Mt. San Antonio (Baldy) Loop

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(6 votes, 5 reviews)

Difficulty: Difficult
Length: 10.4 miles / 16.7 km
Duration: Full day

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Overview: Any Southern Californian can point out the white topped Mt. Baldy — actually it’s real name is Mt. San Antonio. Baldy is a SoCal icon that stands out boldly as a snow-covered backdrop for much of the year. At 10,068 feet above sea level, the snow often sticks around well into June.

This loop begins at the Manker Flats trailhead (National Parks Adventure Pass required), taking the winding fire road up Baldy Notch, then hiking the Devil’s Backbone to the summit. The return route takes you down via the steep Baldy Bowl trail, passing the Sierra Club Ski Hut and San Antonio Falls on the way back to Manker Flats.

This is the third of six southern California summits in the 6-Pack of Peaks bundle. Done in sequence, they provide great training anyone preparing for bigger hikes such as Mt. Whitney or Half Dome. Each hike in the 6-Pack is progressively higher in altitude, and all have respectable distance and vertical elevation gain.

Tips: Check with the Baldy Village ranger station (909-982-2829) for the latest conditions. Avoid hiking the Devil's Backbone or Baldy Bowl trail when they are covered in snow, unless you are trained and equipped with crampons and ice axe.

You can do this hike in reverse, for a strenuous, really steep climb up with a more gradual return.

Over half of this trail is partially or fully-exposed to the sun. Be prepared with proper sun protection (wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, etc.).

No permits are required for day hikes on these trails.

Points of Interest

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Manker Flats

Look for the sign for the Manker Flats trailhead. Parking is available alongside the road. Remember to put your National Forest Adventure Pass in your car window.

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View of San Antonio Falls

This hairpin turn marks both the end of the pavement as well as a great viewing point for the seasonal San Antonio Falls. The falls usually run from spring to early summer, depending on the snow fall that year and the temperatures.

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[JCT] Ski Hut Trail

Note the trail that switches back up the hill to the left. This heads up to the Sierra Club ski hut at the base of Baldy Bowl. You will return via this trail, but for now, continue straight ahead on the gravel road.

P1020187 (Dells (historical), California, United States) Photo

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Top of the Notch

The Baldy Ski resort lodge is here at the top of Baldy Notch. The ski lift to the notch provides an optional shortcut, but check with the resort for days/hours of operation. There is a restaurant at the notch that is also open most weekends year-round.

IMGP1943.JPG (Dells (historical), California, United States) Photo

IMGP1942.JPG (Dells (historical), California, United States) Photo

P1020263 (Dells (historical), California, United States) Photo

P1020269 (Dells (historical), California, United States) Photo

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Up the Ski Runs

Follow the ski run up the ridgeline. At the ski resort boundary, you'll see a sign marking the beginning of the Devil's Backbone trail.

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Devil's Backbone

This gnarly trail follows the ridgeline with precipitous drops on either side. Don't attempt this in ice or snow without proper equipment and the know-how to use it! Even when it's dry, it demands your attention as you hike.

Be sure to stop frequently to soak in the views.

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Mt. Harwood

If time and energy allow, consider a side-trip to bag nearby Mt. Harwood. Start from the saddle between Harwood and San Antonio.

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Saddle

This saddle marks the beginning of the final ascent -- a brutal 700' vertical in a very short distance. You're almost there!

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Mt. San Antonio

The summit of Mt. San Antonio - referred to by locals as "Baldy" - is a round shoulder of gravel and rock. There are several ad-hoc wind shelters constructed with rocks, as it can get very cold and gusty up top.

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Baldy Bowl

This scree-filled bowl can only be climbed when covered with frozen snow, using crampons and an ice axe.

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Ski Hut

This ski hut is owned by the Sierra Club and available for rent to members. There are some nice benches hewn of logs. This makes a great rest spot, especially in the springtime when the seasonal San Antonio Creek is flowing.

Pictures in this guide taken by: jeffhester, Leighton, skizye, Dlloydj, traildust, SurferXtine

How does this work?

This was my 14th time to the top - first time from the south approach (Sierra Lodge trail) and first time in over a decade. I used to run up from Guffy and had the added benefit of hitting Pine Mountain and Dawson Peak. I still had the runner's mentality going up this time, but really don't have the physical acumen I once had. At the top of the south end of Baldy Bowl, I really felt lethargic and my legs were fried. I stopped frequently to try to appease my altitude sickness (first time I've ever felt this despite my previous summits). Several people in their sixties and seventies gave me advice and encouragement as they passed me up. The camaraderie is always a humbling and welcomed experience. I love this mountain as I have grown up on all sides of it (IE and desert)so it feels like home to me.

Since I hiked up alone, I decided upon MSA as I know it is a popular hike and that I wouldn't be alone for too long had I injured myself. The views are unbelievable, and there are opportunities to feel away from it all despite the (always pleasurable)encounters with the fellow hikers.
Visited on May 18, 2013

by writerbum 7 days ago

OK...the posts that say the trails are not marked are correct. I added a few miles and a hitch hike ride back to my car because I ended up on the Mt. Baldy Trail that ends in the town center. Great hike with amazing views. It is a hump and be prepared for changing conditions at various places. I took the fire road to Baldy notch but had to ask for directions to join the trail to the Devils Backbone. Be prepared for a steep climb. The Summit was rewarding for all the work but that's where it gets tricky. Rather than finishing the loop I ended up taking a bit of a detour back to the village of Baldy which is a few miles more than I expected. And based on conversations of people coming from the village that the too have made the same mistake at the summit resulting in hitching a ride back up to their car. Ask for directions down if this is your first time. And appreciate the wonderful people willing to give you a ride back to your car (5 miles) if you miss the trail. Still loved the hike and was worth every step!

Visited on Oct 27, 2012

by Hificook3 on Oct 28, 2012

It was my 5th hiking on Mt. Baldy climbing up thru Baldy Bowl trail down to the Devil's backbone trail. Windy as usual, but this time it was SE wind, so we had to eat our lunch watching over west part of the Angeles Forest mountains. On the way down,the wind was so strong that it created strange whistling sound out of the cane one of my group member 81-year-old grandpa carries. It has 7 holes that can adjust length of the cane, and when the wind passes through the small hole it made the sounds. I thought it was someone playing an ancient musical instrument upon the summit of the Baldy... The best part of the hiking was coming down on a ski lift... just shorten the time and distance to 10 minutes for $10... fun!!
Visited on Oct 22, 2011

by sunlandyeon on Oct 25, 2011

Completing the 3rd series of 6 peaks of S. Cal. Although this trail was 2 miles shorter, it was much hard than Cucamonga Peak trail that I completed 2 weeks ago. Me and my co-worker did the loop in reverse because I wanted more gradual descent due to my knee problem. It was brutal. the view was amazing. Hoping to complete this tail again before winter.

Thank you Jeff!
Visited on Oct 08, 2011

by thx123 on Oct 10, 2011

Had a great day on this hike. My wife and I brought our two dogs (a purebred German Shepherd and a Basenji mix. The dogs did well on the hike but Serenity, our Shepherd, was ready to be done by the time we reached the summit. We had summited Mt. San Jacinto on 4th of July, so we felt like this would be no problem. The trail is deceptively hard and the sun exposure is no joke. Be sure to have a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water. The scenery was excellent - we particularly liked the Devil's Backbone section. The summit is fairly large and flat. Be prepared for a huge number of people to be at the summit.
Visited on Jul 17, 2011

by english4law on Jul 20, 2011