Mount San Antonio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount San Antonio |
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South face of Mt. San Antonio, seen above Upland, CA
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 10,066 ft (3,068 m) The National Map of the United States |
| Prominence | 6,224 ft (1,897 m) ↓ Cajon Pass |
| Isolation | 42.52 mi (68.43 km) → San Bernardino Peak |
| Listing |
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| Naming | |
| Etymology | Saint Anthony of Padua |
| Geography | |
 Mount San Antonio
Location in California
Mount San Antonio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Los Angeles / San Bernardino counties, California U.S. |
| Parent range | San Gabriel Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Mount San Antonio |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Granitic |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Ski lift to Baldy Notch, Devil's Backbone Trail (hike) |
Mount San Antonio, also known as Mount Baldy, is a tall peak in the San Gabriel Mountains in California. It stands 10,066 ft (3,068 m) high. This mountain is the highest point in the range. It is also the highest point in Los Angeles County.
On clear days, you can see its snowy top from far away. It looks over the Los Angeles Basin. The mountain has two main peaks, forming a double-peaked ridge. You can reach the top by hiking trails from all directions.
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What's in a Name?
Most local people call the mountain "Mount Baldy." Many might not even know its official name. The mountain was named after Saint Anthony of Padua by a local rancher.
When American settlers arrived, they called it "Baldy." This name came from the bare, treeless area called Baldy Bowl. This part of the mountain faces Los Angeles. Even though "Mount Baldy" is popular, "Mount San Antonio" is the official name. Some schools, like Mount San Antonio College, still use this official name.
Mountain Geography
Mount San Antonio is located in the Angeles National Forest. Its summit is 10,066 feet (3,068 m) tall. This peak marks the border between San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County. There is a smaller peak nearby called West Baldy, which is 9,996 feet (3,047 m) high.
Water from the mountain flows into different creeks. The south side drains into San Antonio Creek. The north side drains into Lytle Creek and the Fish Fork of the San Gabriel River. These creeks are part of the Santa Ana River system. San Antonio Creek has several waterfalls, one is about 75 feet (23 m) high.
East of the main summit is Mount Harwood. A narrow ridge called "The Devil's Backbone" connects it to Baldy Notch. At Baldy Notch, you will find a ski resort. It is the closest ski resort to Los Angeles. Below the resort is Mt Baldy Village.
There are no main roads to the north side of the mountain. However, a trail leads over Dawson and Pine Mountains. It connects to the Pacific Crest Trail near Wrightwood.
Nature on the Mountain
Mountain Geology
Mount San Antonio is part of the San Gabriel Mountains. These mountains are in Southern California. They were formed because of the San Andreas Fault system. This fault is where two tectonic plates meet. The plates usually slide past each other. But a bend in the fault makes it hard for them to move smoothly. This struggle pushes the land up, creating mountains.
Long ago, a huge landslide happened in San Antonio Creek canyon. It blocked the river, creating a deep lake. When the water broke free, it carved a slot canyon. Today, this canyon has some challenging rock climbing routes.
In more recent times, big floods happened in 1938 and 1969. The San Antonio Dam was built in 1956. It helps prevent floods from damaging towns below the mountain. The dam greatly reduced damage from the 1969 flood. Hydroelectric plants on San Antonio Creek also generate electricity.
Plants of Mount Baldy
The lower parts of the mountain have a "yellow pine forest." Here you can find trees like lodgepole pine and Jeffrey pine. There are also white fir and some sugar pine trees. These forests are not very dense. They are mixed with chaparral and oak trees.
Higher up, the forest changes to mostly lodgepole pines. Above 9,000 ft (2,750 m), these trees become short and twisted. This is called krummholtz. Above 9,500 ft (2,900 m), there are no trees at all. This area is an alpine zone. Mountain mahogany trees grow on the slopes above San Antonio Creek.
The main shrubs at higher elevations are manzanita and bush chinquapin. As you go higher, there is more chinquapin than manzanita. Other shrubs include mountain whitethorn, buckwheat, and mountain gooseberry.
Many wildflowers grow here too. Some examples are Galium parishii, San Gabriel alumroot, and gray monardella. You can also find pumice alpinegold and Parry's pussypaws. Nuttall's sandwort and caulanthus are also present. Ross's sedge and rockcress grow here. A type of mountainparsley called Oreonana vestita grows in rocky areas.
Animals of Mount Baldy
Desert bighorn sheep live in this area, mostly above 7000 feet. They have their young here. Their population is doing better than some other bighorn sheep in California. Unlike those in the Mojave Desert, these sheep are not hunted. They also do not compete with wild donkeys for food.
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Grizzly bears used to live in these mountains. They are even on the state flag. But they disappeared from California in the late 1800s. The last one in the San Gabriels was shot in 1894. Black bears were not originally from the San Gabriel Mountains. In 1933, eleven black bears from Yosemite Valley were moved here. All black bears in these mountains today are thought to be from that group. Black bears are usually shy and rarely harm humans.
