Devil’s Backbone

In the past 3 weeks, two people have died on this trail and an addition person died nearby. There have been dozens of helicopter rescues and serious injuries.
1) Be informed about conditions. Call the ranger station, look on instagram for #mtbaldy, go to
, and
.
2) Be prepared — bring hiking poles ($ 20 at target or walmart) for additional points of contact. Bring at least microspikes for traction. Sometimes real crampons or ice axes might be necessary. You can rent them for about $ 12/​day each for REI members.
3) Don’t be afraid to turn back if conditions are bad or you’re under-​equipped. Last time I went, just 2 days after the trails re-​opened, a family with 2 kids (7 – 10 years old) went up with no gear and had to turn back. One of the kids slipped on the worst part of Devil’s Backbone but ended up holding on to the trail on all fours.

Just thought this would be a good time to post something more recent and relevant. Two hikers unfortunately died recently due to the dangerous icy conditions. I believe they have closed it off for a couple of days. Proper equipment and skill during the winter time is a must. (Trekking poles, crampons, tethering ropes, etc.)
Be safe out there!

Talk about a real kick in the butt! The Devil’s Backbone trail is definitely not for the feint of heart. This 12-​mile loop involves hiking steep scree slopes, traversing across mountain ridges, dealing with strong crosswinds, and the likes. If you are an avid hiker, this hike is definitely a great workout and the views are magnificent from start to end!
You can start the trail multiple ways. You can either start it from 1) the Visitors Center (Old Mt. Baldy Trail), 2) Manker Flats/​San Antonio Falls (we did this one), 3) from the Sugar Pine Ski Hut parking lot (this trail intersects the Manker Flats trail closer to the Top of the Notch), or 4) from the Top of the Notch at the top of the ski lifts (shortest overall distance). Since we took the Manker Flats approach I suppose my review would gear more towards that.
The Makner Flats/​San Antonio Falls trailhead is located on the side of the road maybe a quarter mile from the Sugar Pine parking lot. When nearing the end of Mt. Baldy Rd., the two lanes of traffic will split and eventually, you will see a small left turn that allows you to cut across to the opposing side. From there you will see a wide opening and a white gate which is the start of the trail. The first section starts off paved up until San Antonio Falls which is roughly a half mile up. From there, it is another 3mi to the Notch where there is food, restrooms, etc. From the Notch, the peak is about another 3 miles away. The start of the trail from the Notch is northwest of the Notch alongside the 2^nd ski lift. This is a 1 mile stretch of steep scree and eventually eases out when you reach the top of the ski lift. From here, it is another gradual 1.5mi ascent to the Baldy Bowl section. Here, you might be able to catch a glimpse of people climbing the last quarter mile up to the peak (you might stop at this point and question what you got yourself into). The final quarter of a mile to the peak is steep and rather confusing. There are trails that go every which direction, so as long as you can find a safe path up the peak, take it. At the top, you will be greeted with a 360 degree view of the vicinity, from the High Desert, to the IE, and even a decent amount of the San Gabriel Valley on a good day. At this point you can continue down the West Baldy trail to complete the loop, but our group decided to just go back the same way in which we came from. Total distance was just over 12mi. according to my GPS.
Note: This hike is probably best done during the warmer months. If you plan to do this in late Fall or Winter, you may possibly need crampons and an ice axe as the trail may be covered in snow/​slick ice. I would advise checking weather conditions to be sure that you won’t hit any snow when going up and also be mindful of previous days’ weather as the snow/​ice may still remain from storms a few days (or even weeks) prior.
Fortunately for us (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), California hasn’t seen much wet weather this year, so even though we hiked it in the Winter, the trail was largely clear. There were only small spots of snow and ice throughout.

