Thanks. For those who havent crossed the backbone, the views are superb! Harwood. Baldy via the Devils Backbone as an out and back, with or without the ski lift. Hes 74 and does this twice a week, I say hes the motivation! Each of the 6-Pack is progressively higher in altitude, and all have respectable distance and vertical elevation gain. The summit actually has two peaks: the main peak, elevation 10,068 feet (3,069 m), and a sub-peak, West Baldy, at 9,988 feet (3,044 m). 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. In the summer, the loose and slippery scree is treacherous. San Diego, CA. The Devils Backbone connects Mt. Baldy Road. The gentler access road is to the left of this trail, and it snakes up the ridge rather than going straight up. Soon we heard the rushing water of San Antonio Falls, a yearly flowing waterfall. We did it Dad! We made it! Where do I get a National Forest Adventure Pass? Head back to Baldy Notch. Baldy, and West Baldy along the same razor sharp ridge. 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. The Notch also has 600 zip lines that are 70 above the ground. Uphills with quickgain, NoBeginners, Intermediate Hikers, No Kids, No Dogs), WHAT IS A HIKING LEVEL? 1 photo. (Instructions for making a reservation when the Ski Hut is open, can be found here.). As we hiked along he told us of hikers who take this route in the winter months, hiking through the snow. 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. Comfortable waterproofhiking boots with good grip. This is a higher level hike and should not be taken lightly. Devil's Backbone is a trail that stretches along the ridge of the mountain east of the Mt. This a broad area is just after the Manker Flat Campground. Hiking Mt. 1. MEETING TIME: 7:00am -7:20am (Please be there on time). The camaraderie of joining a select few who have hiked to the summit of Mt. Upland CA 91786, REQUIRED: Scenic chair lift tickets $15.00 if purchase online & $20.00 there. 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. 13 miles round trip. However they give very complicated directions and we dont recommend that you use them. Verify to immediately update business information, respond to reviews, and more! Baldy, across neighboring Mt. During our time on the summit there were five others that we met. You can do it! We even saw the ridge line of the Devils Backbone, which leads to the Baldy summit. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. 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 reality, it is probably better to do this hike without your dog. Although dogs may be allowed in the area, we request no pets join us for this higher level hike. For the easiest route, follow the access road leading toward the top of the left-side ski lifts. Baldy Photo Presentations: Hike 6-12-04 28 photos with captions. Follow the Devils Backbone Trail. Baldy Road. He had done this hike many times before, appeared very experienced, and was kind enough to hike with us to show us the proper route to take back down. 16 Miles. WATER CHECK WILL BE PERFORMED. And in fact, I included Baldy as peak #3 in my Six-Pack of Peaks progressive training series. When you take the turn off to the left off of the fire road, head up the trail that goes to the Sierra Club Ski Hut. 7.5 miles: Baldy Notch is at the top of the ski lift. Baldy Village. Snowshoes, crampons and ice axe may be needed in wintertime depending on snowpack. 11/20/2020 Lauren C. I summited Mt. (1), Additions & Corrections So many nicknames for one mountain, I know! a 74 year old Korean man who makes the trek to the summit of Baldy two times per week. Eventually, the climb up the SE Ridge meets the Baldy Notch Trail, just SE of the summit of Mt. The best time of year to do this hike is May-June and October-November, other times of the year it can get hot, cold, windy and snowy. 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. Baldy via the Ski Hut Trail. Having said that let the adventure begin! Baldy. Many choose to cut uphill in a narrow switchback pattern to ensure their footing. Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about Devil's Backbone. Your email address will not be published. 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. Do not do this hike in the winter unless you are a mountaineer with alpine meadows ice/snow travel experience. San Antonio also offers the chance for the group to consult with one another as to the best route down the mountain. Baldy. Flashlight (should we encountertwilight/darkness upon return) 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. It was the narrow curvy edges that were most scary. Sierra Club Ski Hut Trek Highlights. This is a remarkably narrow rising ridgeline spine with significant drop-offs on each side, connecting Baldy Notch to the summit. Befitting its "Old Baldy" name, the summit is a bare dome covered with rocks and gravel. From the Notch, you can cheat and take the ski lift down. Occasionally, you have to climb up big boulders with no margin of errors. Beanie Dogs are allowed on most trails in the San Gabriel Mountains, but that doesnt mean that this hike is suitable for most dogs. Mountain Ave. will turn into Mt Baldy Road and dead end into the Ski Area Parking lot. 32. Much like life this trail has lots of ups and downs and is done one step at the time. Adding microspikes to your shoes will help in keep best traction with snow (highly recommended). 