Mt Baldy Hike Guide

Continue past the signs and go through the gate, hiking up the paved road.

The trailhead is the paved road to the left at the far end of the parking lot. The bathroom is up on the hill next to the entrance.

The loop goes counter-clockwise, with a more gradual and longer climb to the summit.

The lot is full by 7am. You can park down the road but there are fee areas by the campground, so read the parking signs before leaving your car elsewhere.

Mt Baldy’s official name is Mt San Antonio, and the trailhead is about an hour away from downtown LA in Angeles National Forest.

In the summer sections of the hike like the Devil’s Backbone are pretty tame, in the winter one wrong step can mean you’re sliding hundreds of feet down the mountain.

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We’ll start at the trailhead, hike to the ski area, then up to the summit, taking the Baldy Bowl Trail down past the Ski Hut.

Mt Baldy’s official name is Mt San Antonio, and the trailhead is about an hour away from downtown LA in Angeles National Forest.

In the summer sections of the hike like the Devil’s Backbone are pretty tame, in the winter one wrong step can mean you’re sliding hundreds of feet down the mountain.

This is normally what the parking lot looks like. You can park on the right as well.

The trailhead is a little bit past the campground. Park as close to the trailhead as possible.

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This is what the hike is like in the winter. If you happen to slip on ice or snow, you will fall 1000s of feet off the sheer sides to a certain death. Save it for the summer months; it’s much more fun. Thanks to my (experienced winter hiker) friend Kyle Sa

I left early on this day and had the whole Devil’s Backbone section to myself, which is the best way to experience it. I’ve also seen pictures of a line of hikers from this same perspective. Leave early.

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