Mt. Baldy Summit

Los Angeles is known for a lot of things… but mountains aren’t necessarily the first thing you think of. Or second.

Yet just 45 minutes away from Hollywood lies the Angeles National Forest & San Gabriel Mountains. The elevation goes from sea level to 5,000 feet very abruptly which provides an excellent vantage point for those cityscape Instagram shots.

This hike reaches the peak of Mt. Baldy at just over 10,000 feet (10,064 ft. to be exact) making it the highest peak in the Los Angeles county. It’s a ‘must-do’ for any adventurer and even if you don’t claim to be an outdoor enthusiast, it’s still a bucket-list item for anyone living in LA.

The hike is around 12 miles roundtrip with a 4,000 foot gain in elevation.

When starting the hike just be on the lookout for this sign to ‘Baldy Bowl Trail’ which is on your left hand side about 20 minutes in and just past the Waterfalls – otherwise you’re likely to miss the trail.

It took me and my friend roughly 7-8 hours to hike up, eat lunch at the summit, then hike down. There is a quicker way to come down (or up) by using the chair lifts since it is technically a ski slope area too. And if you don’t want to pack food, there is a restaurant right by the Chair Lift.