I’m from Chicago, here in LA for two weeks for business. The midwest is not endowed with beautiful mountains and landscapes, so coming to LA, I knew I had to take advantage of the dozens of trails and mountains LA had to offer.
I haven’t really hiked up mountains before, and thought this would be a great challenge, which it was. It kicked my butt, but it was manageable. That said, some things I wish I knew prior to my climb:
1 — Stop by the visitor’s center in the village for the parking permit prior to driving all the way up. You cannot miss it, on the way up, the center will be on your left. I drove all the way up thinking I could buy the permit there, but had to drive back down to buy it and then up again.
2 — I suffer from a pretty severe fear of heights, and the photos here don’t really do justice in showing how steep the falls are on each side of the backbone. The backbone is one thing, but the next hour or so of the hike is along a ridge line and the trail does get pretty narrow at some points. That said, it shouldn’t discourage you from trying. Other hikers stopped to see if I was okay because there was apparently a look of sheer terror painted on my face, and a lot of them admitted to having a fear of heights as well, and that it took several failed attempts before finally reaching the summit. On my way back down, however, I was able to truck through the trail with little to no anxiety.
3 — The backbone is only the beginning. There were a lot of first timers including myself who thought it would be a quick trip to summit from that point, but it’s still quite some way before the summit.
Okay, now to clarify the multiple approaches to the peak of Mt. Baldy:
1 — The Devil’s Backbone trail approaches the summit from the east. The trail from the south is the Baldy Bowl trail, which is much shorter but much steeper. Both the Devil’s Backbone and Baldy Bowl trails end relatively in the same location, so a loop is possible. While both ascents are difficult, the descent along the Baldy Bowl trail I’ve been told is particularly arduous and dangerous due to how steep it gets.
2 — From the lift, you can either go up the fire road, up the gravel path, or take the lift. The lift is self-​explanatory, and is $ 20 round trip. The gravel path is what I took, which is the steeper and shorter than the fire road path. It was pretty difficult, but a great way to warm up.
3 — All three options take you to the Notch, and from there, there are also three paths to get to the Backbone. There’s another ski lift here for snowboarding season, and there are two paths that follow under the ski lift. It’s been explained to me that these quickly converge into one path, and it’s smoother, longer, and not as difficult. There’s another path far to the right of those two paths, and that one is much steeper and is pretty loose. Those three (technically two) paths all lead to the Backbone, and from that point on, it’s pretty straight-​forward to the summit.
Personally, it was definitely a challenging and fulfilling experience. Again with my fear of heights, there were a couple moments where I was paralyzed with fear and was so close to giving up and turning back, but I just kept telling myself to press onward. I swore that I was never climbing another mountain again on the way up, and was dreading having to deal with my acrophobia on the way back down, but surprisingly I was mostly relaxed and was thinking about what mountains I should climb next!
The view is gorgeous, the breeze chilly, and the sense of accomplishment priceless.

Devil’s Backbone is named as such due to the trail traversing the ridge of the mountain with essentially nothing on either side — in other words, it’s elevated, like the spine, and drops down on either side.
It can be used to climb up to or down from Mount Baldy. If climbing up to, it would be a strenuous hike. I have only climbed down from Baldy via this route, and although long, it’s not very strenuous. It’s mostly flat and downhill. It will lead to the Baldy Notch, where the ski lift is located. From here, you can choose to ride the lift down or hike another 3 miles down to Manker Flats.
The scenery is quite beautiful here, as it affords 360 degree views. It’s definitely worth a trip here if you are up for a challenge.

We hiked Devil’s Backbone down from the Mt Baldy Peak and boy was I excited to spot it, appearing nice and level in the distance.
It was a breeze compared to the way we came up and about a mile less than our climb up from Manker Flats. I can’t imagine coming up it would have been much different. It felt like a nice and easy walk back until the very end when the conditions were super rocky. This lasted about 5 – 10 minutes and was the only part I’d consider not so much fun. I heard a guy say «here it comes» and thought he must be referring the ski lift near the Lodge, little did I know he was referring to the only real hellish part of Devil’s Backbone.
It certainly wasn’t devilishly tantalizing as one site described it. I had anticipated an extremely narrow trail with serious drop offs on both sides and not once did I ever experience a section that made me nervous, which I was sort of hoping for :)
We did have hiking poles which proved most useful on the very first descend from the peak.
It was a nice and enjoyable way down from the way we had come up.
I believe this trail is around 3 miles each way and took us about 2.5 hours one way (down).

