Mt. Baldy via Old Baldy Trail

There are several routes up Mt. San Antonio, but none as punishing as the Old Baldy Trail. The trailhead is located about 3/4 mile up a paved road behind the Ranger Station in Baldy Village. There are some National Forest Cabins to look at and the largest Lodgepole Pine in the world near the top of the road in some lucky individual's front yard. A creek runs through this canyon year round, and the road is shaded the entire way up. At the end of the road, the trailhead begins with some easy switchbacks through a shaded canyon with plenty of old oak trees and assorted wildflowers. You begin to see huge views after about a mile or so, and eventually you get to a campground situated among pines and yucca. The water source at this campground is the last one on the trail to the summit of San Antonio. Use a filter or risk intestinal infection. Now is when the true hike begins! You will rapidly ascend a series of steeper switchbacks. The trail is no longer shaded, but fully exposed. Yucca, wildflowers, contorted pines, chaparral, and some very cool rock formations await you at every turn. Raven and blue jays abound. This ascent continues for a while and eventually you will be able to see Twin Peaks, and the summit. There is a more narrow area, and some great views. The way down is significantly shorter if you run carefully down the same trail. It is like running in heaven. Mt. San Antonio is not a mountain to be fucked with lightly and the numerous annual fatalities documented in the local paper will attest to that. Take a jacket, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, food and as many of the other 10 essentials that you can get into your pack. This is a difficult hike by any standards and has a lot of elevation gain. The trail is clearly marked during three seasons. If you decide to come here in the Winter and tackle this trail, keep in mind that it is a dangerous alpine environment and you should proceed accordingly.