Rabbits and coyotes live near San Antonio Creek at lower elevations. The most common rabbits are the black-tailed jackrabbit and the desert cottontail. Jackrabbits have very large ears. Western gray squirrels live in oak forests at lower elevations. Merriam's chipmunk lives in areas with manzanita shrubs.
At higher elevations, you can find lodgepole chipmunks. They live all the way up to the tree line. The California ground squirrel lives in the yellow pine forest on the south side. These squirrels sleep through the winter. Sometimes, rabbits can also be seen at high elevations.
It can be hard to tell the two chipmunk species apart. But the Lodgepole chipmunk has brighter white stripes. It's easier to tell the western gray squirrel from the California ground squirrel. The western gray squirrel is gray with a white belly and a bushy tail. The California ground squirrel is spotted and has a gray patch on its neck.
Fun Activities on Mount Baldy
Hiking Trails
You can hike to the summit of Mount Baldy from four different sides. One route can even use the nearby ski lift for part of the way.
The trails have different difficulty levels. There are choices for new hikers and for experienced ones.
- Mt. Baldy Notch - (3.5 miles one way): This trail starts at Manker Flats. You can take the Baldy Notch Service Road to the notch. The notch offers great views. Other trails start from here.
- Devil's Backbone - (3.2 miles one way from Notch): A service road at Mt. Baldy Notch leads to this trail. It continues all the way to the main peak.
- Mt. Baldy Trail - (6.5 miles one way to Mt. Baldy Summit): This is the oldest and longest trail to the top. It starts at Mt. Baldy Village. It climbs almost 6000 feet in elevation.
- Icehouse Canyon - (3.7 miles one way): The Icehouse Canyon trail starts at the Icehouse parking lot. It goes up to Icehouse Saddle. From there, you can take other trails to the Notch or to nearby peaks like Ontario and Cucamonga (5.5 miles).
- Ski Hut Trail - This trail follows the east side of San Antonio Creek canyon. It leads to a small ski hut owned by the Sierra Club. A path continues around the bowl to the summit.
- Three T’s - (5.3 miles one way): This trail starts and ends at the Icehouse Canyon Trailhead. It offers views from the tops of Thunder, Timber, and Telegraph Mountains.
Winter Adventures
In winter and spring, the mountain offers a challenge for mountaineers. The "Baldy Bowl" on the south side is often climbed. People use crampons (spikes for boots) and an ice ax for safety. The bowl can be steep, with some parts at 45° to 50° slopes. It can be dangerous for people without experience. Avalanches and falling rocks are risks. Accidents sometimes happen along Devil's Backbone.
Sierra Club Hut
The Sierra Club operates a ski hut. It is open on weekends all year round. The hut is at 8189 feet elevation. It has a kitchen, water, solar lights, and a wood stove. There are beds for about sixteen people. The hut is at the base of Baldy Bowl. This area was known for great skiing in the 1930s.
Volunteers built the hut in 1936. They carried all the building materials up the mountain. The hut burned down in September 1936. But it was rebuilt that same winter. Donkeys helped carry the new supplies. The rebuilt hut looks much like the original.
Camping Fun
Manker Flats Campground is open to the public. You can camp there first-come, first-served. It is 3 miles northeast of Mt. Baldy Village. The campground is in an open pine forest. It has 21 campsites with stoves, water, toilets, and tables. There are no showers or places to dump waste. Camping costs $12 per night, plus $5 for extra vehicles.
Cycling and Running
Road cyclists enjoy riding up through Mt. Baldy Village to the ski lifts. This climb has been part of the Tour of California bike race several times.
Since 1965, there has been a "Run to the Top" race. It happens every Labor Day. The race is about 8-mile (13 km) long. It climbs about 4,000-foot (1,200 m) in elevation. The race ends at the main peak.
Dogs and Hunting
Dogs are allowed in Angeles National Forest. They must be on a leash. Hunting is also allowed. However, it is regulated and requires a license.
Mountain History
Early Uses and Names
The Tongva tribe called the mountain Yoát or Joat, meaning snow. The Mohave called it Avii Kwatiinyam. The name Mount San Antonio likely came from Antonio Maria Lugo. He owned a ranch near Compton around 1840. He named it after his patron saint, Anthony of Padua.
The first developments in the area began around the Civil War. People used the mountain's resources. Some of the first settlers were Mormons in Lytle Creek Canyon (1851). Others were farmers and beekeepers. A sawmill was built in 1870 but was later destroyed.
Since 1882, the San Antonio Water Company has controlled water rights in San Antonio Canyon. They also operate three hydroelectric plants.
