The elevation gain is the same as the San Antonio Ski Hut Trail and the distance is probably about the same. We continued our winding descent through this beautiful mountain scenery. It is the most dangerous zone on Mt. Harwood. Via Ski Hut It begins at Baldy Notch and ends at Mt. From the trail-head start to this point we covered the 3.6 miles in two hours with an elevation gain of 2000 ft. From Baldy Notch you get a very clear, vivid and quite frankly intimidating view of your destination, the ridge line of the Devils Backbone and off in the distance the summit of Mt. The other thing I wanted to do at the summit is find the coveted MT SAN ANTONIO BALDY 10,064 plaque and have my picture taken with my son standing hovering over it. DOG FRIENDLY? A hike to Mt. I hiked Mt. Gaiters (optional) Just did this hike yesterday. Take some enough snacks & a lunch (trail mix, nuts, granola bars, fruit, etc.) At one point the trail branches off and down into a valley. Mt. In order to submit a comment to this post, please write this code along with your comment: 1a4b715ba3ed8c654c79b92916eaa98a. Harwood. Baldy (via Devils Backbone) not only takes you to the top of Mt. The camaraderie of joining a select few who have hiked to the summit of Mt. If you drive beyond Manker Flat for about a mile, the road ends at the base of the ski lifts. Climb Devil's Backbone, Los Angeles Basin - Mountain Project Ski Hut Trail for ascent & Devil's Backbone Trail for the descend This hike is the easiest way up to Mt Baldy, however remembers it starts and stays in high elevation, so some people may experience altitude sickness. At this point one other hiker was at the top and we asked him to take our picture. [] 10,064 foot summit and in the end, we concluded that ascending via Baldy Bowl and descending along The Devils Backbone, making for an 11.3 mile hike, was the best route we stand by this decision (Great post []. WATER REQUIRED. HOW DO I PARTICIPATE WITH THE GROUP ON THIS HIKE? 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. He guided us to the proper route along the trail and hiked off ahead of us down the mountain. This part of the ridge is exposed, narrow, and cluttered with boulders, one of which is over 7 feet tall (in the winter with the accumulation of snow, it is much taller). How to hike Mt. Baldy Devil's Backbone Trail 2020; Mt. Baldy San As you approach the devils Backbone portion of the trail you immediately get a sense of just how much the elevation gain takes its toll on your breathing, after all you are at nearly 9000 feet in elevation, your breaths get shorter and quicker! MY FRIEND SAID I CAN DO THIS HIKE, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT, RIGHT? Turn right to stay on Mt. Make a right on Padua Avenue and continue for 1.8 miles. There was only one other hiker on the trail and she strode past us pretty quickly. GETTING THERE: On the day we hiked, the daytime temp was low 80s, although the 14 mph winds kept it very comfortable. We continue on and as we do my son announces his need to climb one of the 40-foot ski lift pylons. Follow the Devils Backbone Trail. Connecting with the same path we started on some 9 hours ago and seeing the white gate that signified the beginning of our journey brought with it a very satisfying feeling that we had completed what we had set out to do, hike to the summit of Mt. Baldy Road. The Make sure that the Hike Level accommodates your hiking experience. Baldy) via the Devil's Backbone is classic for hikers on the San Gabriel Mountains where Mt. Part of the ridge is only two inches wide (which I call the Mouse Walk, after the Cat's Walk on Casaval Ridge of Mt. Arriving mid-afternoon at the Manker Flats Campground,which was to be our home for the next two nights, we set up camp. If you follow the ridge up, you will find several class 4 climbs. 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). The trailhead is located off of Mount Baldy Road. However, be wary that trails are hard to follow on the stone surface, and taking the wrong one may necessitate steep backtracking. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Turn left on the trail and head west toward the summit of Mt. There is a white gate and blue porta-potty to landmark the start. Look for a rusted register box on the right side of the trail. Baldy in the Summer Part 4 Down - Jay Sean. Keep your eye on the prize and when needed the trail! The Devil's Backbone is the nickname for the summit of Mount San Antonio, though better known as Mount Baldy. Difficulty: Strenuous. DISCLAIMER: LA Trail Hikers and its Leads/Organizers/Participants do not take responsibility for any harm,bodily injury, accidents, or damage to personal property. There is another similar windbreak in a much more protected location along the trail below the summit. You are fully responsible for yourself. So many nicknames for one mountain, I know! It follows the edge of a narrow ridge (the Devil's Backbone) and then snakes along the edge of some steep slopes. 