly rattlers), tarantula wasps, hawks, harriers, lizards, the dried out carcass of a frog or a toad, hummingbirds, mockingbirds, jays, bobcats, and evidence of black bears (tall trees bearing tell-​tale scratches on trunks). Spring 2010 has brought out delightful flowers, including California poppies, lupine, mimulus, and a number of other wildflowers. Take a trip to Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden for more information on the plants you are seeing; some are native, some are not. Beware of poison oak, off-​leash dogs, and the occassional tick if you break the rules and go off the path (which I never do because it’s against the law).

absolutely beautiful. pristine California flora and fauna. juat heavenly bliss to get out of the rat race and chase the dog or your spouse around this wonderful space. bring the kids too. very educational and fun!

When you need a quick nature break, if you need to do some mountain biking or take you dog for a good outdoor walk, drive to the top of mountain Ave in Claremont and you will run straight into Johnson’s Pasture. It’s a great place to escape the crowds and the traffic and clear your head. If you have a small dog, keep it on a leash as you may run across an occasional coyote. Enjoy.