I was planning to do Mt. Baldy in October and was dismayed to hear that the trail is closed as of Aug 21, 14 due to flood damage. Does this mean the trail from ski hut is also closed or is that a different route. My memories of Mt. Baldy were very vague as last time I climbed was in 1981 fall. I remember going up on Baldy road and doing a day hike. On the way back remember a ski hut and ski lift running on that weekend after repairs or something as I did not see any snow in the valleys. I will look for the old photos I have taken.

So did anyone hiked up Baldy recently? If so which part of the trail is closed? Is Baldy still hike-able using another trail? Appreciate any info.

go here.

I've hiked 3 of the 4 routes up Baldy, so just because the Bear Canyon Trail is down, doesn't mean you can't do the hike. I recommend going up the Devil's Backbone and down the Ski Hut Trail (very steep descent though.)

See more here and scroll to the appropriate section: http://hikinginsocal.blogspot.com/p/hikes.html

And here: Dan's Hiking Pages http://www.simpsoncity.com/hiking/baldy.html

It's only the Village/Bear Flat/whatever the official name is Trail that is closed.

The most popular route to the summit is open...the Ski Hut Trail and the most popular variant...The unofficial Register Trail. Also, if you like road hiking you can get up to the Notch and go over the Devil's Backbone...me, I don't like road hiking or going up or down ski hills.

Then, there is the 3Ts through Ice House Canyon, which also took a major beating, plus Baldy. You can exit via the Ski Hut Trail.

The most difficult route by far is the North Backbone Trail starting north of Wrightwood...if the ascent doesn't get ya, the descent will.

There are still plenty of ways to reach this overrated summit.

Yesterday we went up Register Ridge to Mt. Harwood, then hopped on Devil's Backbone to get over to Baldy. We descended via Ski Hut Trail.

I can confirm that Bear Canyon/ Old Baldy Trail/ whatever it is called is the only trail that is closed. It's the one that starts beyond the church located near the ranger station.

The USFS has listed the Bear Canyon Trail (which is the name posted at the trail head) as closed. There is no date as of yet to it's re opening. There is also a $5000.00 fine to each person found on this trail during the closure. I hiked Bighorn and Ontario 8-23, the weather conditions are great! All other trails in the area are open.

There's a great selection of trails to explore up there. I would avoid the Backbone this Monday (Labor Day) morning due to their annual Mt Baldy Run To The Top race.

Link to Forest Order and map of what is closed: http://tinyurl.com/lwzfwkx

Issuing Forest Orders is a Big Deal. There is only one person who can do it, and there are all sorts of legal requirements.
Signs have to be posted, letters sent out, Washington needs to be notified. Yikes.

They don't like to do it.

But when they do for something like this, they tend to issue it for any conceivable length of time it might be needed, so they don't have to re-issue it, or worse, go back and forth between open,closed, open, closed open.

So, a year is probably the far outside length of time it may be closed.

My guess it could be longer because there is not a San Antonio Canyon Volunteer Association with a slew of volunteers willing to up there every 3 season weekend to repair this trail. To my knowledge, there is one trail crew who goes into this area, which cannot keep up maintenance.

There are also pressing needs on the Chapman and Ice House Canyon Trails. Both of which were damaged in April and again with this past storm. Chapman in a word of a friend is "downright dangerous" through Telegraph Wash area and Ice House can be lost with one more storm that serious rain between the 2 and 3-mile markers. It was also severely damaged between Lost Creek and the 2-mile marker and needs repair.