Turn North (right) on Padua, follow for a mile to the light. This hike represented for me the epitome of what a hike can provide as far as the mental and physical challenges and benefits. That snow covered area in the distance is Mt Baldy's lower, Western Summit. The trail is made up of compact gravel and is very wide. If you have them, gaiters will help keep snow out of your socks/show opening. Woodson, itself just over 2000 feet in elevation. Just wondering if there was any snow?? Microspikesor IceTrekkers, shoe chain traction (Highly recommended) Although very steep, the Ski Hut trail offers very scenic views as you hike through a forest of pines. Turn left on the trail and head west toward the summit of Mt. 6777 Mt Baldy Rd Mt Baldy Mount Baldy, CA 91759. This can be obtained at the Visitor Center in Baldy Village for $5.00 a day or $30.00 for an annual pass. Dynamite work ethic however with a warm customer service specialty! 1 photo. Befitting its "Old Baldy" name, the summit is a bare dome covered with rocks and gravel. HIKE REQUIREMENTS: Must have completed another LATH Level 7, 8, 9 hike prior to this hike. Additionally, you will not be allowed to participate with the group if you are not adequately prepared with enough water and the right gear/equipment/nutrition essential to complete the hike. Good description of hiking Mt Baldy via the Devils Backbone Trail. We continued our winding descent through this beautiful mountain scenery. It was the narrow curvy edges that were most scary. I am constantly reminded how much a hike is done one step at a time, much like in life, we are only given one-step or one day at a time! However, be wary that trails are hard to follow on the stone surface, and taking the wrong one may necessitate steep backtracking. We took in the picturesque view and sounds of the falls for a second time, and as we continued on, off in the distance we started to see Mt. For a more challenging hike to the top, check out the guide for hiking to Mt. However, as our Sierra Club friend pointed out, a few of these hikers got lost due to the snow covering the trail and have died due to exposure to the elements while being lost in the wilderness of the valley. Baldy via Devil's Backbone and it was an amazing experience! San Antonio. 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. Was extremely windy yesterday, but . These are horseshoe-shaped piles of stone that are just high enough (2-3 feet) to protect campers from the wind. San Antonio, each offering their own unique challenge, the one we choose included the infamous, Devils Backbone on the ascent and the Ski Hut trail on the descent. Once you reach the top of the 2nd ski lift, the trail gets more interesting. From Baldy Notch, you take a very steep trail up towards the beginning of the Devils backbone. There is a use trail that goes up to the right, follow this up onto the ridge. There are numerous trails to the top of Mt. It follows the edge of a narrow ridge (the Devil's Backbone) and then snakes along the edge of some steep slopes. Activities Hiking DEVIL'S BACKBONE - 198 Photos & 61 Reviews - Hiking - 6777 Mt Baldy Rd, Mount Baldy, CA - Yelp Devil's Backbone 61 reviews Unclaimed Hiking See 201 photos Third Stream Falls Old Baldy Ice House Canyon Trail Mount Baldy San Antonio Falls Iron Mountain Via Heaton Flats Mount Baden-Powell Trail Lake Gregory Regional Park Sunset Peak Hike Harwood. The Top of the Notch restaurant and bar is in a perfect place to rest and refuel. 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. : https://www.facebook.com/latrailhikers/events, ELEVATION GAIN: 3,900 ft. with top Elevation of 10,068, MEETING LOCATION:Subway (Same plaza and parking lot as the Vons)594 E Baseline Rd.Claremont, CA 91711. 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. At this point one other hiker was at the top and we asked him to take our picture. Much like life this trail has lots of ups and downs and is done one step at the time. An Adventure Pass parking permit. General Info: The Devil's Backbone Trail is 3.24 miles long. 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. The 210 FWY brings you closer to the Mountain and less city driving. 