“Mount San Antonio, also known as Mt Baldy, at 10,068 ft (3,069 m), is the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains, and the highest point in Los Angeles County. Well used trail by locals as a short (1-2 hour) aerobic hike with nice views. This trail run, Mt Baldy’s Run to the Top, is not for the faint of heart, anyone afraid of heights or those who get altitude sickness.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'rockchucksummit_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',693,'0','0'])); The first time I attempted to summit Mt Baldy during Labor Day’s Run to the Top, I had altitude sickness so bad that search and rescue threated to take me down the mountain on a stretcher if I didn’t turn around and stop puking all over their precious mountain. Just try to pay close attention and not get off track. 8, Alberta, Canada that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Bend is a MUST visit for anyone who loves to spend time adventuring in the outdoors. From outdoor clothing to outdoor gadgets to outdoor gear that’ll keep him safe in the backcountry, you’re bound to find the perfect gift idea for any outdoorsy guy in this blog post. What Other Things Can I Do at Mt Baldy? You can usually catch me climbing some of the highest mountain peaks in southern California or at the track betting on the ponies. Distance: 2 miles. It is named Mount Baldy because of the lack of trees on its summit. San Antonio or better known as Mt. If you don’t have a lot of time to summit Mt Baldy, then this is the quickest route to the top. There wasn't any snow, so that is the only reason it was safe to attempt in the winter. Ski Hut Trail. You can see from the Pacific to the Mojave on a clear day. Hike up to this! We ended up grabbing our "post hike" meal at the Top of the Notch Restaurant, and we bought a ticket to take the Mt Baldy lift down the rest of the way because my friends knees were giving out on her. Alternatively, you could park your car at the Mt. Baldy — actually it’s real name is Mt. A stumble down the side of the trail could be dangerous or even fatal. A short and easy approach hike with minimal elevation gain, along with excellent views of the ski resorts and Little Cottonwood Canyon, make this an excellent peak for beginning or intermediate hikers. Just make sure to be respectful and clean up after your pets. Hiking the Ski Hut Trail makes for a very crowded weekend on the mountain. | shedreamsofalpine.com, 27 Campervan Gifts that Every Van Owner Would Love to Get | The holidays are fast approaching and so I decided to put together a gift guide for the campervan owner. My favorite GPS is the Garmin GPS 64st. Combine the two trails to make a fantastic loop, which is what we discuss in detail below in our guide. After a bit of knee-busting down hill hiking, you will make it to Mt Baldy Ski Area, where you can either continue to hike down  to the trailhead or take the Mt Baldy lift. You might be tempted to buy cheaper "twist" to lock poles, but honestly don't bother... they break super easily. The summit has a very large area to relax, and a cool summit sign to take a photo next too. This is one of the most popular hikes in Los Angeles for those in shape enough to actually summit via this tough route to the top. Baldy. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and backpacking and is best used from May until September. It may feel like you are hiking straight up at times. You will need a forest adventure pass to park in the parking area at Manker Flats. Even rainy conditions could be suspect. The Devil's Backbone Trail in particular is especially dangerous when wet and icy due to its steep drop offs that allow little room for error. Which route should you take to summit Mt Baldy? This is the fastest and easiest way up the mountain. Altitude sickness can ruin any high-altitude hike for sure and I always take Altitude RX Oxyboost a few days before starting any high-altitude hiking, just in case. Its typically best to leave your pet on leash to protect others and your dog from potentially dangerous situations, snakes or other animals, however, I did see many dogs off-leash when I was hiking this trail myself. The higher elevations can get a lot of snow in the winter, so check the trail conditions if you're hiking late fall or early spring. Mount Baldy Trail is a 4 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Municipal District of Bighorn No. Mt. If you are making a day out of your visit to Mt Baldy. (As long as it’s not the first date, as who wants to be alone in the forest on a dark night with a weirdo.). Another way to combat altitude sickness is to drink a lot of water on the hike and hike slowly so your body can adjust to the higher altitude. San Antonio, but it’s called Mt. However, if you begin at the bottom of the mountain and hike up to Baldy Notch before crossing Devils Backbone Trail, that hike to the summit is 13.6 miles round trip. | shedreamsofalpine.com, 43 of the Best Gifts for Rock Climbers and Boulderers | The holidays are fast approaching and so I decided to put together a rock climbing gift guide based on products that I love. If hiking the Ski Hut Trail in the winter months, it tends to be snow-free the first few miles but always assume you will need crampons and waders for the deep snow in places when you get above 8,000 feet, especially on the shady faces of the mountain. You will connect to the Devil's Backbone Trail at Baldy Notch. It is a very strenuous hike and might not be the best one to take children on. Appropriately enough, there are no trees near the summit and the top of the mountain looks like a bald head! The spine-tingling hike along a tantalizing ridge starts from the Mt. These gifts are perfect for the avid backpacker in your life, or even for yourself. Camelbaks are awesome for hiking! At 10,064 feet tall, Mount Baldy (also known as Mount San Antonio) is the highest peak in  Los Angeles County, making it an extremely popular hike for those living in the LA or greater LA area, and boy is it a leg burner! Make sure you apply more sunscreen then normal also, as you can get sunburnt faster at higher elevations. Most times of the year Mt Baldy offers a Groupon for a discounted rate to take the chairlift also. We have guides on several great beginner 14er hikes. There are deaths every year from hikers attempting to do this trail in the winter. You can grab a bite to eat at the Top of the Notch Restaurant which is at the Mt Baldy Ski Area. The trail is thin, and there may be people hiking up the trail while you are descending. This campground is in a prime location for starting your Mount Baldy hike. Is