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. GEAR CHECKLIST: 76. Woodson, itself just over 2000 feet in elevation. If you wish to look us up on map quest you can use 6700 Mt Baldy Road CA 91759. As an update to the previous information: The Mount Baldy Ski Lift runs 7 days a week and tickets may be booked in advance. Hiking Socks As we came upon the Ski Hut, the trail at this point had leveled off a bit and although still had dips and turns, it was not nearly as steep or Cree covered as the previous part of the route had been. 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. Perhaps 15 people can sleep here. Not far from Los Angeles, this trail is heavily trafficked. In this clockwise loop, you take the Ski Hut Trail to the summit, follow the Devils Backbone to the Notch, and take the fireroad back to the trailhead. Harwood on your way to Mt. Peak Elevation: 10,064 Riding the Mt. You will notice that the trail makes a sharp turn towards the north as you hike up from the register box, travel up the trail approximately 40 meters past the register box. San Antonio Devil's Backbone Ridge - Camino of Death, Images After crossing the spring, a spur trail leads to the Ski Hut by the base of the Baldy Bowl. This hike represented for me the epitome of what a hike can provide as far as the mental and physical challenges and benefits. http://latrailhikers.com/about/hike-levels/, https://www.facebook.com/latrailhikers/events, http://socalhiker.net/hiking-mt-san-antonio-baldy-loop-trail/, http://www.modernhiker.com/2007/11/22/hiking-mount-san-antonio-mount-baldy-and-mount-harwood/, http://www.everytrail.com/guide/mt-san-antonio-baldy-loop, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_San_Antonio. http://latrailhikers.com/about/hike-levels/, HIKE RSVP: Do share! 01/25/15, Monserate Mountain Fallbrook Land Conservancy 11/07/2014, Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve: Roundtrip; West Approach to East and back.08/02/14 Hiker Therapy, Hiking The East County of San Diego: McGinty Mountain! (an Aerobic Excersize), How Hiking can Kill Anxiety, Depression and Build Resistance, Rattlesnakes on San Diego County Hiking Trails, This Vet Overcame His PTSD By Hiking 12 US National Parks, Why Hiking is the Perfect Mind and Body Soul Workout. Navigate; Linked Data; Dashboard; Tools / Extras There was only one other hiker on the trail and she strode past us pretty quickly. A hike to Mt. Riding the Sugar Pine Chair Lift up 1,500 at a cost of $25. Baldy, and West Baldy along the same razor sharp ridge. Please get this ahead of time from a local Sports store like REI stores, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Outdoor Outlet (Alhambra) and other retailers prior to the hike. 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. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. Distance: 11 miles (clockwise loop) From here, this is the steepest part of the route in which you gain about 800 feet in a quarter of a mile. Windbreaker Sam the 74 year old kept complementing my son on his creative use of pine by saying, Very Strong, your boy is Very Strong. He would say this to everyone in fact even telling me that I motivate him! AMAZING views, and Id definitely do this hike again. HIKE WALKTHROUGH: This is a popular route because it can take advantage of riding the ski lift. It could get very cold (winds) and the next minute get hot so be prepared!!! We then follow the ski run next to the ski lift and then hike the Devils Backbone to the summit. stopping along the way to take it all in, not to mention to rest. Not my choice, as I was lost in a whiteout) and summertime (May 22, 2020. If the lift is running this will knock off almost 4 miles round trip and 1,500 feet of elevation gain. MEETING LOCATION: Burger King (Parking Lot) Most of the challenge in the descent is presented in the form of very steep terrain with a trail made up of loose gravel, small and large stones and trail dust, or as it is fondly called, Cree.. Baldy. Baldy: 1 - The Devil's Backbone trail approaches the summit from the east. 1.7 miles: Take the northern trail along the ridge to Mt. It follows the edge of a narrow ridge (the Devil's Backbone) and then snakes along the edge of some steep slopes. Hiking Boots/Shoes withgood grip (Required) He was very much intrigued with my son Sam, interestingly same name, his life and his motivation to climb Mt. