Late February winter storms in Angeles National Forest led U.S. Forest Service officials to extend a months-long closure on Mt. Baldy. Photo: @jaydoor_//Instagram
Angeles National Forest has announced it is extending the closure of hiking trails on Mt. Baldy through March 20. Officials say “an abundance of snow and ice” at higher elevations has created dangerous conditions.
The trails were first closed on December 29 after three hikers died in two separate incidents on the 10,000-foot mountain that straddles Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
“Mount Baldy in winter is often not a hike – it’s mountaineering terrain. Conditions can change quickly, ice can form even after small storms, and that creates real fall hazards,” said acting Forest Supervisor Scott Tangenberg.
The trails included in the closure are Mt. Baldy Trail, Mt. Baldy Bowl Trail, Devils Backbone Trail, Three T’s Trail, Icehouse Canyon Trail, Chapman Trail, and Ontario Peak Trail. Mt. Baldy Resort remains open for skiing.
Mt. Baldy has become a particularly dangerous area for hikers due to its icy conditions, especially one serious stretch of trail known as Devil’s Backbone, where cliffs drop off on either side. Between 2016 and 2025, 23 deaths and 345 search and rescue missions occurred on the mountain.
The U.S. Forest Service held a public hearing on January 27 to receive input on how to increase safety on the mountain. Some are calling for increased regulations, including a permit system to hike, similar to management systems used at other popular California trails like Half Dome or Mount Whitney.
