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 Gabriels
- 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)
Click here to see a slideshow of views from the summit
| Legs of the loop: | |
 |
This 75-foot multi-tiered waterfall is 0.6 miles up the trail to Mt. Baldy. |
 |
This 4.5-mile trail climbs through a pine forest past the Sierra Club Ski Hut en route to the summit. |
 |
This 3.2-mile ridge-top trail from Baldy Notch to the summit is not to be missed (unless you have a strong fear of heights). |
 |
To hike the 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. |
A view of West Baldy from the summit
A Ski lift operates during the day on weekends and for a cost of $18 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 article 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.
A view north toward Dawson Peak
To get to the trailhead: Take the 210 east and exit on Baseline Road (exit 52). Turn left at the light and 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.
View Hiking reviews around Los Angeles in a larger map
| More peaks to tackle: | |
 |
This gradual 5.5 mile hike rises to an 8,000-foot summit with panoramic views of the San Gabriels. |
 |
There are two trails to this 6,161-foot summit in the foothills of the San Gabriels. Consider both the 3.2-mile trail from Eaton Saddle and the 4-mile trail from the Mt. Disappointment Fire Road. |
 |
Mount Langley in the Sierra Nevada Mountains This 14,042-foot summit is California's 9th tallest and the views are absolutely endless. |
 |
Mount Pickering in the Sierra Nevada Mountains This 13,485-foot summit west of Langley sports sweeping views of the Sierras. |
 |
Sandstone Peak in the Santa Monica Mountains This 6-mile loop summits the highest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains over Malibu. |
 |
Fountain Peak in Mojave National Preserve There is no trail to the 7,000-foot Fountain Peak, but if you are up for making your own way, the desert views are well worth it. |
Comments