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. Baldy is one of the most prominent mountains with some amazing 360 degree views over Southern California. The trailhead is located off of Mount Baldy Road. HIKE LEAD: TBA. Its one thing to see this beauty from the safety of distance, it is quite another to feel it and experience it as you hike right through it crossing on this hairpin trail! Follow any of the ski runs west to the top or the ski area boundry. And, reflection of sun from snow can cause sunburn as well. More. San Antonio, Its A Volcano! San Antonio as a loop route with some friends. As we continue hiking we came across the lady who tore past us earlier sitting on a tree stump, as we engage her in conversation she says she thought she lost us to another route along the trail. However, the fear turns to exhilaration mixed with vast shots of adrenaline, not too mention for me a spiritual awakening! Baldy Lodge , very good food in a rustic setting in Mt. 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. Make sure you pack an extra water or tablets of electrolytes. Drive 2.3 miles to the Mt. Make sure that the Hike Level accommodates your hiking experience. Its a good idea to print out a map of the loop to give you an idea of the trail. Dynamite work ethic however with a warm customer service specialty! Arriving mid-afternoon at the Manker Flats Campground,which was to be our home for the next two nights, we set up camp. Hello there Will. Devil's Backbone Trail offers spectacular views from an impressive ridge-top trail. All of a sudden, you can see Baldy Notch. View Baldy Notch/Devil's Backbone Image Gallery - 76 Images. 3.3 miles: Turn around when reaching West Baldy. NOTE: Well be driving from Subway to the hike Manker Flats trail head. Look for a rusted register box on the right side of the trail. 4.5 miles: You have reached Mt. This trail boasts s Upon gaining the ridgeline, there is a mile-long final push to the top of the summit. 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. The Scariest Section Of Devil's Backbone Trail (Mt. If you have them, gaiters will help keep snow out of your socks/show opening. 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. Exit Baseline Road, Claremont from the 210 FWY only. Harwoods ridgeline trail, follow it to the Harwoods peak while it parallels the Backbone below, or you can always scramble up the scree. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. 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. This is a good training for anyone preparing for more advanced hikes such as 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. After hiking 6.8 miles and nearly 5 hours to ascend Mt. Activities Hiking --Douglas Adams, Images This hike is all about the psychological. Turn North (right) on Padua, follow for a mile to the light. That snow covered area in the distance is Mt Baldy's lower, Western Summit. Turn left on Baseline Road. Located in the Angeles National Forest, Mt. Baldy, also known as Mount San Antonio, stands at 10,064 feet and is the highest point of the San Gabriel Mountains. ( University of Missouri Libraries ) Services . University of Missouri-St. Louis Libraries. An Adventure Pass is required for each vehicle parked along the roadside. San Antonio. When the path levels off, the Devils Backbone Trail becomes a narrow ridgeline spine with significant drop-offs on each side. Jacket (Must be familiarthe layering system) 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. Baldy summit. From Baldy Notch, the fireroad climbs steeply to the second ski lift, marking the start of the Devils Backbone Trail. Multiple fatalities here- people losing footing and sliding down several hundred feet bouncing offf rocks and trees. Devil's Backbone Trail Area Status: Closed The Devil's Backbone Trail is currently CLOSED until further notice. HIKE WALKTHROUGH:San Antonio Peak aka Mt. Head east on the 210, and exit Baseline Road in Claremont. 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 It Come with free parking for lift tickets customers. Whitney. #1We are going to the summit of Mt. Fee/Book a Session Coaching Sessions: Telehealth, Park, or Trail Hikes 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. Baldy Notch - Devil's Backbone Trail Both hikes depart from Manker Flats and can be combined into one scenic and challenging 11.3-mile loop with 3,900 feet of elevation gain. Elevation Gain: 3,800 4k 60fps Norwegian Xplorer 5.5K views 2 years ago I Can't Believe We Had to TURN AROUND!. It is the most dangerous zone on 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! Water. 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. By hiking 2.3 miles from the parking lot at the base of the ski lift to Baldy Notch. 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. You will come to a distinct flat spot, about 3/8 of a mile below the Baldy Notch Trail. 