The GeekHiker

In all the years I’ve lived in Southern California, I’d somehow managed not to hike Mt. Baldy. I think I always thought the drive out to the trail head was too long. But, despite the long haul, I did it anyway a couple of weeks ago.

Mt. San Antonio, better known as Mt. Baldy, is the tallest peak in Los Angeles County. Along with The Bridge to Nowhere, it’s one of those hikes that every hiker in Southern California must at one point do.

For this first ascent, I decided to take the easiest route, making use of the Mt. Baldy ski lift, which is open during the non-snowy months on weekends for hikers, mountain bikers, and day-trippers. Don’t be fooled, though: despite the advantage of the ski lift, the trail still climbs expeditiously to over 10,000 feet with no acclimatization.

The ski lift takes you from 6,500 feet to 7,800 feet in about 10-15 minutes, a quiet ride up the canyon, often with mountain bikers below you.

Riding up the Mt. Baldy Ski Lift

From the top, walk around and to the left, past the restaurant (open for lunch) and the ski school towards lift four. The trail begins on the service road that heads up under the ski lift. I suggest avoiding the wash on the left which, although it looks like an easier gradient, actually becomes much steeper towards the latter half.

Start of the trail; I recommend the road on the right, not the wash on the left

Ascending the service road

Switchbacking up 700 feet, you’ll arrive at the top of Chair Four, seeing your first view of the desert to the north and, a short distance later, your first view of the peak itself.

View of Baldy from just past the top of Lift 4

The road ends, but the trail continues along the section known as the Devil’s Backbone. Once a hair-raiser until the 1930’s when the CCC rebuilt it (complete with handrails which are now gone), the section ascends along the spine of the mountain.

Along the Devil’s Backbone

Curving south, the trail continues its steady ascent along gravelly slopes around Mt. Harwood. Mt. Baldy comes into view again and, if you look carefully, you can see the tiny people picking their way along the trail that ascends it.

Along the trail; Baldy Bowl is on the left, the peak on the right

Passing a saddle at mile 2.6, the trail begins the steep, gravelly, direct ascent of the peak itself. Here and there a few weathered pines make a living along the otherwise barren slopes.

Weathered pine surviving in a draw near the summit

Finally, 3.2 miles from your start, you’ll arrive at the rounded summit. The views are panoramic, but the wind can be atrocious. Here and there previous hikers have made use of the many rocks to build windbreaks.

Un-color-corrected summit panorama looking West-North-East

Un-color-corrected summit panorama looking East-South over the LA Basin

Twin ribbons of I-15 descending the San Gorgonio Pass into the desert, heading towards Vegas

To the east, the other two tall peaks in Southern California can be seen: San Gorgonio Peak on the left and San Jacinto Peak on the right.

Looking towards San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Peaks

If the day is very clear, your view south takes in the greater Los Angeles Basin. On the day I was there, Santa Catalina Island, 75 miles away, floating like a mirage in the distance.

Distant Santa Catalina Island across the Pacific

Return by the same route.