The hike can be tough, but it’s definitely not impossible. Difficulty is all relative, I felt that the hike was moderate (I did take the lift up, which cut out about 2.3 miles). Also, we went on a beautiful cool summer day, so there was no snow or ice on the mountains.
Personally I felt that the toughest part was the air becoming thinner. However, once I started my rhythmic breathing and kept a steady pace I was ok.
I would say that the hike is definitely not for beginners, hiking boots and poles are optional but strongly recommended.
Soon after you start the the hike by the notch, you encounter a very steep climb. Not too worry, this is probably one of the steepest parts of the hike! The last steep climb are the final ascent to the peak which can be done, slow and steady! There are gorgeous views of the skyline and surrounding mountain tops as you climb. The actual devil’s backbone ridge is quite picturesque.
You will definitely have a great sense of accomplishment and awe when you reach the top. The weather on a summary day will be just right, a cool of 70 with a breeze. However, if you go in spring or fall it will be very windy and cold.
As many people have mentioned, if you are a beginner: Go in a group and go at your pace. If you run, bike, or do other cardio it will help when you reach the higher altitudes.
Lastly, don’t let your friends scare you. It is a beautiful hike and definitely do-​able.

WARNING: THIS TRAIL CAN BE THE ABSOLUTE WORST IF YOU DON’T HAVE PROPER HIKING SHOES!
A couple of friends and I started from the Manker Flats parking area at 7am, and it took about an hour and 15 minutes to get through the fire road and reach the ski cabin at the top right before the Backbone trail. The incline here is steady but I definitely felt the burn — perhaps because I was an idiot and did leg day at the gym the day before. At the cabin where the ski lifts drop people off, there’s a decent restroom area to do your business before embarking on the Backbone — take advantage of it! At this point, there are two trails to the left, both of which will lead to the same area. The farther left path (I’ve heard) is slightly longer but easier, and not as steep as the one to its right, which is the one we took. LOOSE GRAVEL EVERYWHERE! Shoes are integral here, otherwise you’ll be wasting a lot of your energy just trying to get stable footing. Beware, it’s VERY steep, but more direct.
The Backbone itself wasn’t too bad in my opinion. It wasn’t until the very last stretch before the top where it gets mega steep again, but there’s a little bit of flatland to get you warmed up and prepared. Lucky for us it wasn’t sunny when we went, because it’s not even slightly shaded. Once you reach the top it’s like a whole new world! Every strenuous step and deep heaving breaths be on worth it when you take in the view from the highest point in Los Angeles county. We stayed up there for about 40 minutes eating our lunch and taking pictures, then descended back down in a loop. I’ve heard that coming back the way you came is shorter, but with the trifecta of strong gusts, unstable footing, and steepness, we didn’t want to take a chance. All in all it took us four hours to get up and three to get down. Good luck fellow hikers!

This hike is a killer, but oh so worth the effort.
Starting at the parking lot, we were greeted by a very nice attendant who told us it was a beautiful day for heading up to the summit. We got our tickets for the chairlift and Top of the Notch restaurant from a friendly woman working in the small trailer at the lot, and made our way up the steps.
The chairlift is a gorgeous ten-​minute ride. Very quiet and the scenery is wonderful. Once you reach the top, ask for the trail you’re looking for (we took a wrong turn and were halfway up one of the steepest inclines I’ve ever come across when we realized we needed to turn around.)
Once we were on the right trail, it was full steam ahead — but we didn’t rush it as we physically couldn’t. You’re starting off at 7,300 feet so the oxygen is already limited, but the scenery continues to be a real treat all the way up. This isn’t for the feint of heart if you’re afraid of heights as there are some spots with a pretty severe drop on either one or both sides, but if you watch your footing you’re going to be fine.
Once you emerge from the trees and make your way up the last portion to the summit, there are a number of different routes. Take your pick, I suppose. Trekking poles were very helpful for me, both during ascent and descent. That last portion on your way up is a LOT of work but if you take your time, the summit will greet you and you can find a good spot to relax for awhile and enjoy the neighboring mountains before heading back down.
The descent goes much faster, though it felt never-​ending as we reached the top of the green chairlift (a higher lift that wasn’t running while we were there — I believe it only operates in the wintertime.) Stick with it, make your way back to the restaurant and relax with some good food before heading back down to the lot.
Again, this hike is no easy task. I’m a regular at the gym and take care of myself and it still had me winded. We took 5.5 hours to do the whole thing with about 30 minutes spent at the top. Highly recommended for a good workout and fantastic views!