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. 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. Even before making the trek across the backbone, its fear factor kicks in big time! The trail starts near two porta-potties at a dirt road junction at Manker Flat. Baldy, across neighboring Mt. Occasionally, you have to climb up big boulders with no margin of errors. It Come with free parking for lift tickets customers. Hiking the Devil's Backbone, Mt. Baldy - Ramble State Exit Baseline Road, Claremont from the 210 FWY only. RECOMMENDED: Extra water besides the two liters in the hydration systems, one or two half-liter bottles of water, Extra food, Extra clothing, and Sun protection- sun screen- lip sun block sun hat- sun glasses Gloves. 12 Moderate to Difficult Hikes Near Los Angeles Please try to have this prior to the day of the hike. The fire road ends at the Devil's Backbone, and it is a trail from there on up to the summit. 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 The views are spectacular, the hiking is strenuous! Dogs are allowed on most trails in the San Gabriel Mountains, but that doesnt mean that this hike is suitable for most dogs. 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. However, the fear turns to exhilaration mixed with vast shots of adrenaline, not too mention for me a spiritual awakening! Woodson, itself just over 2000 feet in elevation. From Baldy Notch, you take a very steep trail up towards the beginning of the Devils backbone. We can carpool/caravan fromthe meeting point. Your email address will not be published. Baldy Photo Presentations: Hike 6-12-04 28 photos with captions. San Antonio, is reason enough to take in the view! Dan's Mt. Rated 5 / 5. Baldy summit. We have a better experience if every hike has hikers of the intended level. If you happen to find it, please email me at dr_feng@yahoo.com. The trail begins on a fire road. In the summer, the loose and slippery scree is treacherous. Mineral resources of the Mount Baldy Primitive Area, Arizona : an Not far from Los Angeles, this trail is heavily trafficked. After hiking 6.8 miles and nearly 5 hours to ascend Mt. Contact the ski resort directly for more information and booking. Find Baldy's BBQ and Catering with our calendar. 11/20/2020 Lauren C. I summited Mt. As you begin this portion of the hike, the trail seems to narrow down to a mere crossable path as it takes a roller coaster feel to it, bending, turning, dipping even slanting to what seems like a 45 degree angle. Follow any of the ski runs west to the top or the ski area boundry. Befitting its "Old Baldy" name, the summit is a bare dome covered with rocks and gravel. During the weekend, at least two others were injured after. Lol I thought I was going to do a loop like Claremont.. but I was very wrong. 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. Verify to immediately update business information, respond to reviews, and more! San Antonio greet us. Incorporating the Ski Hut Trail into a loop would shave off about 2.5 miles. My choice, as I wanted to experience one more time the thrill of completing the true Devils Backbone Ridge). From there, you walk down the rest of the ridge and meet the normal Devils Backbone Trail on your left, continuing to traverse Mt. 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. When I first considered doing this hike with my son, I must admit that the intimidation factor was high and did not lessen the more I researched this hike. Manchester Preserve an Island of Natural Beauty, Health Benefits of Hiking ! 1.7 miles: Take the northern trail along the ridge to Mt. If the lift is running this will knock off almost 4 miles round trip and 1,500 feet of elevation gain. On the access road from Manker Flat (Falls Road), the route is gentle and unambiguious. The campground is set in a very peaceful, serene pine laden forest with gorgeous mountain views at 6000+ feet. Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about Devil's Backbone. (10,064) elevation. The Devils Backbone Trail is about 6.5 miles each way. In addition, as Level 9experienced hikers, you must already have a good idea what to pack for these more challenging hikes. This is a good training for anyone preparing for more advanced hikes such as Mt. Stay on the ridge, which is pretty steep, and keep climbing up. This is Baldy Notch. It was very hard for us because we do not go prepared at all! Coming down the first part of the ridge, the trail veers left (if the hiker goes up from the Notch, the restaurant) and cuts through the mountainside, while the Devils Backbone Ridge continues upward, with narrower and more slippery foothold. Here is an overview of the Mt Baldy hike loop, going up Baldy Bowl Ski Hut Trail and down the Devil's Backbone Trail: Start hiking up Mt Baldy Road. Turn right on Padua Avenue. There are a number of ways to approach Mount Baldy. Devil's Backbone Trail to Mt. Baldy Peak | Humble Hiker At the summit are several crude rock windbreaks. Just stay on the access road until you reach a four-way junction; then look up the road to the left and you'll see the ski lodge. This is the time well be getting together at the meeting location. More. (You Dont need Forest Recreation Pass)www.mtbaldy.com. 