this trail safe to hike when there is snow? It has definitely come in handy to help me navigate when I wasn't sure where I was. first time 2020 mt baldy hike!also i forgot about oliver! You can try it the hardcore hiker way; hiking straight uphill under the rickety old mountain ski lift built in 1952, and gaining over 3,000 feet in a three-mile crazy calve workout hike. Baldy is a SoCal icon that stands out boldly as a snow-covered backdrop for much of the year. If you are living near the Los Angeles area I would say it should be very high on your must-hike list. I'd say after this hut is when the trail can sometimes get confusing. Also be sure to check out these essential hiking resources! Baldy Trail, is one of the toughest routes leading to the 10,064 summit of Mt. 7 Tips to Hiking and Summiting Your First Fourteener Mountain, Permit Deadlines and Reservations for Popular California Hiking Trails. Baldy? Water Available? I recommend getting one that has at least a 3 liter reservoir, and the ones with a mouth piece cover are awesome too because when you set your backpack on the ground you don't have to worry about your mouth piece getting all dirty. In the first mile, you gain just under 1,000 feet altitude gain. These sites are first come first serve. You'll head eastward to find the Devil's Backbone Trail. This made a great spot for us to grab a snack and take a quick break from our uphill hike. Plus, if hiking Mount Baldy is one of your training hikes for a California 14er like Mount Langley, we include some additional resources and guides for hiking 14ers at the bottom of this post. Don't rely on water sources along the trail, bring plenty of water. Hiking Mt Baldy at night may sound a bit intimidating but it’s a really fun and easy hike with a group of friends. This hike starts from a parking lot (not plowed in the winter) and goes to a split with a small parking area. This trail averages 1,000 feet of altitude gain a mile, so yes, it is super tough. While most people just visit Mt Baldy as a day hiking adventure, you could certainly make a weekend of it by camping near the area. Although it is not the highest mountain in Southern California it is the highest in the San Gabriel Mt. That was five years and thousands of miles hiked ago and after summiting countless peaks and hiking over many mountain passes over the past five years I no longer get the altitude sickness and I can summit mountains without embarrassing myself or involving search and rescue. Devils Backbone Trail offers spectacular views from an impressive ridge-top trail. It makes a great summer and fall training hike though due to its intense elevation gain and leg burning switchbacks on the Baldy Bowl Trail. In our visit to Mt Baldy we did the hike as described below, a loop starting up the Baldy Bowl Ski Hut Trail to the summit and down the Devil's Backbone Trail. If you are wanting to hike up the Devils Backbone Trail instead, continue on the Mt Baldy Road until you get to the Mt Baldy Notch (ski lift) area. Mt Baldy Ski Lifts Inc. is located in the Angeles National Forest under special use permit from the Forest Service. The goal is to reach the restaurant by happy hour. From wool socks to down jackets, these are all great products that we can personally vouch for. Trekking Poles are nice to have on your downhill hike of Devil's backbone. Or you may want to try the easier way and taking the ski lift halfway up the mountain to a less tough starting point at the Mt Baldy Ski Lodge. The peak, which marks a boundary between San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County, is called Baldy because of the absence of trees around the summit. Black Diamond Trail Shock Trekking Poles - Invest in a good pair of trekking poles and you will have them for a long long time. Click the photo below to estimate your drive to the trailhead. If you are wanting to start your hike up the Baldy Bowl Ski Hut Trail, keep a look out on your left for this trail (it's easy to miss!). From cozy gifts to practical gifts, you’ll be sure to get them something they’d love to have with this van life gift guide! The first solo hike I did, it helped me navigate through a big tallus field back to the main trail when I got off route. The hut is managed by the Sierra Club and can sleep up to 16 people. Speaking of training, if you are working on your hiking conditioning and need some good goals for your next big mountain consider hiking one of the California 14ers. Type: Out-and-Back. The Mt Baldy trailhead is located near the Manker Flat Campground area, and this is also where you will begin to look for parking (again, make sure to get there early so you can easily find parking). Baldy summit. The Ski Hut Trail is prettier for sure and much more wilderness like (I mean, it’s not a dirt road with Ski Lodge employees driving past you) but this is an easier route with the altitude gain just not as intense. This hike is a good choice for those who have hiked Mt Baldy from Manker Flats and now want to do it again, without all the hub-bub. The trailhead is really hard to see and I have missed it and had to double back many times. Lots of waves. The first mile and last few miles to the summit are very, very hard. Baldy summit, the highest in the San Gabriel Mountains. The trail up Baldy Bowl Ski hut trail is a more challenging uphill than the hike up Devils Backbone trail, but that is exactly why we decided to go up this direction... for a better workout! To avoid the crowds try hitting the trail early, or even better, go on a weekday! Facilities are operated to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability, familial status or political affiliation. In order to park your car at Mount Baldy you must have a parking pass. Commonly known as Mt. Once you drive past the campground you should see a bunch of cars parked on Mt Baldy Road. The first time I hiked this, we were training for the Rim to Rim Hike in the Grand Canyon. San Antonio is LA County's highest peak at 10,000 feet and is located within two nationally protected areas, San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and Angeles National Forest. 3) Rent a Tent Cabin. Is this a family friendly hike? Baldy, Mt. It climbs 5740 feet in 6 miles. While the start might not be well "signed", it's not hard to find. On a clear day you can see the coast (and maybe even Catalina Island) and possibly even San Gorgonio in the distance. The signs are frequently stolen in this area. I blog my adventures as well as my favorite healthy recipes over at Hungrymountaineer.com. You definitely need to be mindful of where you are walking though, and be sure not to trip over anything.