This is an ass kicker of a hike. You will taste a bit of hell when climbing the incline and will be ready to give up multiple times, but PUSH THROUGH! By the time you’re about to give up, you’re already at the top. (That was me)
I came here beginning of April 2015 and there were some snow caps around the trail, but not directly on it. Hiking on a weekday allowed for very empty trails, which can be a good or bad thing. If you get lost, the chances of running into people are very low. Consider coming here on a weekend so that the chances of you running into a hiker are higher if this is your first time.
Taking the next step to becoming a better hiker/​backpacker means pushing through the pain when you’re at your worst. As it should be known, Mt. Baldy is not a hike for first timers. The dirt is very loose here, making it easy to slip off and fall if you’re not careful. The huge incline with high altitude makes it easy for you to get dizzy with lack of oxygen.
Please remember to always stay where you KNOW where you are (ON TRAIL.) Do NOT go off trail if you are lost. My group and I went off trail and got lost on the decline. We had to climb back up on the trail, but it was much safer than getting lost in a place that we were unfamiliar with.
TIPS: Bring painkillers if needed. My legs were in an insane amount of pain along with a migraine, making it difficult to hike. I pushed myself mentally, not giving up. Remember: #NOEXCUSES. You can and will do it!
Make smart decisions and always be prepared for the worst.

This is a pretty rough hike. The incline or decline is quite steep! Along Mount Baldy, the sign pointing to the Devil’s Backbone was 1.2 miles… so I went on the trail just to check it out.
I believe I have gone a bit too far in… maybe about 3 miles, so I had to hike back up to Baldy. It was tough with the nice incline. There was no sign indicating location until I bumped into a couple hunters. Luckily they didn’t mistake me for a bear! Haha.
Nice guys though as we spoke on the trail. They said that I was the only daring hiker to be around there… which I didn’t have a clue. They asked if I was armed. No, I was not. Haha. They said the area going towards Lytle Creek is known for bears and deers.
That kind of got me worried. So rushed back to the Baldy side.
Overall, it’s a beautiful hike. Lots of rocks and whisking grasshopper jumping around. I felt vulnerable and might have been prey. LOL. The views facing Lytle Creek was spectacular. The Pine Trees there was dropping Pine Cones.
Would I do it again? My answer is yes. Just not alone.

So I purchased a scenic ski lift coupon and stumbled on this trail. Needless to say we were not prepared! It was October and weather was pretty cool. However, we only had 4 water bottles for two people. There’s so much uphill that I downed 2 water bottles before we got to the foot of the summit. We didn’t go further because we ran out of water. We will go back and feel so accomplished when we finally get up the summit. Furthermore, the hike is fun because it’s kind of scary the trail gets very narrow and steep. It took us about 2 hours from the top of the notch restaurant to the foot of the summit.

Devil’s backbone got its name for a reason.
It’s a hellish experience for any hiker.
Super steep and no much oxygen because of the elevation.
Take the lift to get to the beginning of the trail: $ 20.
You could find groupon or livingsocial deal for lift ticket. They have it sometime.
Elevation: 10,000ft
Distance: 6.4 miles round trip
Expect: hiking cane, stick, dizzy, nausea, hungry.
Bring a lot of beef jerky, water and smile, jokes.
You will need all positive energy to finish this trail.
Very beautiful scenery at the top though.
Worth the pain.
At the top of mountain, we could fly kites. Fun times.

You’re the devil in disguise
(oh yes you are)
This deceptively short 6.4 mile hike (round trip from the ski lift drop off) should not be taken lightly! I think the highest elevation I’ve hiked at before was around 8,000 ft, and the first time I did that (but with a pack), it was pretty awful to adjust to. The hike here starts at around that elevation and goes to 10,000 ft, so beginners… start those breathing exercises.
The first part of the hike to reach the trailhead is pretty brutal. You do a rapid ascent that is steep and seems to go on forever. Don’t be discouraged, it does level off. Eventually. My friend, a beginning hiker, started to feel dizzy and nauseous during this time. Make sure to take frequent breaks and go at your own pace if this is the case! It’s not a race, but to the cross-​country runners we saw on the trail — props. Compared to the first part, the actual «backbone» is pretty easy. Just don’t fall off, I guess. I’d be scared shitless doing this hike in the winter with all the ice, that’s for sure.
Unfortunately, we did not summit due to time constraints, plus our friend was super exhausted and unwilling to do the second altitude climb that awaited to get to the peak. I’ll be back to conquer you next time, and maybe I’ll go from the base so I don’t have to pay from the ski lift! The way back was a breeze compared to the ascent, just step carefully around those rocks.
This trail was very crowded, so keep that in mind if you don’t like populated trails. It seemed like for the most part, people packed out their trash. Good on you guys! Views were not the most exciting for me personally, but it is still quite nice. What’s pretty awesome is that once you’re done hiking, you can ring the bell at the bottom and then go immediately to the restaurant to get a side of fries along with your sense of accomplishment. After all, you deserve it :)

