Old Baldy

oh my… this place is a cool place to hike. but the elevation is killer!!! the trails are NEVER ENDING… never really been to the top, but somewhere close to the top. who knows. There is a waterfall here, but very small.
Make sure to bring sandwiches, water, and more water! even though the season right now is winter/​spring… it still gets pretty warm and hot as you get closer to the top. Go here in the mornings, it’s alot nicer and not alot of people go in the morning!
i dont suggest coming later than 4 pm because then it gets dark and you wont know your way down or up. it is impossible to see!!!
Go with a big group because that’s more fun and safe because if it’s just two people then that could be a little scary. going up and down without any sense of direction is not good!!! so big groups = better!!!

I’ll just say here, right now, that Mt. Baldy was an awesome hike because of the loop. I tend to get over a hike when its an «In/​Out» trail. You see the same shit coming back down and I’m thinking to myself, «Well I’m ready for this to be over.» Don’t get me wrong, nature is neat, yet the hype of the summit tends to fade away when I have to trek over the same crap. If you hike Mt. Baldy the first time, I highly recommend the Mt. Baldy loop trail. This way you could see AND experience new terrain and challenges up the summit and down the summit. Keeps it interesting. The views on the loop, on either side, are UH– MAZING. There’s also a sweet «oh shit» moment when you’re making your way around the loose basin, which is also, a muddy single track to ‘Devil’s Backbone.’ The loop for this hike is the complete package deal.
Make sure to check out my blog
for pictures of the current conditions and direct links to a topographic map which I highly recommend you to print, and a link to another blog that just writes about the trail so in depth… I wasn’t about to reinvent the wheel… I definitely support that blog and a must read. So descriptive, you wont need a gps, just a really good memory.
Here is a direct link to my Mt. Baldy blog:
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I also provide a direct link to the compiled Mt. Baldy video on my youtube channel:
… Trust. this video isn’t the yappy yappy type. It’s under two minutes, music, and captures only the important segments a new hiker could use as a guide for when s/​he goes on the trail. Oh and also some random happenings of course :)
–Yogi

On Memorial Day, May 27^th, we went hiking to the top of Mt Baldy. 10+ miles, 10,064 ft elevation. This is the highest peak in LA County, but not So Cal. The hike was tough, but the height is what got to me… its like I got vertigo at certain points. Still, what an accomplishment!
Being our first time, we were advised to take the lift up, in order to cut out a few miles of uphill trekking. What we ended up doing, was taking the lift up, and walking down, making it a little over 10 miles, instead of 13. Also, the ski lift parking lot gave us free parking, but when it is being monitored, it is five dollars to park. This was a great alternative still, especially for those of us who did not purchase a LA County Adventure Day Pass.
The ski lift cost us $ 15 for a ticket up. I believe that it was $ 12 for a ticket down. Check the dates of operation before you go!
Once you get to the top, veer to the left two paths, from the Lodge, and make your way up to the Devil’s Backbone. The beginning of this trail is at another lift that wasn’t functioning at the time, and to the left. You will be greeted by an orange warning sign. From here, the trek is difficult, scary (for me!), but great! We went up and down via the Devil’s Backbone trail.
Check out other reviews for more information before you go!!!

Hiked Baldy this past weekend 12.01.12 and boy was the scene still just as spectacular. This weekend was our 7^th ascent up Mt. Baldy because it introduced the words: «peak bagging». It’s a great high, literally. Also, since the winter season seems to be starting late this year and ad to that the lack of rain, there was no snow up on the mountain. Hiking Baldy in winter is doable if you’ve done your homework with the weather. So here are a few tips:
— Don’t expect the hut to be open when you finally reach the end of the fire road. 3 weeks ago we hiked in the rain expecting the hut to at least be open but what we found were hikers hudled by the restroom waiting to head back down. Summitting was not an option that day.
— Wear glove liners. If you’re like me who easily gets cold, you’ll need it. The last feeling you want is that burning thawing sensation on the tips of your fingers. It’s no bueno.
— Layer up: waterproof or goretex shell, wear down jacket since it’s the lightest and again if you’re like me, I also wear a fleece sweater underneath that. I was comforable.
— Start the hike early and summit no later than 12pm. Just a suggestion. We started at 8am and was up at the peak by 11:10am. Stayed for 15 minutes, ate a sandwich and headed back down. Lo and behold, halfway into the switchbacks, heavy fog rolled in and we could barely see 50 feet behind us.
— It’s WINDY. yes it’s WINDY UP THERE. No joke, not kidding, it’s crazy. Be sure you take shelter and huddle down those man made rock walls.
— Besides these, be sure you have comfortable hiking shoes (I actually did this last Baldy hike in Trail runners so if you’re willing to go that way, that’s fantastic too. Trekking poles are a must along with snacks. Can’t go wrong with having snacks.
***Note: If you see a boy scout and his dad who happen to have realized that they forgot their lunch after hiking from Manker Flats, please offer your extra PB&J sandwich. They’ll be thankful ;o)
Happy Trails Backcountry Peeps!

