Mount Baldy Ski Lift and Lodge Hikes

Mount Baldy is the tallest mountain in the San Gabriels, and the village at its base is closer to Los Angeles than most people think. The drive up Mount Baldy Road climbs through pines and switchbacks, and the air changes about halfway up.

Where: Mount Baldy Village, off Mount Baldy Road Distance: varies, from a short stroll near the lodge to the long climb toward the summit Effort: easy near the lodge, hard on the summit routes

The lift and the lodge

A chairlift runs from the village up to Baldy Notch, where there is a lodge and a trailhead. Riding up saves a lot of climbing and puts you at altitude fast. The lodge is a good place to rest, warm up and look down the canyon.

This page does not list operating hours or any music schedule for the lift or the lodge. Those change with the season and the weather, and the operators publish them. Treat anything you read elsewhere, including here, as a starting point and confirm with the source.

On foot

From the notch, trails head toward the summit. The Devil's Backbone route is the famous one, a narrow ridge with big drop-offs on both sides, and it is not for anyone nervous about heights. Lower paths around the village are gentler and suit a slow afternoon. In winter the upper slopes can hold snow and ice well into spring, and microspikes matter.

What to bring

Pack layers even on a hot day in the basin, because the temperature at the notch can be 20 degrees cooler. Carry water, sun protection and a map you have downloaded in advance, since cell service is spotty.

Before you go

Check before you go: road status, lift operation, weather and trail conditions all change quickly in the mountains, so look at the current notices first. For background on the area, see Mount Baldy on Wikipedia.

More outdoor ideas are on the Outdoor events page.