Devil's Backbone Trail | Los Angeles

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Mount Baldy via Devil’s Backbone Trail
in the San Gabriel Mountains

Los Angeles | Trails Add Comments | Trail Rating: Forgetable

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Devils Backbone Trail Mount Baldy San Antonio

The Devil’s Backbone Trail offers spectacular views from an impressive ridge-top trail. The Backbone Trail starts from Baldy Notch and can be reached any of three ways:

By riding the Mt. Baldy ski lift up the 1,600 feet in elevation for a cost of $18 round-trip
By hiking 3.6 mile up a dirt road from Manker Flats
By hiking 2.4 miles from the parking lot at the base of the ski lift.

All of those options are explained in more detail in the Manker Flats to Baldy Notch report.

To get up to the backbone from the top of the ski lift at Baldy Notch, follow the road as it turns to the left and up the mountain. You will pass beneath a non-operating ski lift a few times before coming to the top of the lift. Continue straight ahead, following the ridge to the Devil’s Backbone.

The trail narrows and starts across the top of a steep ridge. The mountain drops away from both sides of the Devil’s Backbone, offering vast views north and south. You would not want to hike this way in the winter, but during the summer under normal weather conditions, the trail is not as devilish as you might think. The views are immense and those afraid of heights may need to summon a bit of courage to cross.

Mount Baldy
The Devil’s Backbone

The trail leaves the top of the ridge to cross the south side of Mt. Harwood (Baldy’s neighbor). The impressive east face of Mt. Baldy will appear in front of you. Keep an eye on the ground though, as a steep slope of scree falls away below the trail. You will come out of a pine forest at the saddle between Baldy and Harwood. The elevation here is 9,360 feet. The summit is at 10,064 feet, so there are about 700 feet between you and the top. That distance is covered in 0.6 miles of steep switchbacks. This is the steepest section of this 3.2-mile trail, but push through, the highest point in the San Gabriels waits for you at the top.

Congratulations on reaching Mount Baldy. Take your time and enjoy the view before hiking back down. You may head back the way you came, or return to Manker Flats via the Baldy Bowl – Ski Hut Trail. To hike this scenic loop, take the path heading directly south from the summit. This trail will descend the ridge and cross Baldly Bowl to a green building (the Sierra Club Ski Hut) before continuing down the canyon past San Antonio Falls to Manker Flats. Note that if you parked your car by the ski lifts and not at the trailhead at Manker Flats, you will have to walk another ¼ mile up the road from the bottom of the trail to get back to your vehicle.

Mount Baldy
The Devil’s Backbone Trail leaving from the summit

Descending from the summit via the Devil’s Backbone Trail:
There is a marker on the summit of Baldy at the start of the the eastward-bound Devil’s Backbone Trail. To return to Manker Flats, descend the 0.6 miles to the saddle between Baldy and Mt. Harwood. Watch your step, the gravel on the way down can be slippery underfoot.

From the saddle, follow the trail along the south side of Harwood and on to the Devil’s Backbone. Cross the backbone to the top of the ski resort. Take the dirt road that passes to the left of a non-operational ski lift and down to Baldy Notch. The road passes behind a ski lodge and wraps down the mountain to return to Manker Flats. See the Mt. Blady summit article for more information on the loop and photos from the top.

To get to the trailhead: Take the 210 east and exit on Baseline Road (exit 52). Turn left at the light at the end of the ramp on to Baseline Road. Make the next right on to Padua Avenue. Drive 1.7 miles and turn right onto Mt. Baldy Road (there will be a traffic light). Continue up Mt Baldy Road through Mt. Baldy Village (where there is a visitor center). Follow Mt. Baldy road as it switches up to Manker Flats. Drive past the campground entrance and park in one of the spaces along the road. There will be a sign pointing to San Antonio Falls. Display your adventure pass and start hiking.

Use the map below to create your own directions to the trailhead:

View Los Angeles Hikes in a larger map

	Mount Baldy Loop This 11.3-mile hike incorporates the Devil’s Backbone and the Baldy Bowl – Ski Hit Trail into one see-all loop.
	San Antonio Falls This 1.2-mile hike visits a multi-tier waterfall along the trail to Mt. Baldy.
	Baldy Bowl – Ski Hut The Baldy Bowl – Ski Hut Trail offers a steep but scenic ascent up the south side of Mt. Baldy, crossing 4.5 miles and 3900 feet to the summit.
	Baldy Notch To hike the scenic Devil’s Backbone to Mt. Baldy, you must pass through Baldy Notch. You can hike to the notch, or take a ski lift.
	Icehouse Canyon Trail to Icehouse Saddle This 7.2-mile hike climbs 2,600 feet through a picturesque canyon to a saddle with panoramic views and extended hiking opportunities.
	More trails in the San Gabriel Mountains Explore other destinations in the range.