There are two routes to Mt Baldy. The Visitor Center start is 12.5 miles round trip and gains 6000 ft in elevation gain. It is one of the most difficult trails I have ever been on. The second trail begins about 2 miles closer to the summit and is approximately 9 miles round-​trip. I would recommend training for the hike, bring plenty of water & sunscreen, and give yourself at least 8 hours to make the trip. It’s a challenging but great hike!

Difficulty: 6.8÷10
Elevation gain: 3900ft.
Level of terrain: steep
Elevation at top: 10,064
Distance: 4.5 miles
Trail: Ski Hut Trail
To get to the trail you have to walk up falls road, past the waterfall, for around .9 miles. The trail starts on the side of the mountain to the left, watch for it because you can miss it. It starts off steeply and it stays steep for the rest of the trail. The it will take you around 2−21÷2 hours to get to the ski hut, a little past half way to the top of Mt. Baldy. Make sure you bring water. You better have strong legs. In the winter it is snowy and windy. it almost never levels off, its just strait uphill. The only leveled off area is when you pass the ski hut and that is only for .2 miles. After you pass the ski hut, it gets steep again to the top of the mountain. At the ski hut, you can refill your water bottle. The whole hike will take you 5+ hours. Some parts of the trail the sides are very steep so be careful when you go.

Hiked 07/​24/​2011. I’m not particularly sure how to rate this.. . I mean it’s not like I really liked this while hiking or anything. It definitely wasn’t easy at some points. It was hot, really hot. I made it to the peak with our fellow Unilocalers and close friends Mike S., Emi K. and David E. So for this I guess I can rate this five stars. Like «Sallie and Alex» said in their review, they wish they had known the following.. . trekking/​hiking poles are a must! I wish I had know too guys. Or should I say I wish I had known I had a fear of going down hill at a rather steep descend (legs wobbling, suddenly feel like jello).
A very real and true fact to bring lots of water at least three L’s per person. Dried fruits worked really well for me to keep on hand for a quick food item. «Mighty mighty mangos» were my golden ticket to the peak. And my great friends, of course!

We revisited Old Baldy over the weekend. This time we decided to hike to the peak via Ski Hut Trail. It was a thigh killer. It was a knee twister. But we made it to the peak with the confidence and optimism of seasoned hikers. We didn’t allow the mountain runners or hikers with their kids strapped to their back intimidate us. At least not too much. All in all, a superb hiking adventure. :)

For my friend J’s birthday (late June 2010), I agreed to hike Mt. Baldy’s Bear Flat Trail (5800′ gain over 12.8 miles), which was my last major hike before day-​hiking Mt. Whitney. J (who completed the 3 Saints– Baldy, Jacinto, & Gorgonio as well as PCT) says this Baldy trail is by far the toughest of the three.
I live on the eastern-​most part of LA but this is REALLY east– near Claremont off of the 210. DON’T be like me & drive precariously towards the trailhead on an empty tank. There are no gas stations in the vicinity.
Although we’re seasoned hikers, we had a late start. Make sure your Adventure Pass is handy– this is Angeles Crest territory. I heard people park at the church– do so at your own risk. I parked in front of the visitor center (it doesn’t look like a parking space) & went inside for an outdated but still useful map. There are teepees behind the visitor center (& restrooms!).
This is the least traveled of the Baldy trails which means– 1) the trail is overgrown (you’ll want a machete), 2) this is strenuous, & 3) few people sightings (we only encountered an ultra-​marathoner & backpacker).
After the disappointment from multiple false summits, we finally made it to 10,064 ft! I suffered from allergies, sun sensitivity, and altitude sickness (I’m prone to it above 8000′) so I advise you to pack your first aid kit, trekking poles, & tons of water, & be prepared for anything!

I checked in here for snowboarding, cuz you can’t check in to the resort on the mountain?
Anyhow, snowboarding here is decent. Conditions aren’t that great, but on par with what you get here in SoCal. Similar conditions to mountain high, except cheaper, less people, nicer people, and closer drive to LA.
The drive up can be a little hairy after a storm. I always find people driving up here that shouldn’t be. People with no chains, no experience, totally unprepared, blocking the road, etc. Go early to avoid the n00bs. But be prepared to get out and help people push, etc, cuz it WILL happen.

Baldy is king. Reviewer Zé gives an excellent sense of the mileage and elevation profiles of Baldy beginning from Manker Flats. A few extra thoughts:
(1) Always bring extra water (2.5 to 3 liters is good), and remember to drink even if you’re not feeling particularly thirsty. In that vein, make sure you hydrate yourself the night before and in the morning. Also, if you’re sweating a lot, replenish your salt reserves so as to avoid hiker’s headache or sudden muscle cramps;
(2) The top of Baldy can get really windy and cold, so bring a jacket;
(3) Give yourself at least 3 hours to ascend (likely longer), 2 to 2.5 hours to descend, and bring a headlamp if you anticipate needing extra time;
(4) Mosquitoes generally won’t be a problem, though they do linger at Manker Flats;
(5) If heading up the Devil’s Backbone from Baldy Notch, you can either (a) turn left and head west past the old bell to take a wide but steep route, or (b) you can approach towards this sign (
) and head west from there. Don’t be led astray to the Three T’s Trail or down to the desert/​Stockton Flat;
(6) Baldy doesn’t have to be an endpoint, as you can try descending the north backbone trail from the summit to bag Dawson and Pine. You can also be creative and try ascending Baldy via the Bear Flat/​Old Baldy Trail, Register Ridge, or Blue Ridge Road; and
(7) Be aware of what you’re getting into! It’s easier than you think to get lost, esp. if you take a wrong turn on the Ski Hut Trail. So look at a map and orient yourself to your surroundings. Note: If you’re on the Ski Hut Trail and suddenly find yourself at an old plane wreck, you’ve gone too far south on the wrong side of the bowl.

