After a long drive out to Manker Flats at the base of Mt. Baldy, getting to San Antonio Falls is easy. Hike past the gate up Falls Road and continue 0.6 miles to the waterfall. The road is paved the whole way, except for the last few hundred feet where a dirt footpath leads down to the falls.

San Antonio is a 75-foot tall multi-tier waterfall. By mid-May, the falls are a bit past their prime, but still enjoyable. Even if the trail itself is nothing special, the waterfall is nice to look at. The cold water makes this the perfect place to relax and rinse off after a strenuous hike up to Mt. Baldy or the Sierra Club Ski Hut.

San Antonio Falls

If you are not pressing on to either of those destinations, it is still worth continuing up the trail a bit further. From where the pavement ends, the road turns sharply to the right and heads uphill over dirt. Hike up this road a few hundred feet and then turn around for a nice look back at the falls. This wide view warrants the extra steps.

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.

Aerial View

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Devil’s Backbone This 3.2-mile ridge-top trail between Baldy Notch and the summit of Mt. Baldy offers incredible views of the San Gabriel Mountains.
	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.
	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.
	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.

Similar Trails

 

	Sturtevant Falls This 3.25-mile hike visits a 60-foot waterfall and a lush cottage-lined canyon.
	Fish Canyon Falls This 4-mile hike starts at a rock quarry with restricted access and ends up at a multi-tiered 80-foot waterfall.
	Millard Falls This one mile hike visits a 50-foot waterfall up one of the most scenic canyons in the range.
	Eaton Falls This 3-mile hike visits a 40-footer.

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.

More Info

 

San Antonio Falls on Dan’s Hiking Pages

The Angeles National Forest website