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. Devil's Backbone, Mt. San Antonio (Baldy) Trail, Incredible Experience Thanks for adding this good information. At the end of Falls Road, the path makes a big U-turn at San Antonio Falls. 1. As an update to the previous information: The Mount Baldy Ski Lift runs 7 days a week and tickets may be booked in advance. a 74 year old Korean man who makes the trek to the summit of Baldy two times per week. REAL TRAIL NAME: Mt Baldy Summit from The Notch via Devils Backbone Trail, MEETING TIME: 7:00am -7:20am (Please be there on time), MEETING LOCATION: Mt Baldy - via Devil's Backbone - LA Trail Hikers 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 Devil's Backbone is the sharp ridge extending due east from the summit of Mt. A 45-year-old hiker died Saturday after falling about 1,500 feet down a mountainside from a trail near Mt. When on Baseline go west, to Monte Vista/Padua Ave. 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. Difficulty: Strenuous. Burger King (Parking Lot) And, reflection of sun from snow can cause sunburn as well. 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! The hike to the summit of Mt. Turn left on Baseline Road. There is a use trail that goes up to the right, follow this up onto the ridge. 1/13/2023. Baldy Road. As we hiked the trail we came across the hiker who had taken a picture of my son and I on the summit. Harwood via Ski Hut Trail, May 30, 2015. By now the legs and lungs have grown accustomed to the steady ascent and hanging in there very well. Baldy's BBQ and Catering - St Louis, MO - Food Truck | StreetFoodFinder San Antonio and back! I was amazing, and we did get tips from pro hikers. Baldy Notch/Devil's Backbone : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering 1 photo. Baldy (via Devil's Backbone) not only takes you to the top of Mt. Harwood can be seen in the background. 2. 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! Mount Baldy Road, Claremont (unincorporated), CA | BlockShopper.com This is intended for hikers who havehiked with us on a Level 7 hike or higher . Hiking is like mindfulness which teaches us to experience that which we are doing right now! Baldy, and West Baldy along the same razor sharp ridge. This trail boasts s Or climb Mt. San Antonio, which is the highest point in Los Angeles County. Date & Time: Thursday May 17, 2012 7:30AM to 5:30PM 10 hours. Even though the view was incredible it was windy and frightening. From here, you can enjoy views of the other high peaks of the back range of the San Gabriel Mountains. (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. Baldy via the Ski Hut Trail as an out and back. Water. You can see the desert and the city of Barstow, Los Angeles in the distance and I have been told on a very clear day, the island of Catalina. He is most certainly at the peak facing Westward. What is Hiker Therapy and how did it evolve? Coaching Sessions: Telehealth, Park, or Trail, POPS TAKE US TO THE TOP An Amazing Father and Son Adventure Coated in Love, Mental Health, Crisis (including hotlines), and Recovery Resources, How Hiking Supports Mental, Physical, and Recovery Health: Articles and Resources, numerous trails to the top of Mt. Head east on the 210, and exit Baseline Road in Claremont. All Rights Reserved. 0.5 miles: At the waterfall lookout, the Baldy fire road begins. 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! Hand Warmers (Optional) Gators and eye protection (sunglasses). This trail is for hiking. Harwood, Mt. As we approached the San Gabriel Mountains we saw off in the distance the ominous silhouette of Mt. And in fact, I included Baldy as peak #3 in my Six-Pack of Peaks progressive training series. Devil's Backbone, Mt. 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! The narrow trail climbs north straight up the side of San Antonio Canyon. San Antonio (aka Mt Baldy) Loop via Devils Backbone. The trail from the south is the Baldy Bowl trail, which is much shorter but much steeper. HIKE WALKTHROUGH: This is a popular route because it can take advantage of riding the ski lift. Perseverance and sensing the top is near motivates and drives you past your screaming calves and thighs and airless lungs the final 1/4 of a mile. NOTE: Well be driving from Subway to the hike Manker Flats trail head. All Rights Reserved. 