Mt. Baldy – Arizona Hikers Guide Mt. Baldy – Arizona Hikers Guide
by Cameron Jarman on December 20, 2014
Mt. Baldy is a lush, beautiful hike with amazing views through the forests of the White Mountains. As the 5th highest peak in the state of Arizona (2nd outside of Flagstaff’s San Francisco peaks), Mt. Baldy elevates to a whopping 11,409 feet. The peak raises above the tree line which gives the peak it’s “bald” name.
Length: 17 miles round trip
Elevation: 9,400
Difficulty: 3.5
Rating: 4.5Solitude: 3
The Mt. Baldy trail has two trailheads which join together about a quarter mile into the hike. The West Baldy Trail #94 and The East Baldy Trail #95 are joined together to form a loop by a connecting #96 trail. I have always completed the hike from the east trailhead and I will give my description from that point of view.
The East trailhead has a road lined with campsites and can accompany horse trailers as well. I usually begin my hike with an overnight stay at the trailhead and get an early start the next morning. The actual round trip hike will take all day so getting up early is essential. The hike begins through a grass valley and begins to ascend into aspen and pine forests. After this point you will descend at around 3 miles and cross the west fork of the Little Colorado River. You will stay next to the stream for a mile or so but then the trail begins to climb. You will pass spectacular views of miles and miles of Ponderosa pines. During this trek you will also pass remains of a crashed airplane from 50 years ago. It is a really unique thing to see on a hike and ask that you view and leave the remains alone.
You will eventually come to “the top” of Mt. Baldy. This isn’t really the summit of the mountain but members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe ask non-tribal visitors to either turn around at this point or make a loop out of the trip by taking the West Baldy Trail back.
My Thoughts:
After dozens of trips either with boy scouts, family, or solo, I still find this long climbing loop hike very enjoyable. I love the views, the vegetation, and the fair amount of solitude this hike provides. It also is a sense of accomplishment and reverence to summit a mountain as beautiful and respected as this one.
Map to Trailhead:
Trail Signage:
Mt. Baldy Gallery:
by Cameron Jarman on March 12, 2015
The Esperero Canyon Loop Trail is located in the Santa Catalina Mountain Range in Tucson. This… Read More
by Cameron Jarman on March 23, 2015
Munds Wagon Trail is an easy, casual hike along Schnebly Hill road in Sedona, AZ…. Read More
by Cameron Jarman on March 26, 2015
Flatiron, aka Siphon Draw, is one of the most popular and exhilarating hikes in the… Read More
by Cameron Jarman on April 30, 2015
When you here people talk about “hiking Camelback” Echo Canyon Summit Trail is typically the… Read More
by Cameron Jarman on April 13, 2015
Picketpost Mountain is a short, beautiful Sonoran desert hike with 360 degree views of the… Read More
by Cameron Jarman on April 28, 2015
Formerly known as “Squaw Peak”, Piestewa Peak is located in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve just… Read More