This is a review for hiking Baldy in the winter. I’ve hiked Baldy quite a few times using a variety of routes during the summer, but I hadn’t tried it during the winter when it’s covered in snow.
I took the Ski Hut Trail, as described in other reviews, both up and back down. During the winter when the trail is covered in snow, people generally take a more direct line up the mountain. As a result, the mileage is decreased a bit, and the route is steeper. Roundtrip was about 8.5 miles with 4000′ gain, and it took about 5 hours 30 minutes. I brought my dog, and he made it to the summit without any problems. Saw another dog at the summit too.
One option that is available during the winter is to ascend directly up the Baldy Bowl after passing the Ski Hut, which many people were using as a staging area or rest stop. Looked really cool, but I stuck to the regular route. Might give it a try later this season.
It’s advisable to bring crampons and ice ax when the mountain is covered in snow. Please don’t try this in sneakers after reading my review.

There are 3 different trails that go up to Mount San Antonio (aka Mount Baldy):
1. From the Baldy visitor center (6.5 miles one-​way, 5800 feet of elevation gain).
2. From Manker Flats campground via the «ski-​hut» trail (4.5 miles one-​way, 3500 feet of elevation gain)
3. From Baldy notch via the devil’s backbone trail (4 miles one-​way, 2200 feet of elevation gain).
I decided to take the easiest route up, via Baldy notch and the devil’s backbone trail. First, drive up to the Baldy Ski lift, which operates on weekends and holidays during summer and fall, up to baldy notch. The round-​trip ride on the ski lift will cost you $ 15 bucks. Once you get to the notch, hike to the left toward the devils backbone trail. You will be hiking up a ski-​run, and its really steep here. Once you get to devil’s backbone trail its about another 3 miles to the top of Baldy. One-​way time from the notch to the top about 2 – 2.5 hours. If hiking in late fall (October or later) bring warm clothes, it was 22 degrees at 10AM when we started the hike, temp went up to 45 degrees at 2pm. Great views on a clear day! I would do this hike again!

This really is a great hike.
Though… I must admit … we did the shorter route. We took the ski lifts up part of the way, took the devils backbone up to the summit, and went back the way we came. This was by no means easy. It is still a 6 or 7 mile hike. Though it is much longer and harder to start from the falls.
I think Mt Baldy is under appreciated. It is absolutely beautiful. It is so nice to get away up there.
The hike up is steep, take lots of water and snacks. The view up top is great. Enjoy.

THIS is a real hike. Exceptional views, crisp clean air, strenuous trail, Baldy has it all. I’ve done this twice. If it wasn’t as much of a drive, I’d do it a whole lot more.
This hike I’m describing is about 11 miles roundtrip, 4000 ft elevation gain. But the ascent is 4 miles up, so it is steep! You are starting at 6000 ft, and going up to just over 10 000 ft.
Important: It is important to stay hydrated during this hike, it is easy to get altitude sickness if you go too fast, and this also dehydrates you. Please take caution.
Follow Mt Baldy Rd. up to Manker Flats. You’ll see a couple of port a potties on the left side & a fire road — this is where you’ll begin. You’ll stay on this fire road for maybe half a mile, and then you’ll have to look out for the beginning of the trail on your left. It’s hard to find, just builds out of the dirt ridge with an immediate incline.
Once you’re on the trail, it gets pretty steep right away. At the beginning you can look up at see a green hut in the distance — this is the Sierra Club ski hut for which the trail is named. It is about 2.5 miles away from where you are.
Once you get to the Ski Hut, take a break, enjoy the scenery, then head out for the last 1.5 miles, which are even steeper. You’ll cross over some rocks briefly, then begin ascent to the ridge. Once you get up here, you’ll notice the amount of green has diminished, and the air has gotten thinner.
The last portion up along the ridge is the toughest, it is steep, and you are at altitudes over 9000 ft, so you are simply not breathing in as much oxygen, and so your body has to work harder. But once you get to the peak, it is worth it. Grand views of the Angeles National Forest, & the surrounding area are yours.
After sometime at the top, take the loop down Devil’s Backbone. The first 3 miles down are filled with great views and some rocky trail. You’ll take this until you get to a ski lift 3 miles away where there is some bathrooms and water to replenish.
Finally you’ll take the fire road down another 3.5 miles, which isn’t as scenic, but not horrible. This road meets is really the fire road you first started on, and will take you back to your car.
Quality