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 Road. 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. : Sky Haven West Trailhead: Hiker Therapy 07/15/17, Fireworks Hike! Baldy. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. 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. 3.3 miles: Turn around when reaching West Baldy. Some hikers choose to go this route in order to find a WWII fighter plane that had crashed in the mountains after getting lost in the fog during a training mission back in he day. San Antonio. 11 miles: You have returned to the trailhead. Comfortable waterproofhiking boots with good grip. Occasionally, there is live music at the Notch, such as Elevated Solstices reggae and roots rock lineup. It was the narrow curvy edges that were most scary. DEVIL'S BACKBONE - 199 Photos & 62 Reviews - 6777 Mt Baldy Rd, Mount Baldy, CA - Yelp Restaurants Home Services Auto Services Devil's Backbone 62 reviews Unclaimed Hiking Edit See 202 photos Write a review Add photo " From here, you can choose to ride the lift down or hike another 3 miles down to " in 7 reviews Windbreaker An Adventure Pass parking permit. Not my choice, as I was lost in a whiteout) and summertime (May 22, 2020. Exercise and Addiction 12 Good Reasons Go To take A Hike! The feeling of accomplishment is like none other! Some people choose to start hiking from here and hike straight up beneath the ski lifts, but this trail is unnecessarily steep and loose, and signs warn that the parking lot gate is locked at 6:30pm. I recommend the San Antonio Ski Hut Trail, which has a sign along the way down that says Baldy Bowl Trail, for a descent route. 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 Wilso. HIKE REQUIREMENTS: Must have completed another LATH Level 7, 8, 9 hike prior to this hike. Once you reach the lodge, there appear to be several possible routes to the west. 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. My 666th review fittingly goes to. Aurelia Squire Harwood was a conservationist, educator, and first female President of the Sierra Club. Devil's Backbone Trail Area Status: Closed The Devil's Backbone Trail is currently CLOSED until further notice. 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, 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. A short side trip to San Antonio Falls is worth the minimal effort. six smoked, skin-on 1st and 2nd joint wings with choice of bar-b-q sauce. 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! This is the ridge that you will follow all the way up and is the SE Ridge, called Register Ridge, that goes up toward the summit of Mt. In season, there may be many cars parked here, but there is ample parking space. HIKE WALKTHROUGH:San Antonio Peak aka Mt. We take your safety quite seriously, and would not like for you to attend a hike youre not ready for. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for your vehicle while parked the the trailhead. Hardwood, and down past the ski resort to the valley floor. Otherwise, the way back is a wide and level fire road back to the trailhead. Hiking the Devil's Backbone, Mt. Baldy Ramble State However they give very complicated directions and we dont recommend that you use them. There is no serious danger during the day in the summer, but the trail could be difficult at night or in snow. Mt Baldy - via Devil's Backbone HIKE NAME: Mt. Heres how to incorporate the outdoors, walking and other exercise into therapy in a way thats good for clients and for you. During our time on the summit there were five others that we met. You will see the top of Mt Baldy directly front of you. The Scariest Section Of Devil's Backbone Trail (Mt. Baldy) From here, this is the steepest part of the route in which you gain about 800 feet in a quarter of a mile. We even saw the ridge line of the Devils Backbone, which leads to the Baldy summit. Follow the Mt Baldy Rd. Trailhead, September 2012. CA 11/07/2018 Hiker Therapy, Hike The Lagoon: Batiquitos Lagoon; Carlsbad, CA 09/16/2018 Hiker Therapy, Santa Margarita River Trail, Fallbrook, CA Fathers Day Hike 06/18/2017 Hiker Therapy, Cedar Creek Falls Trail Julian, CA 04/28/2018 Hiker Therapy, Double Peak Trail San Marcos, CA 03/04/2018 Hiker Therapy, Iron Mountain, Poway, CA Feb., 17, 2018 Hiker Therapy, Blue Sky Ecological Reserve in Poway, CA 02/03/2018 Hiker Therapy, Pyles Peak via Cowles Mountain Service Road, Barker Way Trailhead: Hiker Therapy 01/14/2018, Cowles Mountain via Barker Way; Cowles Mountain Service Road Trail: 10/22/2017 Hiker Therapy, Lake Calavera Preserve and Volcano! mdostby. Baldy, San Gabriel Mountains, California Although it is only 4.4 miles in distance the Ski Hut trail proved to be as challenging if not more challenging than the route we choose to ascend the mountain over the Devils Backbone.