Hike Mt Baldy on the Bear Canyon Trail

13 miles - Very Hard Effort
8 Hours (Total)
5,650 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 10,064 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

Everyone hikes Mt Baldy from Manker Flats, but have you done it on the Bear Canyon Trail? Also known as Old Mt Baldy Trail, this hike leaves from Mt Baldy Village on it's way to the summit. Unlike the main hike up Mt Baldy (via Baldy Notch), the Bear Canyon Trail is usually not as crowded. That's because it's harder. It climbs 5740 feet in 6 miles. There are sections that are very steep. It'd doable with a decent level of fitness. This hike is a good choice for those who have hiked Mt Baldy from Manker Flats and now want to do it again, without all the hub-bub.

In this Guide:

How to Get to Bear Canyon Trail
Turn by Turn Hike Directions & Video
Bear Canyon Trail Maps

Quick Links: Parks Pass - Mt Baldy Visitor's Center - Weather Forecast - Top Gear Picks (Sep 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

The Bear Canyon Trail, built in 1889, used to be the main route to hike Mt Baldy, which is why they call it the Old Baldy Trail. When the road to Manker Flat was built in 1936, the shorter Ski Hut and Devil's Backbone routes became more popular.

Bear Canyon was also the main way to access the Baldy Summit Inn, opened in 1910 by William B. Dewey, who was the first gringo to summit Mt Baldy in 1882. It cost $1 a night to stay at the inn, but burnt down in 1913.

Getting to the Bear Canyon Trail

Use this as the trailhead address: 6778 Mt Baldy Rd, Mt Baldy, CA, 91759, USA.

You need a parking pass for the lot. I use the affordable National Parks Pass, which gets me in every park, monument, and national forest. You can also use an (Southern California only) Adventure Pass, or buy a $5 day permit from the ranger’s office.

A Note on Parking

Parking here is tough. There are six spots in front of the Mt Baldy Visitor's Center where you can park and leave your car. You can try your luck along the road in other places, but beware of the "no parking" signs. The Mt Baldy Visitor's Center lot has a 20 minute maximum time. I would recommend calling the Mt Baldy Visitor's Center number (above) to confirm. The parking situation seems to change every so often here.

bear canyon trail to mt baldy parking — Park in front of the official Mt Baldy Visitor's Center. It's right past Bear Canyon Road as you arrive in Mt Baldy Village. Once you've parked (and left your parking pass on the dashboard), walk back down the road to Bear Canyon Road, which is directly across the street from Mt Baldy Lodge.

When I finished the hike from this trip report, I ran into some upset hikers. They had arrived before dawn, and the parking options and signs weren't so obvious. They saw a sign at the start of Bear Canyon Road that said "Private Road - Hikers Welcome" and assumed that meant they could park at the trailhead.

When they got back from their hike, a local (named "Mark" who lives on Bear Canyon Road) had left a really nasty and threatening note on their windshield. Yes, they made a mistake and parked in the wrong place. No, they didn't deserve a profanity-laced missive on where to park. So take care when parking and avoid the grumpy locals. And stay classy Mark.

Gear for the Hike

This is a tough backcountry hike and you need proper hiking gear. Bring at least 3L of water, food, and gear for changing conditions.

This is not a hike to do in bad or winter weather, unless you are very experienced in those conditions. The Bear Canyon Trail is exposed for much of the way, with some sheer drop-offs on either side. People die here, don't take any risks.

If you want to check if there's snow on your hike, read this guide.

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Bear Canyon Trail to Mt Baldy Trail Maps

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

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The route up starts in Bear Canyon and then quickly goes uphill. After the first half of the hike, you are exposed and above the tree line. The last mile or so to Baldy is actually some of the easiest hiking.

bear canyon trail to mt baldy elevation — This hike is very steep. The hardest part is from mile 1 to mile 4, where the gradient is around a steady 18%. Unfortunately the steep slope makes the descent a little tricky too. I recommend using trekking poles on this hike.

Bear Canyon Trail to Mt Baldy Hike Directions

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Here's the sign for the Mt Baldy Visitor's Center.

Bear Canyon Road is where the hike starts. You'll see the church behind the lot. Bear Canyon Road is through the lot to the right.

Next to that "no campfires" sign is the trail register. Sign if you want to. Again, no permit is needed for this hike, fyi.

Bear Canyon trail sign — Shortly after Bear Canyon turns into a trail, you come to a trail sign. Hike right here toward Bear Flat and Mt Baldy.

The Bear Canyon trail starts to head uphill.

Bear Canyon trail at bear flat — In about 1.5 miles you reach the Bear Flat campground. Hike to the left at the sign through the fern and manzanita covered meadow.

Bear Canyon trail climbs — Once through the meadow, the trail starts going up. Pace yourself and start climbing.

cris hazzard on Bear Canyon trail — It's steep hiking here, with a gradient around 15%. Take your time.

blue blaze on Bear Canyon trail — The Bear Canyon trail is easy to follow, but not really wide. At a few points there are cut-offs and small splits. Stay on the trail that's more worn and you'll be fine. There are also some random blue blazes.

bear canyon trail to mt baldy — As the trail winds around the mountain, you'll get views into the peaks around Mt Baldy.

Most of the peaks you sea around you can be hiked. The Three Tees are directly to the right of Baldy. And across the valley are Bighorn and Ontario Peaks. All great hikes without big crowds.

fire damage on bear canyon trail to mt baldy — This section of the trail has some remnants of the 2008 Big Horn Fire.

cris hazzard on mt baldy — Mt Baldy! You made it. There will probably be crowds up here from the more popular routes. Grab your pictures, eat a snack, and continue back down the way you came up. When you first get back on the trail, make sure you don't take the turn down the Ski Hut Trail. It's easy to follow the crowds down that route sometimes. Take care on the descent, the trail is steep and it's easy to loose your footing.

new mt baldy signs — UPDATE: Evidently there are new signs on the summit that point you in the right direction when you head back. The trails up here can be confusing, so this is a welcome addition. However signs don't have a good track record on Mt Baldy, with many being stolen over the years. Just a heads up.

west baldy — When you first head back, look for the trail to the right of Bear Canyon Trail to do a short side trip to West Baldy. Once you're on West Baldy, just hike back down to the Bear Canyon Trail and continue your descent. This side trip is optional. Sometimes I'm so tired at this point, my sole focus is returning to my car and getting a cheeseburger.

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!).

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