The route starts up a fire road that passes San Gabriel Falls after about a quarter of a mile. We opted to ascend the Ski Hut trail and then descend down the Backbone trail, mainly so that we could enjoy a beer and some food on our descent, but both directions have their pros and cons. In that case, it makes much more sense to loop the Devil’s Backbone Trail with the Baldy Bowl/Ski Hut trail, since both trails start at the Manker Flats trailhead. However, if you are hiking with your dog, then the chairlift is a much less appealing option (though still technically allowed). This gets the elevation gain of the hike down to a much more moderate 2300 feet. The most popular way to tackle the Devil’s Backbone is to ride the Mount Baldy chairlift up to Baldy Notch, and then hike to the summit from there. This route is generally off limits in the winter due to the high level of exposure, but with the record breaking dry winter that we have had so far, snow was not a concern at all. The trail truly lives up to its name due to a short harrowing stretch that travels right along the narrow backbone of a ridge, with steep exposure on both sides.
I set my sights on the Devil’s Backbone trail, which is one of my favorites in the area. It was time to throw our packs on and go for an adventure. Heading into this past weekend, we’d had enough. Those rides only last a couple of hours though, and both of us have been getting antsy for something bigger to chew off. So, while I have been slowly softening up during the winter months, at least Callie has at least been staying in top form. Our outdoor excursions have been limited to local mountain biking rides in the Altadena foothills, which by the way, is an excellent form of training for your dog if they are up to it. Callie and I have been waiting for some snowfall before venturing to some of the San Gabriel’s highest peaks, hoping to time our visits when the mountains’ beauty are enhanced by the scattering of snow. It’s been a pretty pathetic winter here so far here in Southern California. The Baldy Bowl to Devi’s Backbone loop provides easy access to LA’s highest peak while offering incredible views and some intimidating exposure along the way. We returned to one of our favorite romping grounds to tackle one of Southern California’s classic day hikes.
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