I had always heard that hiking Baldy via the Devil’s Backbone Trail was the easiest approach so I scheduled a hike for July 13, 2014 for my «Lazy Ass Hiking» group. But since I hadn’t ascended Baldy from the Devil’s Backbone Trail (previously only the Baldy Bowl Trail), I decided to do a pre-​hike one week before the group hike to check out the trail…
Man, was I in for a rude awakening! After hiking the trail twice in one week, I don’t think the word «easy» should ever be associated with this trail. Without a doubt, this was the TOUGHEST 2400 foot elevation gain hike I’ve ever done. Maybe even tougher than hiking Baldy via the 3900 foot elevation gain Sierra Hut /​Baldy Bowl trail!
The first hike was on July 6, 2014. I rounded up a couple of my Lazy Ass Hiking Recon Hikers and knowing that the actual hike started at the Notch, not from Maker Flats, we used our Groupon vouchers to ride the chairlift up to the Notch.
Now, I’m aware that SOME hiking snobs will call the chairlift to the Notch cheating, But that just shows ignorance of where the Devil’s Backbone Trail actually begins. Sure you COULD hike the extra 3.6 miles and 1600 feet elevation gain walking up the long and tedious fire road from Manker or from the Ski-​Lift parking area if you wanted to. Sure you COULD start from Icehouse Canyon and do the Three T’s on your way to the Notch and THEN do Baldy. But that wasn’t our hike so we took the chairlift.
Once up to the Notch, we followed the wide trail that resembles a fire road or truck trail for about 1.3 miles. This is the least interesting portion of the hike but its steep nevertheless.
The interesting part of the hike starts on the actual Devil’s Backbone Ridge. It’s only about .7 of a mile long but the views are spectacular, especially on the 100 foot section at the end. There are severe dropoffs on both sides of the trail but its about five feet wide, so most hikers won’t have any problems with it. Just don’t get careless because a misstep off either side will probably be your last. You wouldn’t want to cross the Backbone in heavy wind or when icy. We crossed the Backbone without any problems and thoroughly enjoyed the views.
Once past the Backbone, it was just a matter of getting around the side of Mt Harwood to the saddle between Mt Baldy and Mt Harwood, about 2.6 miles from the Notch. Now THIS is where the REAL fun begins. I was looking up at the massive East Slope of Mt Baldy thinking, «Oh, HELL No!» I could see hikers snaking their way up the slope looking like ants. It was gut check time but none of us had any thoughts of quitting. Having trekking poles definitely helped, especially on the way down.
After trudging up the hill for what seemed like forever, we finally made it to the top and took our obligatory pics at the Baldy plaque. After having a snack and drinking plenty of water, we headed back down the way we came, taking our time knowing that cold beers waited for us at the Top of the Notch Restaurant. On both hikes, we had our cold beers and a leisurely lunch at the restaurant before hopping on the chairlift for our peaceful ride down.
All in all, this is an enjoyable but tough hike. Don’t be fooled by the «this is the easy way to bag Baldy» scuttle you might hear. It’s a butt-​kicker no matter how you slice it. But definitely worth the effort.

