Mount Baldy Loop | Los Angeles

Mount Baldy
in the San Gabriel Mountains

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The highest mountain in the San Gabriels

Mt. San Antonio. Mt, Baldy. Old Baldy. Whatever you call this mountain, the trek to the summit is widely considered to be a “must-do” for SoCal hikers. While the views form the top do not rival the high sierras, they are none-the-less vast and the backbone trail itself is exceptionally stunning. At 10,064 feet, the summit receives plenty of visitors. There are two major routes to the top: The Baldy Bowl – Sky Hut Trail and the Baldy Notch – Devil’s Backbone Trail. Both hikes depart from Manker Flats and can (and probably should) be combined in one 11.3-mile loop with 3900 feet of elevation gain.

To hike the loop:

Park just past the Manker Flats Campground on Mt. Baldy Road
Start up the paved trail toward San Antonio Falls (0.6 miles)
A third of a mile past the falls, turn left up a narrow unmarked trail and hike up to the Sierra Club Ski Hut (2.5 miles)
Continue west across the bowl and north up the ridge leading to the summit (4.5 miles)
Enjoy the view from the highpoint of the San Gabriel Mountains
Descend the marked Devil’s Backbone Trail to Baldy Notch (7.7 miles)
From the ski lodge by the top of the operating ski lift, descend the dirt road 3.6 miles back to Maker Flats past San Antonio Falls (11.3 miles)

Mount Baldy
A view of West Baldy from the summit

A ski lift operates during the day on weekends and for a cost of $18 (as of May 2009) will transport up to Baldy Notch and back down, cutting 1600 vertical feet out of the hike. The lift replaces 3.6 miles of trail and should be condoned as cheating. However, the ski lift omits the least interesting segment of the hike, so utilizing it is understandable.

There are some discrepancies over distances associated with Mt. Baldy. This is because of a few variations from the trailhead. The shortest hike to the summit is from the top of the ski lift. This trail crosses the Devil’s Backbone and measures 3.2 miles (6.4 round-trip) with 2600 feet of elevation gain. From Manker Flats to the summit hiking the dirt road to the Backbone Trail and Summit is 6.8 miles (13.6 round-trip). But, if you are not doing the loop involving the Baldy Bowl Trail, you can drive past the trailhead at Manker Flats another quarter mile to the parking lot for the ski lift. There is a connection trail to the dirt road leading to the top of the lift that actually cuts out 1.2 miles of trail each way (see the Manker Flats to Baldy Notch report for more information on this variation). Lastly, the trail past the Sierra Club Ski Hut to the summit is 4.5-miles long (9 round-trip).

When you decide to visit Baldy, consider your options. The loop mentioned above may be your best bet. Each trail has a stretch of strenuous hiking on the way to the top, but no scrambling is required to reach the large bald summit.

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

Photos

San Antonio Falls

Baldy Bowl – Ski Hut Trail

Views from the summit of Mt. Baldy

Devil’s Backbone Trail

The trail to Baldy Notch

These photos were taken in May of 2009. Click to enlarge.

Nearby Trails

	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.
	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.
	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.
	San Antonio Falls This 1.2-mile hike visits a multi-tier waterfall along the trail to Mt. Baldy.
	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.
	Bridge to Nowhere This adventurous 10-mile round trip hike reaches an abandoned and out-of-place bridge with a unique history.
	More trails in the San Gabriel Mountains Explore other destinations in the range.

Similar Trails

	Mount Waterman in the Angeles National Forest This 5.5-mile hike gradually ascends 1300 feet, passing through a pine forest to reach the round summit of Mt. Waterman.
	San Gabriel Peak from Mt. Lowe Fire Road This 6,161 foot peak is also reachable via a 3.2-mile round-trip trail from Eaton Saddle.
	Sandstone Peak This 6.25-mile loop summits the tallest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Camping

Manker Flats
Twenty-one sites service campers at the base of Mt. Baldy. The grounds are nothing exciting, but if want a staging area for your ascent, this is it.