The trail over Devil's Backbone
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 article.
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 Devil’s Backbone.
Click on this slideshow for more views of the trail
The trail narrows and starts across the top of a steep ridge. The mountain drops away from both sides of 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.
A look south toward Manker Flats
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.
The steep climb up the Backbone Trail from the saddle to the summit
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 (read the review of the Baldy Bowl – Ski Hut Trail for more information on this hike). 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.
Devil's Backbone Trail
Descending from the summit via 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 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.
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| More of Mount Baldy: | |
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To hike Devil's Backbone you must travel between Manker Flats and Baldy Notch. Should you hike the fire road or take the ski lift? Here is all the information you need to make that decision. |
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This 75-foot multi-tiered waterfall is 0.6 miles up the trail to Mt. Baldy. |
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This 4.5-mile trail climbs through a pine forest past the Sierra Club Ski Hut en route to the summit. |
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Views from the top and more information on hiking Baldy as a loop. |
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This list of trails explores the peaks and waterfalls of the San Gabriel and Santa Monica Mountains |
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