I hike less than 5 times per year and would not consider myself as an avid hiker. However, I do enjoy exploring nature and will not shy away from a physical challenge. The best compromise for me was to take the shortest route for the most challenging hike in the area. Devil’s Backbone was the best match — a 6.4 mile roundtrip trail that reaches the top of Southern California’s tallest mountain (Mt. Baldy) at just over 10,000′ in elevation.
There are numerous ways to get to Devil’s Backbone: by hiking from the mountain base at Manker Flats, or for less experienced hikers by taking the ski lift up to the notch and then hiking up, or for people with big bags of money by taking a helicopter directly up to the top.
I chose to take the ski lift because it shaved off the more uninteresting parts of the hike (~3 miles) with less scenery, and the Groupon deal looked too good to pass up. For $ 29, we received 2 round trip ski lift passes and two $ 10 vouchers to the Top of the Notch restaurant.
To get to the ski lift, we drove up Mt. Baldy Road past Manker Flats and after several curvy 180 degree switchbacks, the road terminated at the ski lift parking lot. Note that the ski lift staff charges $ 5 for parking unless you had purchased an adventure pass. After a 15 minute scenic ride on the chair lift, we were dropped off at the notch (7800′ in elevation). There is a restaurant at the top of the notch, and apparently on clear days, you can see Catalina Island from this level.
Our hike technically started at the notch. The road diverged into two paths from the restaurant and we took a sharp left. We were met with a steep incline full of rocks over the first ½ mile. This was one of the toughest sections of the trail to hike because it was strenuous to the calves and thighs. About 1 mile into the hike, we reached the base of Devil’s Backbone and were high enough to catch spectacular views of the Mt. Baldy slopes and nearby mountains. Continuing forward, there were numerous narrow and uphill switchbacks on loose gravel that seemed to go on forever. Finally, after about 1 mile of switchbacks, we were led to the base of the summit. The final climb to the summit was full of rocks and is as steep as the first ½ mile. This area was also very windy so it’s advised to dress in layers. When we reached the summit, the clouds were close and the air was fresh. It was a magnificent lookout at 10,000′.
The descent down Devil’s Backbone was easier than the hike up, but a bit more dangerous if you are not properly equipped with hiking boots and hiking poles. I would not recommend wearing regular running shoes because it is easy to slip or slide on the rocks, especially on the narrow switchback paths. I fell on my ass twice in front of many people. It was especially difficult to walk down the final half mile which is not paved and is completely covered with slippery dirt and rocks.
We started the hike at 9:45am and finished at 2:30pm. Our hike took much longer than expected because we took many photo and water breaks. Before we took the ski lift back to the car, we ate at the notch restaurant which served lackluster and subpar food, but understandable considering the fact that ingredients had to be shipped up to such high elevations.
I enjoyed this portion of the Mt. Baldy hike because it was unpredictable and physically challenging. I would retry it from the base at San Antonio Falls in the future after some conditioning and endurance training. My tips are similar to what most people have already suggested: start early because it starts heating up at around 11am, and if you are only hiking the Devil’s Backbone trail, bring 2L of water. Take lots of photographs and water breaks! It’s important to hydrate yourself due to loss of water vapor from your lungs at higher elevations.