Icehouse Canyon got its name because of an icehouse built there in 1859. Victor Beaudry and Damien Marchessault built it. The canyon's north-facing slope keeps snow late into spring. Ice was brought down to Los Angeles by mule and wagon. It was sold door-to-door. It was also used at Beaudry and Marchessault's ice cream shop.
Gold mining started later than the California Gold Rush. The first record is from 1879. Miners worked in the area through the 1880s and 90s. The Banks (Hocumac) Mine was built in 1893. It got water from a mile-long pipeline. You can still see parts of it today. The Gold Ridge Diggings (1897-1904) are near the Ski Hut. Miners got supplies from Fred Dell, who built Dell's Camp. Fletcher Manker also built a store at what is now Manker Flat. Gold mining in Icehouse Canyon began in 1892. Most gold mines were not very successful. This was due to little gold and water issues.
The Resort Era
In the late 1800s, people became more interested in the area for fun. In 1875, an army group made the first recorded climb to the summit. They estimated the mountain's height. In 1880, W.H. Stoddard built a resort in Stoddard Canyon. Frank Keyes turned Dell's Camp into a rental resort. Early mountain guide William B. Dewey led groups to the summit. Rental cabins were also built in Evey Canyon. By the early 1900s, Dell's Camp could host many guests.
Charles Baynham built another camp nearby in 1907. By the next year, you could reach the canyon by car. In 1910, Dewey built the Baldy Summit Inn. It was just below the mountaintop. It was a group of tents and storage buildings. It was damaged by fire in 1913 and never rebuilt. By the early 1920s, there were many camps and resorts. These included Icehouse Canyon Resort and Camp Baldy.
The shift from mining to recreation caused problems. The San Antonio Water Company worried about pollution. A brush fire in 1899 also caused concern. The company bought Dell's Camp and closed it. They tried to stop people from coming to the canyon. But later, the company decided to make money from recreation. They bought Baynham's Camp in 1907. They hired Baynham to manage it. They charged tolls on the road from 1908 to 1922. The camp was renamed Camp Baldy in 1910.
In 1908, the area became a national forest. The forest service started offering 99-year leases for cabins. By 1938, there were 105 cabins in Icehouse Canyon. Leases were also sold at Camp Baldy and Manker Flat.
Between 1922 and 1927, physicist Albert A. Michelson did experiments here. He bounced a light beam off a reflector on Lookout Mountain. This was done from the observatory at Mount Wilson, about 22 miles (35 km) away.
Prohibition and the Great Depression
During Prohibition, the area became a place to get drinks away from the police. Foster Curry and his wife Ruth, along with actor Edmund Burns, made Camp Baldy a fun place for rich people from Los Angeles. It had a swimming pool, a casino, and a dance hall.
From 1935 to 1936, the Civilian Conservation Corps built a wide trail. This trail was along the Devil's Backbone. It went from Mt. Baldy Notch to the summit. Before this, the route was narrow and dangerous.
Aurelia Harwood was the first female president of the Sierra Club. She was very active in this area. Mount Harwood, a smaller peak, is named after her. The Sierra Club built a lodge at Manker Flats in 1930. It is open to Sierra Club members. In 1935, they added a mountain hut, called the "ski hut." It was near the Baldy Bowl. The ski hut burned down but was quickly rebuilt. It still stands today.
After the 1938 Flood
The flood of 1938 destroyed most buildings in Camp Baldy and Icehouse Canyon. The casino was destroyed, but the hotel (now Buckhorn Lodge) survived. No new buildings have been allowed in Icehouse Canyon since. The Icehouse Canyon resort was destroyed by a fire in 1988. Camp Baldy was rebuilt and later became Mt. Baldy Village.
On March 2, 1949, two Marine Corps Hellcat fighter planes crashed. They were flying in a snowstorm. They hit the west side of the summit's south ridge. Pieces of the planes were scattered on the slope. They are now mostly hidden by plants.
The ski lift was built in 1952. It was made bigger and more modern in 1975. Many private cabins in Icehouse Canyon, Baldy Village, and Manker Flats are changing ownership. The Forest Service is no longer leasing the land. A Zen Center was started at Manker Flats in 1971. As of 2018, only the Mt. Baldy Lodge and Buckhorn Lodge serve the public. There is also a restaurant at the Baldy Notch ski area. The Snow Crest Lodge at Manker Flat is being renovated.
Today, Mt. Baldy Village has its own fire department, church, and school district. Mt. Baldy School has about 105 students. The visitor center is run by volunteers. As of 2013, the Forest Service does not have paid rangers on duty in the area.
Images for kids
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Looking northwest at Baldy Summit from Devil's Backbone near Mt. Harwood
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Looking southwest from Mt. Baldy Summit
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Panorama looking south toward Los Angeles just below the summit
See also
In Spanish: Monte San Antonio para niños
