6 min
Overview
An adventurous peakbagging trip ending with a climb up the northern slopes of Mount Baldy via Pine Mountain, this remote hike offers solitude and the opportunity to snag two other high peaks in the San Gabriel range– Pine Mountain and Dawson Peak. The trail itself may be relatively short; however, the dramatic changes in elevation will test both your legs and your resolve. OF NOTE (please read before attempting this trail): ***Blue Ridge Truck Road requires a four-wheel drive vehicle!*** Some of the difficulty of this trail can be attributed to getting to the actual trailhead. The unpaved road is fairly well-maintained through Mountain High; however, past Guffy Campground, the road becomes rough, rocky and uneven. Also, this road is not open all year long. There are gates along the road that may be closed depending on the time of year (winter, when Mountain High is open) and when road conditions are unfavorable (e.g. fallen trees, flooding, snow, etc.). If the gate near Guffy Campground is closed to vehicles, you can still get to the trailhead on foot, but this adds about 2 extra miles in each direction. Wherever you park on this road, display your Adventure Pass. The best time to do this trail is late summer or early fall, after the snow has melted and before any new snow falls. Do not attempt this trail if it is icy/snowy unless you are properly trained and have the right equipment. A slip or fall on these slopes could easily result in serious, life-threatening consequences. Even in the summer and fall, hiking on loose rocks and scree can result in slips and falls. The steep sections should be approached with extreme caution. Bring trekking poles. Do not attempt if there is a storm, or any chance of a storm, because this trail is quite exposed with little cover. Also note that mountains tend to make their own weather, so even if it’s looking nice and calm near your home, a nasty thunderstorm could be brewing up in the high San Gabriels. Needless to say, you’ll want nearly ideal conditions when attempting this
Trail Stats
13.2 km
1372 m
3058 m
2486 m
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