IN HONOR OF NATIONAL TRIALS DAY, June 7, 2014!!!
BACKGROUND:
In the United States, National Trails Day® (NTD) is the American Hiking Society’s trail awareness program. Each year events are held to help promote awareness of the wide variety of benefits that trails provide, to encourage people to discover their local trails, to raise awareness of trail issues, and to instill excitement for the outdoors. National Trails Day ® is held every year on the first Saturday in June, although some local events could be held on other dates.
Every year on National Trails Day The Crew hikes to the top of Mt. Baldy starting from various trail heads; Register Ridge, Ski Hut, Ice House Canyon, Devils Backbone, and Bear Flat, all with varying degrees difficulty. Know your limits.
Mount San Antonio, commonly known as Mount Baldy, at 10,068 ft (3,069 m), is the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains, and the highest point in Los Angeles County. Mount San Antonio’s sometimes snow-​capped peaks are visible on clear days and dominate the view of the Los Angeles skyline.
STEP OFF: This is a throwback review in honor of this celebration, show appreciation for, and lovingly give back to the hiking trails we so often take for granted.
STATS:
Distance: 6.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,350ft.
Max elevation: 10,064 ft.
Not for beginners
WARNING:
Be aware of changes to your body, altitude sickness is possible
ESSENTIALS:
Hiking shoes with good lug soles
Water
Layered clothing
Hiking Poles
Layers, it gets quite windy at the top
Snacks
Camera
Sun screen (UV rays are stronger at 10,000+ft.)
Hat (optional)
Money (cash or credit)
OUR ROUTE:
Summiting Mt. Baldy took a while to get onto my «to do list». After over a year of hemming and hawing, I finally, in 2011, gave into its calling. I was not thrilled the first time, or the second, third, fourth, and fifth time. Sure the 360 degree view from the top is quite breathtaking, but it’s mostly a trail hike. There are multiple ways to reach the peak of Baldy, and on National Trails Day 2013, I took the trail most traveled, yet shortest distance, the Devil’s Backbone Trail.
Round-​trip ski lift tickets can be purchased at the ski lift, parking lot. The ride up to the Notch at the crack of dawn, even in June, is quite chilly, so bring layers. Jumpin’ off at the top, outside the doors of The Notch, is where our hike began. The Devil’s Backbone is a typical ridge-​top trail that offers views on either side of the trail, with some unstable rock climbing and scree that offers breathtaking views, as well as getting the heart pumping for those afraid of heights. If you checked out the link above, hiking Mt. Baldy from any starting point can be dangerous, even deadly, so take great care while hiking and don’t hike alone.
The narrow trail gives way to a steep slope of scree. Cross a forest of sparse pines to a saddle between Mt. Baldy and Mt. Harwood. The steepest section of the trails is covered in 0.7 miles of switchbacks. As we climbed, we could see in the distance, Mount San Gorgonio to the east and Mount San Jacinto to the southeast. Once at the top pictures were taken, food was shared, and some even took a nap.
After our break at the top we headed back the same way to The Notch. The 0.7 miles to the saddle between Mt. Baldy and Mt. Harwood was a slippery slope of loose gravel. Finally, The Notch, a restaurant at the top of the ski lifts that offers food, beverage (kid friendly, as well as adult friendly) souvenirs, and clothing. Also, I believe, but not certain, lockers for skiers during the winter months.
This was supposed to be a one and done for me, yet, I’ve hiked to the top of Mt. Baldy seven times. This year I will be celebrating National Trails Day elsewhere, not because of my dislike for Baldy, it just didn’t work out this year. I’m sure I’ll be back next year. My dislike for trail hikes knocks this one down a star.
DISCLAIMER:
Hiking is not something that can be taken lightly. It can be life-​threatening as you see and hear on the news, people die or get lost all time. Please, if you are going to hike, never go alone and prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Remember when going for a hike, no matter how short you think it may be, always be prepared. Carry at least two liters of water for every five miles (more if the weather is warm), protein bar, nuts, and electrolytes. Wear sturdy lug sole shoes and protective clothing. Some areas the weather can change quicker than a fireman can put on his gear. It is also very important, always always always let a family member or friend know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Lastly, have fun when you hike it up. #HIKING #MtBaldy #Notforbeginners

The words «what the fuck! what is this half dome?!» burst out of my mouth when I saw the peak we were about to climb.
We started the hike at San Antonio Falls. We approached a fork on the fire road about a quarter or half a mile into the hike. We took the right to climb up Mt. Baldy from the backside. From the lot to the Ski Lodge it is about 3 miles of fire road. Those first three miles are a pretty easy incline. There is a pretty steep incline at the beginning of the 3^rd mile, after the ski lodge. Mile 4 is full of inclines, but you do get some rests in between. The first quarter mile of mile 5 is a stroll, up until you’re faced with Mt. Baldy, that’s when the cussing started.
I kind of wasn’t prepared for this one, mentally that is. It took us about an hour to ascend the mountain from the foot of the peek to the top. It’s just a whole bunch of «gravely» switch backs that made me really consider buying walking sticks.
Though the day was nice and sunny and
said it was going to be 90 degrees, which it was down in the flatlands, it was pretty nippy after mile five, which I think is about 9,000 ft at that point. It was super nippy up at the peek. I suggest you come layered.
We chilled up top for a minute, literally, and headed down the mountain. Most people come up the face of the mountain and it made for some traffic control, but people are too tired to care that you’re blocking their path — and well — you know, hikers are super nice.
The descent is a bit over 4 miles and it’s a hard one. I slipped a couple of times, never fell on my ass, but I came pretty close. The descent was what finalized the walking sticks decision — hell yea I’m getting some walking sticks.
That last mile we pretty much ran down the mountain. Though our legs were shaking and hella tired the running wasn’t too difficult — gravity helped a lot.
Definitely one of the most difficult hikes I’ve completed in the Angeles forest. My hat goes off to those runners I saw taking Mt. Baldy like champs.
Total miles: 10 or so
Elevation gain: Over 3,000 feet
Water: 2 liters should do
Pups: a-​ok to bring
Parking: Adventure pass required

