Hike starts in the center of Mt Baldy Village in the Church parking lot, cross from the World famous Mt Baldy Lodge. Start up to West Bear Canyon Road, see the church on your left and continue on paved road for half mile, passing three "water crossings" and water tank on your right. After the tank, cross the creek and the paved road turns into a dirt trail. Continue on the trail passing a few more houses on your left through a forest and brush. The creek is on your left all the way to the Bear flats (disappearing briefly when switchbacks turns you steps right to the south and appearing after a 1/2 mile way below the trail on your left) , less then 2 miles from the village. At the bottom of the Bear Flats (around 5300'), cross the creek and you will see a post with sign "Bear Flats" (Maybe missing after the May 2008 fire). The trail splits. Take the right fork up to the top of Bear Flats (less then 100 yards from the creek crossing. (The left fork leads to Lookout Mountain). From the top of the Bear Flats, the trail enters a steep switchbacks (Burned in fire May 2008). Follow about 20 switchbacks up the hill to reach large pine trees on your right little above 7200' elevation. You are about 1/2 way up. The trail starts to follow a ridge with great views on both sides. When you approach a very steep cliffs just on your left you are close to 8500' elevation. Follow the trail just west of the cliffs for an other 3/4 mile, where at elevation 9400' you will go downhill for a little. On your left you will see the summit of West Baldy (9988'). The trail is leaving the West Baldy peak on the left and traverses NE through some scattered manzanita bushes to the summit of Mt Baldy. (AKA San Antonio or Old Baldy).
Fastest way down is directly to the East, following the Notch/Mt Harwood/Devils Backbone trail.
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