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! . Baldy Road and drive for 11.5 miles past Mt. If you follow the ridge up, you will find several class 4 climbs. At the end of Falls Road, the path makes a big U-turn at San Antonio Falls. San Antonio Devil's Backbone Ridge - Camino of Death Image Gallery - 2 Images. You can take the Old Baldy Trail, the Ski Hut Trail, or the Devils Backbone. You will notice that the trail makes a sharp turn towards the north as you hike up from the register box, travel up the trail approximately 40 meters past the register box. It was our first time on a real hike. 7.5 miles: Baldy Notch is at the top of the ski lift. Distance: 6.6 miles (out and back) There is no serious danger during the day in the summer, but the trail could be difficult at night or in snow. For example, the Ohhh Mt. The Devils Backbone Trail is about 6.5 miles each way. In the southern California hiking world the Mt. As you descend to the east, the route splinters into several steep use trails. 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. Display an adventure pass on your car at the trailhead. It follows the edge of a narrow ridge (the Devil's Backbone) and then snakes along the edge of some steep slopes. 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. The Baldy Bowl appears on the left and the trail to the summit with patches of leftover snow straight ahead. But it always seemed to get pushed off -- due to bad weather, brush fires in the. 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. Literally, you straddle with one leg on one side and the other leg on the other side of the ridge. 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! 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! To hike the loop: Park along Mount Baldy Road just past Manker Flats Campground at the bottom of Falls Road (0 miles) Baldy is its first peak. My son even brought up how this hike is a great reminder to enjoy the journey and everything along the way, and to stop and smell the roses, worry less about the destination. 6777 Mt Baldy Rd Mt Baldy Mount Baldy, CA 91759. Why not combine some of the routes into a big loop? The Devil's Backbone connects Mt. The Register Ridge Trail runs perpendicular into the Devil's Backbone Trail, 1 mile east of the D.BBone Trail sign at the top of Mt. Harwood, Mt. ), In the picture below, the normal route of the Devil's Backbone Trail is visible on left and the Devil's Backbone Ridge continues upward in the middle of the picture, Looking back down the Devil's Backbone Ridge after you climb to the top, This part of the ridge is two inches wide (at the most), View Mt. Baldy, San Gabriel Mountains, California 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: Find out more about hiking levels here: Exercise and Addiction 12 Good Reasons Go To take A Hike! 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. Baldy is its first peak. Coming from the Register Ridge Trail you can go to the right and head down the D.BBone to the ski lodge then back to Manker Flats. The Devil's Backbone is the sharp ridge extending due east from the summit of Mt. WATER REQUIRED. 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. Not only was this a great place to camp but also the trail-head start to Mt. The one-way cost may be the same as round trip. She says she was late to join up with a group of friends at the start of the hike. 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. We went through the Devils Backbone and the pictures that are shown online is not the scary part! 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 . As we approached our campground walking back along Mt. (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. Even though the view was incredible it was windy and frightening. If you park at the Ski Lift parking lot, you must purchase a $5 parking pass, otherwise, an Adventure Pass is required for each vehicle parked along the roadside. 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. (76), Climber's Log Entries He guided us to the proper route along the trail and hiked off ahead of us down the mountain. Turn right onto Mt. Turn right to stay on Mt. Scarf or Facemask Road will dead end into the ski area parking lot. The drive from Encinitas to our destination of the Manker Flats campground in the Angeles National Forest is about 117 miles or 2.5 hours. Harwood, to the summit. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. 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. (10,064) elevation. Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about Devil's Backbone. Find homes for sale, market statistics, foreclosures, property taxes, real estate news, agent reviews, condos, neighborhoods on Blockshopper.com Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. If, and only if it suits you, then RSVP for this event and show up the day of the hike with all necessary gear and water (we mention everything you need on the details page for this hike).