My 666^th review fittingly goes to… Devil’s Backbone!
Devil’s Backbone is a trail that stretches along the ridge of the mountain east of the Mt. Baldy summit. This trail boasts some of the most spectacular views in the Mt. Baldy area. At times, you are hiking on the ridge top where to the left and right of you are steep mountain slopes (
). Don’t look down if you have a fear of heights, although I am not sure you should be here in the first place if you do cuz it’s pretty extreme! From jaw dropping views of the Baldy Bowl (
) to the 10,064 ft. peak of Old Baldy, hiking to the summit via Devil’s Backbone trail is a must for any serious hiker!
By distance, hiking from the Baldy Notch (where the ski lift drops you off) to the Baldy summit is just 3.2 miles, or 6.4 miles round-​trip. Don’t let the short distance fool you, because this is a pretty tough hike especially if you aren’t used to hiking in high altitude. The first time I came here, I thought I would breeze through this hike and I got my butt handed to me. I fought altitude sickness and took over 2 hours to summit at 10,064 ft. I later found out that the hike starts at 7,802 ft. elevation which is higher than any place I had hiked at the time. By comparison, Mt. Wilson peaks out at only 5,710 ft. I had no idea how much more difficult hiking is at higher elevation! If you’re a hardcore hiker, you can even start your hike way below at the San Antonio Falls/​Manker Flats parking area or by the Mt. Baldy ski lifts parking lot to extend the hike even more!
I would actually say that the toughest parts of the hike are the beginning and the end. The first section of the hike from the notch to the start of Devil’s Backbone is slightly over a mile. This stretch is on pretty steep slope and could sap all your energy. Be sure to take enough breaks and hydrate yourself because it’s a lot of work just to reach the Devil’s Backbone trailhead. And the final stretch where you climb the slope to the summit is quite strenuous. I took breaks like every 5 minutes, climbing where the trails weren’t so visible in the snow. This last part before summiting probably took me an hour! All in all, a breathtaking trail both literally and figuratively; did you know it’s much harder to breathe in the thin air at high altitude?
For those who plan to come here in the winter or when there is snow/​ice, I would highly recommend you bring traction device for your boots like microspikes or crampons. On the Devil’s Backbone, one slip could mean a one way ticket to… hell???

A couple weeks ago my husband and I rode the ski lift to «Top of the Notch,» started up the middle of 3 trails located at the end of the ski lift, and hiked to the Mt. Baldy summit at 10,064 feet via the Devil’s Backbone trail. I’ll stick to just Devil’s Backbone here, but my longer review of the 6.4-mile hike (round-​trip, out-​and-​back) can be found on the Mt. Baldy review page (
).
Compared to the steep, rocky first ~1 mile and the steep, rocky last ~1 mile of our hike up Mt. Baldy, the Devil’s Backbone was quite moderate, not difficult at all. The trail is also plenty wide and safe. In favorable weather conditions those not fearful of heights should be just fine on this trail. I’ve read that Devil’s Backbone used to be narrower, more precarious. There used to be handrails, the remnants of which can be seen at the edges of the trail.
Views from Devil’s Backbone – purple-​blue layers of mountains, pines, the ski runs – are spectacular, though I think views from any trails on Mt. Baldy are really special. Be sure to take in the cool view of the beginning portion of Devil’s Backbone when heading up the mountain; the start of the backbone is obvious and a neat sight. There’s a simple wooden marker.
Lastly, something I’ve debated whether or not to share! When it came time to leave the summit and head back to «Top of the Notch,» my guy and I chose the wrong trail. Yeah, we actually hiked down the wrong side of the mountain for a few minutes before we realized our dumbass mistake and had to huff and puff back to the top. There aren’t many trail markers on Mt. Baldy, and the same holds true at the summit. At the summit there’s an extremely weathered wooden marker on which «Devil’s Backbone Trail to Ski Lift» can be very faintly seen, and that’s the trail you’ll want to take if your game plan is to descend via Devil’s Backbone. Also, visually the trail is very obvious, which makes our mistake all the more embarrassing.
Happy hiking. We had a blast here.