Our return route will take us down the steep Baldy Bowl trail, passing the Sierra Club Ski Hut and San Antonio Falls on the way back to Manker Flats. The elevation gain is the same as the San Antonio Ski Hut Trail and the distance is probably about the same. Mount Baldy via Devils Backbone Trail in the San Gabriel Mountains, The Best Way to Summit Mount Baldy! Not only was this a great place to camp but also the trail-head start to Mt. Many choose to cut uphill in a narrow switchback pattern to ensure their footing. The Scariest Section Of Devil's Backbone Trail (Mt. Baldy) And/or the 10 FWY. Baldy Road. Keep your eye on the prize and when needed the trail! Gloves If you park at the Ski Lift parking lot, you must purchase a $5 parking pass, otherwise, an Adventure Pass is required for each vehicle parked along the roadside. When my son and I had convinced ourselves, he was doing much of the convincing, that we were going to do this hike we had two goals in mind. We take your safety quite seriously, and would not like for you to attend a hike youre not ready for. We have a better experience if every hike has hikers of the intended level. Devil's Backbone, Mt. San Antonio (Baldy) Trail, Incredible Experience 16 Miles. Harwood. Whether you are a first-timer or an experienced hiker, please read our hike details page as the hike may not suite your experience level. This is a strenuous varation to climb Baldy, it has some nice views on both sides of the ridge and if you want some solitude from the weekend crowds, this is a good option. We continued our winding descent through this beautiful mountain scenery. Baldy) 43,120 views Oct 11, 2015 138 Dislike Share Prouisorsapientiae 6.65K subscribers This section of Devil's Backbone Trail is. San Antonio, Its A Volcano! Mt. Baldy - Devil's Backbone Trail Baldy Road come into view, a reassuring sign to our tired feet and bodies that we were almost home! Sam the 74 year old kept complementing my son on his creative use of pine by saying, Very Strong, your boy is Very Strong. He would say this to everyone in fact even telling me that I motivate him! Your email address will not be published. As a pretty fit guy with a quick pace (although I do not hike very often), it took 1:45 to get from the Notch to the summit in July 2016. Head east on the 210, and exit Baseline Road in Claremont. The trail continues its 2.7-mile ascent up to Baldy Notch. Baldy Lodge , very good food in a rustic setting in Mt. Devil's Backbone. 12 Moderate to Difficult Hikes Near Los Angeles The most common and the one this Website describes, is to take the ski lift (open on weekends, 8 AM to 5 PM) up to Baldy Notch Ski Lodge and then take the westerly trail over the Devil's Backbone, across the southern side of Mt. 0.5 miles: At the waterfall lookout, the Baldy fire road begins. All Rights Reserved. Not far from Los Angeles, this trail is heavily trafficked. Although the numerous hikes that I had done in San Diego over the past 5 months were challenging and I did see tremendous hiking growth take place, hiking to the summit of a 10,064 foot mountain was a dramatic change from the nearest challenging hike of Mt. HIKE PREREQUISITE: Must have completed a LATH hike Level 7+ and up with no problem. How far is the devils backbone trail from manker flat and whats the elevation gain, Hi everyone, I wanted to share my more extensive experience hiking the Baldy Notch -> Devils slide as an out-and-back, including what I learned, what I wish I knew before, and how to prepare for the best experience on the mountain Check it out, here: https://metropolitanmolly.com/2021/06/14/hiking-mount-baldy-how-to-successfully-conquer-the-tallest-mountain-in-the-angeles-national-forest-summer-edition/, Your email address will not be published. You will come to a distinct flat spot, about 3/8 of a mile below the Baldy Notch Trail. At the peak, there are some windbreaks next to the famous metal summit plaque. 3.3 miles: Turn around when reaching West Baldy. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." San Antonio (aka Mt Baldy) Loop via Devil's Backbone HIKE PREREQUISITE: Must have completed a LATH hike Level 7+ and up with no problem. Not my choice, as I was lost in a whiteout) and summertime (May 22, 2020. -Mike. As we came upon the Ski Hut, the trail at this point had leveled off a bit and although still had dips and turns, it was not nearly as steep or Cree covered as the previous part of the route had been. You will notice that the trail makes a sharp turn towards the north as you hike up from the register box, travel up the trail approximately 40 meters past the register box. Exercise and Addiction 12 Good Reasons Go To take A Hike! Turn right on Padua Avenue. It then ascends over a dozen little switchbacks at the western edge of the Baldy Bowl. Baldy In the Summer Part 4 | Down the Devil's Backbone | to the Top of the Notch | .Hiking Mt. The hike is a strenuous one in which there is an approximate 3,900 feet of vertical gain to reach the top. Flashlight (should we encountertwilight/darkness upon return) Baldy! and #2, We are crossing the Devils Backbone to get there!. Sam, the 74 year old, was also very impressed with our hiking sticks, two pine poles that my Son had carved from a past Christmas tree as well as a Torrey Pine branch he had found! The cost of the lift is $25 round trip for adults, $20 for youths age 13 to 17, $15 for children under 12 (must be at least 40 tall), and $15 for seniors over 65 (prices as of 2018). Gower Open Space Preserve, Ramona, California..November 2012, Grounded on the Trail, Grounded in Life by Mark Lees, M.A., Hiker Therapy, Cowles Mtn, Mission Trails Regional Park, Santee.CA; Big Rock Rd. By hiking 2.3 miles from the parking lot at the base of the ski lift to Baldy Notch. Exit Baseline Road, Claremont from the 210 FWY only. Baldy via the Ski Hut Trail as an out and back. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. The Devil's Backbone is the nickname for the summit of Mount San Antonio, though better known as Mount Baldy. This trail is about 3 miles from the lodge to the summit with a net elevation gain of 2,264 feet. Directions to Trailhead. The Devils Back Bone, connecting the top of the hill where the ski cable car ends with the Harwood Mountain, is a ridge with steep slopes on both sides. MY FRIEND SAID I CAN DO THIS HIKE, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT, RIGHT? Ski Hut Trail for ascent & Devil's Backbone Trail for the descend My son and I both commented how this part of the adventure had been the toughest which I attribute to the fact that we had been hiking for nearly 9 miles, with a little more than two to go. If time is limited, consider hiking to Mt. Other more daring climbers venture off towards the steeper chutes. Scarf or Facemask At the final push up the mountain three hikers who were just starting the descent from the summit of Mt. Approx 14 miles. After about 10mins you'll see a sign and there are 3 different paths to different hikes (3 tree top, From here, you can choose to ride the lift down or hike another 3 miles down to, The first section starts off paved up until San, Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about. Devil's Backbone Trail With about 800ft to the summit, the Baldy Bowl trail starts to stiffen up for the steepest climbing of the day. Baldy boasts an impressive 10,069 feet in elevation, making it one of the better mountains for Southern Californians to train on if you're looking to summit Whitney or hike the JMT. It is much easier to return to Manker Flat, even though you lose some altitude. The hike to the summit of Mt. On a hot day this road can be quite hot and exposed so bring sunscreen! Turn left on Baseline Road. Difficulty: Strenuous. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' The trailhead is located off of Mount Baldy Road. Baldy via Devil's Backbone and it was an amazing experience! Be prepared for the cold, snow, ice and with proper sun protection (wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.). Okay, now to clarify the multiple approaches to the peak of Mt. There are numerous trails to the top of Mt. The Devils Backbone Trail is about 6.5 miles each way. Riding the Sugar Pine Chair Lift up 1,500 at a cost of $25. : Sky Haven West Trailhead: Hiker Therapy 07/15/17, Fireworks Hike! At the summit are several crude rock windbreaks. So many nicknames for one mountain, I know! A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for your vehicle while parked the the trailhead. This is intended for hikers who havehiked with us on a Level 7 hike or higher . Trailhead, September 2012. 2.8 miles: The trail reaches the summit. As we trekked along our buddy Sam that we met on the summit called out our names and soon was striding past us and down the trail. It is the most dangerous zone on Mt. There are a number of ways to approach Mount Baldy. stopping along the way to take it all in, not to mention to rest. And in fact, I included Baldy as peak #3 in my Six-Pack of Peaks progressive training series. AMAZING views, and Id definitely do this hike again. Most of the challenge in the descent is presented in the form of very steep terrain with a trail made up of loose gravel, small and large stones and trail dust, or as it is fondly called, Cree.. This part of the trail immediately under goes a change of scenery, the alpine feel of the hike, although somewhat present gives way to the sparseness of the ridge line, and the breathtaking views of the mountainside giving way to the vast canyons far below! University of Missouri-St. Louis Libraries. I started to notice something else as we ascended towards the backbone, I realized how much I was in the moment on this hike, how I hadnt thought about the regular concerns of the day, lifes worries, the what ifs and the I should of, would of could ofs that most of us contemplate in our daily lives. Over half of this trail is partially or fully-exposed to the sun. Bringing tasty BBQ to the southern Illinois region Baldy is its first peak. Turn North (right) on Padua, follow for a mile to the light. The trail from the south is the Baldy Bowl trail, which is much shorter but much steeper. "I love deadlines. MT BALDY RESORT - 608 Photos & 463 Reviews - Yelp San Gabriel Mountains. His name was Sam. A Winter Ascent Of Mt. Baldy via Baldy Bowl And Ski Hut Trail --Douglas Adams, Images Baldy Road. (10,064) elevation. As we approached the San Gabriel Mountains we saw off in the distance the ominous silhouette of Mt. Just did this hike yesterday. Wear sunscreen, comfortable warm clothes and shoes. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. You can take the Old Baldy Trail, the Ski Hut Trail, or the Devils Backbone. Baldy, also known as Mount San Antonio, stands at 10,064 feet and is the highest point of the San Gabriel Mountains. San Antonio. Anytime you are reading about something called the Devils Backbone and its drop offs on either side of the trail at 9000 plus feet, its time to stop researching, I decided to stop researching! REAL TRAIL NAME: Mt Baldy Summit from The Notch via Devils Backbone Trail *** THIS PAGE IS NOT UP TO DATE *** HIKE DATE: Sunday, October 16, 2010. Stay on the ridge, which is pretty steep, and keep climbing up. The trail begins on a fire road. Baldy) via the Devil's Backbone is classic for hikers on the San Gabriel Mountains where Mt. 3. The one-way cost may be the same as round trip. Walk past the locked gate of Falls Road and follow the dirt road for almost 2 miles to the ski lodge. Elevation Gain: 2,369 Baldy summit. Upon gaining the ridgeline, there is a mile-long final push to the top of the summit. In season, there may be many cars parked here, but there is ample parking space. However, the real challenging part of the Devils Backbone is not on the Devils Backbone Trail per se, which dodges the most difficult and the most perilous area of the Devils Backbone Ridge. One of the guys yells out, Are we having fun yet?my son asks, Are we close?one of the guys points up and says, Right there! Baldy Village. DOG FRIENDLY? We then follow the ski run next to the ski lift and then hike the Devils Backbone to the summit. San Antonio there are two things at this point I want to do: #1, drop my backpack, hiking stick and water bottle, and give my son a huge hug and congratulate us both! Using the Google Earth "Measure" Function and measuring from a topo map the fire road from Manker Flats to Baldy Notch is about 3.25 miles (one-way). 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(37), Comments 06/14/2014, Coming Soon: Short and Steep but what a view!Mt Woodson from Hwy 67 Fire Station3/15/14, Hell Hole Canyon, Valley Center, CA: 01/31/2014, A top 5 Hike!Volcan Mountain Wildlife Preserve, Julian California, Hike the HIghest Peak in the City of San Diego: Cowles Mountain, Santa Ysabel Preserve East, Julian, CA: Back Country Hiking Hiker Therapy, Monserate Mountain Preserve Fallbrook, CA Hiker Therapy, Calavera Mountain: Lake Calavera Preserve, Tri-City Area, San Diego North County, Cedar Creek Falls Hike, Julian, CA 03/29/2013 Hiker Therapy, Urban Hike: Seven (7) Bridges San Diego Hiker Therapy, Hybrid Hike: Iron Mountain/Ellie Lane Trail. Make sure that the Hike Level accommodates your hiking experience. Either route there is no gas station once you exit the freeway. (When this trail is covered in ice and snow, you need crampons and an ice axe.). MT BALDY VIA REGISTER RIDGE - 49 Photos - Yelp From here, this is the steepest part of the route in which you gain about 800 feet in a quarter of a mile. Harwood, continuing toward a saddle between Mt Baldy and Mt Harwood. Cheddar Poppers. Difficulty: Strenuous. Do not do this hike in the winter unless you are a mountaineer with alpine meadows ice/snow travel experience. Woodson, itself just over 2000 feet in elevation. Why not combine some of the routes into a big loop? Baldy boasts an impressive 10,069 feet in elevation, making it one of the better mountains for Southern Californians to train on if you're looking to summit Whitney or hike the JMT. 4.5 miles: You have reached Mt. Big Laguna Trail Loop: Trail loop provides tour of mountain landscapes, Doctors tell Us How Hiking Can Change Our Brains, Don't be a rescue statistic bring water on hike. As mentioned earlier, the trail-head start was right across from the campground on Mt. 6777 Mt Baldy Rd Mt Baldy Mount Baldy, CA 91759. Stay on the ridge, which is pretty steep, and keep climbing up. You will start to see the ski lift on your right and as you look up the ski lodge marking Baldy Notch and the 3.6 mile point of your hike. The Baldy Bowl Ski Hut Trail is definitely a more strenuous uphill workout than Devil's Backbone, so choose this route if you're looking for a good leg workout! 11. Baldy is one of the most prominent mountains with some amazing 360 degree views over Southern California. Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about Devil's Backbone. San Antonio. Turn right onto Mt. Each of the 6-Pack is progressively higher in altitude, and all have respectable distance and vertical elevation gain. Baldy. However they give very complicated directions and we dont recommend that you use them. This is a higher level hike and should not be taken lightly. Dynamite work ethic however with a warm customer service specialty! HOW DO I PARTICIPATE WITH THE GROUP ON THIS HIKE? Baldy, across neighboring Mt. Follow the Mt Baldy Rd. This trail is for hiking. An Adventure Pass is required for each vehicle parked along the roadside. Eventually, the climb up the SE Ridge meets the Baldy Notch Trail, just SE of the summit of Mt.