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. You will come to a distinct flat spot, about 3/8 of a mile below the Baldy Notch Trail. Almost There Stopping To Enjoy Alternate Routes Make sure you stick to the ridgeline trail via the saddle to West Baldy, as the Bear Canyon Trail to Baldy Village loses too much elevation. Not my choice, as I was lost in a whiteout) and summertime (May 22, 2020. 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! Both the Devil's Backbone and Baldy Bowl trails end relatively in the same location, so a loop is possible. There are several ways to get to the summit: the ski hut/baldy bowl trail, the devil's backbone trail and the bear canyon trail (probably the most difficult). The hike to the summit of Mt. After about 10mins you'll see a sign and there are 3 different paths to different hikes (3 tree top, Mt. in 22 reviews, From here, you can choose to ride the lift down or hike another 3 miles down to Manker Flats. in 7 reviews, The first section starts off paved up until San Antonio Falls which is roughly a half mile up. in 5 reviews. Baldy Village. MEETING LOCATION: Burger King (Parking Lot) He was very much intrigued with my son Sam, interestingly same name, his life and his motivation to climb Mt. Do not do this hike in the winter unless you are a mountaineer with alpine meadows ice/snow travel experience. Turn left on the trail and head west toward the summit of Mt. University of Missouri-St. Louis Libraries. I was amazing, and we did get tips from pro hikers. After hiking 6.8 miles and nearly 5 hours to ascend Mt. It is quite an experience, even a spiritual one, to be on the summit of this magnificent mountain. Lake Calavera Preserve: Carlsbad, CA.10/08/2020, Iron Mountain, Poway CA 01/31/2020 Hiker Therapy, Monserate Mountain Preserve, Fallbrook Land Conservancy, 03/06/2019 Hiker Therapy, Oakzanita Peak via East Mesa Fire Road Trail: Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, East Mesa Trailhead 01/10/2019 Hiker Therapy, Ramona Grasslands County Preserve; Ramona. Once you reach the lodge, there appear to be several possible routes to the west. As there are a few routes to take, we choose the Ski Hut trail back down. But it always seemed to get pushed off -- due to bad weather, brush fires in the. The Laguna Mountains: BIg Laguna Loop Hike via the Sunset, BIg Laguna and Pacific Crest Trails: 07/04/2015New Research Suggests Nature Walks are Good for Your Brain. Harwood. Flashlight (should we encountertwilight/darkness upon return) If time is limited, consider hiking to Mt. Devil's Backbone Trail Area Status: Closed The Devil's Backbone Trail is currently CLOSED until further notice. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. Baldy, across neighboring Mt. Register Ridge VariationAuthor: Mike ZimmermanDate: June 27, 2004 2:50 PM Follow the San Antonio Ski Hut Trail route as if you are heading up to the Ski Hut. Hiking Mt. 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. Riding the Sugar Pine Chair Lift up 1,500 at a cost of $25. By now the legs and lungs have grown accustomed to the steady ascent and hanging in there very well. Date & Time: Thursday May 17, 2012 7:30AM to 5:30PM 10 hours. In season, there may be many cars parked here, but there is ample parking space. Baldy Lodge , very good food in a rustic setting in Mt. The Top of the Notch restaurant and bar is a great spot for refueling. 76. Located in the Angeles National Forest, Mt. Dont let it intimidate you. Mt Baldy - via Devil's Backbone HIKE NAME: Mt. Water. HIKE LEVEL: Level 9. Continue 2.8 miles on Mt. 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. Not only was this a great place to camp but also the trail-head start to Mt. Antonio (Mt. The Devil's Backbone is the nickname for the summit of Mount San Antonio, though better known as Mount Baldy. 11. Eventually, the climb up the SE Ridge meets the Baldy Notch Trail, just SE of the summit of Mt. Follow the Devils Backbone Trail. Upland CA 91786, REQUIRED: Scenic chair lift tickets $15.00 if purchase online & $20.00 there. (You Dont need Forest Recreation Pass)www.mtbaldy.com. I hiked Mt. Do share! As the summit of San Antonio draws closer, the geography turns from sparse vegetation and greenery to the starkness of small rocks, gravel and what the surface of the moon must look like. 4.5 miles: You have reached Mt. LATH HIKE LEADS: Carol Martinez & Janiece Cordova, MEETING TIME: 5:00am 5:15am Please be on time. 3.3 miles: Turn around when reaching West Baldy. Turn left on Baseline Road. To hike the loop: Park along Mount Baldy Road just past Manker Flats Campground at the bottom of Falls Road (0 miles) From here, you can enjoy views of the other high peaks of the back range of the San Gabriel Mountains. 