With soccer fields and tennis courts, Peter F. Schabarum Regional Park in Rowland Heights is not an obvious launch pad for hikers. But this park is like an iceberg: there's a lot more to see beyond the surface. The park covers 575 acres, and one of the best ways to get the highlights is by hiking the Loop Trail, a 2.25-mile dirt pathway that wraps around the park. Leaving the tree-lined lawns at the park's center, the wide trail ventures up a gradual ridge at the base of the Puente Hills. Look for wild buffalo gourds along the trail—a sign that you've left civilization behind. On the second half of the trek cross a cactus-covered ridge and enjoy the hike's finest views, north toward the San Gabriel Mountains. The highest peaks get topped with snow this time of year to remind you that winter does in fact reach Southern California. Snow kidding.Schabarum Regional Park is located at 17250 E. Colima Rd. in Rowland Heights. Drive 0.2 mile into the park up Powder Canyon Mtwy. to an intersection on the left where the Loop Trail begins, shown on a map with six waypoints. After the third marker, pass a horse stable and turn right to head back down the west side of the park. When the trail ends, cut across the park back to your vehicle. There is a $6 vehicle entrance fee on weekends and holidays. Dog-friendly!
***my hike for Sunday January 4, 2015
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