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. San Antonio Devil's Backbone Ridge - Camino of Death Image Gallery - 2 Images. Or climb Mt. Our first night we had diner at the Mt. Im imagining its like a regular ski lift that comes up behind you and you sit on it. San Antonio and back! AMAZING views, and Id definitely do this hike again. Drive 2.3 miles to the Mt. Befitting its "Old Baldy" name, the summit is a bare dome covered with rocks and gravel. It is the most dangerous zone on Mt. Make sure that the Hike Level accommodates your hiking experience. 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. The one-way cost may be the same as round trip. The Devils Backbone keeps ascending until it levels off next to Mt. 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. If you wish to look us up on map quest you can use 6700 Mt Baldy Road CA 91759. Is this trail good for dogs? As we hiked the trail we came across the hiker who had taken a picture of my son and I on the summit. This trail is about 3 miles from the lodge to the summit with a net elevation gain of 2,264 feet. . So many nicknames for one mountain, I know! If he wasnt taking everyones picture with his own camera, he was offering us Korean foods he had brought to the summit with him as snacks. Upon gaining the ridgeline, there is a mile-long final push to the top of the summit. Thanks. Baldy is its first peak. 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. When the path levels off, the Devils Backbone Trail becomes a narrow ridgeline spine with significant drop-offs on each side. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. Baldy, so named due to its spareness on top, quite an impressive sight, since we were still miles away. Another perk of climbing to the summit of Baldy, is the camaraderie you enjoy with total strangers who share only one thing in common to this point, hiking to the summit of Mt. At the end, you climb to the edge of the cliff with a sigh of relief, enjoying the complete vista of the Devils Backbone Ridge. Baldy. Objective: Summit Mt. After doing this hike I now know why people climb mountains, the sense of accomplishment is beyond words! As an update to the previous information: The Mount Baldy Ski Lift runs 7 days a week and tickets may be booked in advance. What were the tips from pro hikers? San Antonio (Baldy) Trail, Incredible Experience! Devil's Backbone Trail offers spectacular views from an impressive ridge-top trail. 6777 Mt Baldy Rd Mt Baldy Mount Baldy, CA 91759. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. 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). We ask her if she would like to join us, she does, but not too far along the trail she says she doesnt think she is going to make it, and turns back. This is a higher level hike and should not be taken lightly. Mt. The trail to the summit begins at Manker Flats trailhead and we take the winding fire road up to Baldy Notch at which we will take a break. four fried poppers, mildly spicy jalapeno halves filled with cheddar cheese San Antonio greet us. Via Ski Hut At 10,064 feet above sea level, the snow often sticks around well into June. We did it Dad! We made it! 1.0 mile: At the junction, turn left up the steep Ski Hut Trail (Baldy Bowl trail). Be prepared if this is your plan. The Devil's 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. "I love deadlines. Baldy Road somewhat exhausted, but at the same time exhilarated, the thought that entered my mind was that this was one of the, if not the, most mentally and physically demanding experiences I have ever had, I was also thinking that it is one of my lifetime and that I am very grateful I could share this experience with my son. At the peak, there are some windbreaks next to the famous metal summit plaque. The Baldy Bowl appears on the left and the trail to the summit with patches of leftover snow straight ahead. 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 Hut also serves as a landmark and denotes that we are a little less than half way to our final destination and starting point at Manker Flats. Wish we had stuff like this in Minnesota! HIKE LEAD: TBA. Head east on the 210, and exit Baseline Road in Claremont. Other more daring climbers venture off towards the steeper chutes. Whitney or Half Dome. It is much easier to return to Manker Flat, even though you lose some altitude. You know your body and hiking experience better than your friends. I am not sure about the chairlift regulations. The trail begins on a fire road. Level: Hard; Distance: 14 miles (out and back) Elevation gain: 4269 ft; Time: 8.5 hours; Being part of the ascent up Mount Baldy, Devil's Backbone is an especially challenging trail to hike and should only be done by experienced hikers. Baldy and Mt. On the access road from Manker Flat (Falls Road), the route is gentle and unambiguious. We then follow the ski run next to the ski lift and then hike the Devils Backbone to the summit. San Antonio (aka Mt Baldy) Loop via Devils Backbone. Baldy is one of the most prominent mountains with some amazing 360 degree views over Southern California. If you do this climb after all of the snow has melted, bring plenty of water, since there are no water sources until you get down to the SA Ski Hut, where there is a small run-off stream. Check out our other hikes -Mt Baldy https://youtu.be/1v28_su0Mhs-Mt San Gorgonio https://youtu.be/h_BT4GJLpgA-Half Dome https://youtu.be/udfoUshBz0M-Mt Wilson https://youtu.be/HKCKhwmzuk8-Cucamonga Peak https://youtu.be/eogH3mb_8W4-Mt San Jacinto Peak https://youtu.be/1UODpvIfvoM-Mt Baden Powell https://youtu.be/sjOvuhMinEg-San Bernardino Peak https://youtu.be/ml-MbZKJDcE-Hollywood Sign https://youtu.be/QmMI6Ah0HVY-Rainbow Falls Mammoth Lakes https://youtu.be/8fo7XYN7Gq8-Saddle Peak https://youtu.be/eogH3mb_8W4-Whiteface https://youtu.be/oz7vmSRNkyY-Temescal Canyon https://youtu.be/fdtD0K5S75M-Echo Mountain https://youtu.be/8-kG-KSN76Q-Solstice Canyon https://youtu.be/2dfJe6_t7T0 Hand Warmers (Optional) Hello there Will. 2. Sierra Club Ski Hut Trek Highlights. The photo is taken pointing towards West Baldy. Torrey Pines State Beach to Blacks Beach, 06/18/2017: Hiker Therapy, Garnet Peak: via Pacific Crest Trail at Penny Pines; Pine Valley, CA Hiker Therapy 05/28/2017, Hike The Hollywood Sign @ Hollywood Hills, CA 04/12/2017 Hiker Therapy, Eagle Rock: Pacific Crest Trail Los Coyotes Indian Reservation: 03/04/2017 Hiker Therapy, Hell Hole Canyon Trail to Maidenhair Falls, Anza Borrego State Park, 02/20/2017, Off The Menu San Diego County Hiking TrailsA list of the best kept secret hiking trails in San Diego County, Hike Stonewall Peak, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Julian, CA, Stanley Peak Daley Ranch Escondido CA 03/20/2016, Guatay Mountain: Pine Valley, CA 02/15/2016, Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve, 1209 Farmer Rd, Julian, CA : 01/21/2016, Double Peak Mountain Trail: North San Diego County 09/26/2015 Hiker Therapy, Lawson and Gaskill Peaks: Hiking the East County 03/21/2015, San Miguel Mountain, Chula Vista, CA: Difficult but so Rewarding and Great views from the Summit! (PS: I found that my blue soft water bottle dropped out of my vest after crossing the Mouse Walk and decided not to go back to retrieve it. We went through the Devils Backbone and the pictures that are shown online is not the scary part! San Gabriel Mountains. Baldy (via Devil's Backbone) not only takes you to the top of Mt. My legs were weathering the hike fairly well, it was my feet that were taking the pounding and definitely felt every mile we have done to this point. 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. Above the Ski Hut, the trail hits a rocky patch. Climb with caution, as Camino of Death can be more dangerous than the Matterhorn of the Alps, because it does not have the fixed rope protection and is certainly more challenging than the last segment of Mountaineers Route of Mt. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' I know it says its open for hikers and dogs, but Im wondering about the Mount Baldy ski lift and if dogs are allowed on it? Follow the San Antonio Ski Hut Trail route as if you are heading up to the Ski Hut. | Mr and Mrs Adventure, https://metropolitanmolly.com/2021/06/14/hiking-mount-baldy-how-to-successfully-conquer-the-tallest-mountain-in-the-angeles-national-forest-summer-edition/, From the summit of Mount Baldy after hiking 4.5 miles up, By riding the Mount Baldy ski lift up 1,500 feet in elevation to Baldy Notch, By hiking 3.5 mile up a dirt road from Manker Flats to Baldy Notch.