It’s actually quite uphill and challenging but really not terrible. Big Baldy Ridge Big Baldy Ridge is a ridge in Tulare County and has an elevation of 7654 feet. © 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. This massive summit, which should be on every hiker’s to-do list, is an island in the sky. Saw only two small groups on the hike. The second portion descends Pioneer Ridge and Hoover Ridge, back to the Dry Fork of Belt Creek and the point of origin. that's funny, I had always wanted to attempt Baldy via Big Horn Ridge and replied to the other post regarding most challenging hike before I saw this one. Big Baldy Ridge, along the path to Big Baldy: Next Photo: California > Kings Canyon National Park > Grant Grove > Hiking > Big Baldy > Photographs. Big Baldy Ridge Trail is a 5.5 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Stony Creek Village, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. To the southeast sits Little Baldy, Big Baldy's little brother. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and backpacking. In fact, from the summit, you can clearly see this shrinking west coast town. There's no parking lot, so you'll have to park on the side of the road on General's Hwy. ", Routes From Grant Grove Village, go 8 miles (13 km) south on Generals Highway to the trailhead. Look for it in the trees just north of the unnamed lake west of Buck Lake. Even though Big Baldy can be climbed via Battle Creek Canyon, the route via the Dry Canyon trail is shorter, more scenic, and allows you the option of doing a southwest ridge summit. Camera mounted on Park Ridge, Kings Canyon National Park. Share. Rising to an elevation of 11,928 feet, Mount Nebo dominates the view to the south. At 6,916 feet, Baldy is the highest peak in the Bears Paw Mountains – known to many locals as “The Bear Paws”. Well maintained trail with lots of views! The trail winds through forest and boulders as it climbs the north shoulder of Big Baldy. Big Baldy is the high point of the Baldy Ridge and is located on the border of Kings Canyon National Park and the Sequoia National Forest. As one heads south along th base of the rock, the face steepens and gets longer. Did out and back about 2.5 miles each way. Randy C wrote a review Jun 2018. Wore snow boots but trail was well established so snow wasn’t too deep. Big Baldy Big Baldy. (22), Comments This trail is perfect combination of steep, plateaus and slope. At the 4.2-mile mark, hike left along the signed “hiking trail” and reach the junction for Trail 227 (Baldy Ridge Trail). Great trail and a beautiful day! Fantastic experience. Big Baldy (elevation: 9,176 feet) in the Little Belt Mountains is a climb that is easier than the drive to the trailhead. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' Gotta hike past Big Baldy, through the short forest and onto the further peaks. The excellent Se/Ki climbing guide by Moser, Vernon, and Hickey lists eight routes. It's a fairly short hike, but still challenging and has some steep inclines. I wore my yaktrax and they were super helpful. Big Cr. Wam Lookout Cabin Raven Cabin Sex Peak Lookout Cabin Upper Ford Cabin Webb Mtn. The We started at 9am, and the ridge was getting a great breeze - very refreshing. … This may have been one of my favorite hikes while out at the national park! It was a really gorgeous and steady trail with views almost the whole way. Ah, there's Buck Lake. Once at Buck Lake, the trail to get you back on Big Baldy Ridge is a bit tricky to find. Big Baldy Peak is one of my favorite climbs. Cows wearing bells in the woods. We got by with just hiking boots without traction devices, but we couldn’t have done it without some sort of hiking stick (we left the ones we used at the start of the trail). Continue on the main trail to a left fork with Trail 226. If you are entering on foot or bike the fee is $20 per person. Clemson, South Carolina 402 contributions 188 helpful votes. We treated it as an out-and-back (not a loop) and clocked it around 5 miles. Big Baldy Ridge Trail is a 5.5 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Stony Creek Village, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. This short and easy trail to the summit of Big Baldy in Kings Canyon National Park is not to be missed if you are in the area. It is wild, rugged, and vast. Located in the largest wilderness area in the lower 48, the Frank Church River of No Return area, Big Baldy is about as isolated as you can find. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Baldy-Buckhorn Ridge Mt. A significant portion of this is above timberline and offers very good views. (26), Climber's Log Entries Big Baldy was fun to climb and have the best views of the trail. Just don't stray too near the ridge; it's a long way down. They trail is mostly uphill the whole way but not steep. Looking north from the Little Baldy ridge toward the saddle behind Big Baldy. to reach from landmark ranger station, go south on the stanley road for 0.25 mile, turn left on pistol summit road and go 8 miles to the cy johnson ranch, also known as snowshoe cabin, Mist Falls. Eight bedrooms spread out over 8,000 square feet gives everyone room to stretch their legs. Once up on the ridge, there's Pistol Lake. Taco. The peak is used by members of the Chippewa and Cree Tribes for prayer and fasting during warmer weather, so I decided to climb during winter. Views were amazing. Incredible view, watch the ice on top. Beaver Ridge Lookout Bell Mtn. Buck Lake, where we would be camping, must be just over that ridge? It is ran by a private company, called a concessionaire, who holds a special use permit in order to operate the lodge on Forest Service land. Lookout Birch Ridge Lookout Bishop Mtn. This is an easy hike with a great view (well, a relatively good view due to the hazy smoke in the air). Home; Log in. You do walk on the edge for a bit and over look all the trees in the distance. From here it is a long, hard 7 miles before the next water source, Buck Lake. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Taco. Overview This route climbs out of the Dry Fork of Belt Creek and traverses Butcherknife Mountain and Big Baldy Mountain. Big Baldy is the county highpoint of Valley County and is also a mountain that comes in at #26 on the top 100 Idaho prominence peak list. Link to Webcam pointed at Big Baldy. Very slippery on the icey portions right now. Keywords: Kings Canyon National Park, the Big Baldy Trail, California, sierra nevada, viewpoints, hiking, trails, trees, woodland, forest, footpaths Once you hit the Trail 51 fork, dip through the ravine and climb slowly westward. At the peak it started clearing up near there, but was still very red/purple back at the car. Date of experience: June 2018. If you are unable to do the whole trail, there are still beautiful views on the way, but nothing beats the peak. Once back on the ridge, just follow the trail as it undulates easterly towards Big Baldy. Nice even pacing, with a good mix of climbs and descents. Lookout Bernard Peak Lookout Bertha Hill Lookout Big Baldy Lookout Big Meadows Lookout Big Rock (62 Ridge) Lookout Big Soldier Lookout Big Southern Butte Lookout Big Springs Lookout Big Tower Lookout Billings (Summit) Lookout Binarch Mtn. The parking is limited, so get there early. And some snow! Some snow along the way, but definitely still doable. You’re in the sun most of the time so bring sunscreen and lots of water. A very pretty day hike! Landing Page Main content starts here, tab to start navigating. Fees are $35 per vehicle or $30 per motorcycle. Helpful. The classic video game console is a really unique touch! The views from the top are amazing! Length 11.3 mi Elevation gain 2,900 ft Route type Out & Back Backpacking Hiking Walking Lake No shade Its 5.5 miles, wear good shoes. Deep in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, Big Baldy Ridge is located due west of Buck Lake. Beautiful throughout. All Rights Reserved. At least now, Big Baldy was looking much closer. 5,659 88. First half mile was VERY slippery and we almost turned back but it was so worth it! The peak is easily climbed from the trail to Big Baldy Peak. The view from the top never disappoints. Big Baldy Ridge is a hiking trail near Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park offering beutiful views of the Central Sierra Nevada. This is "Welcome to Big Baldy" and is the most attractive natural line on the cliff. Parked at the trail head and walked in. This app says the trail is a loop but when we reached a very rocky terrain, we never found a trail, so we had to come back the way we came. Do not skip this one! Big Baldy Ridge Trail is a 11.3 mile out and back trail located near Yellow Pine, Idaho that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Went hiking with a few fellow REI coworkers on our day off. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until November. It’s not the most challenging or aesthetic mountain on the island, and it doesn’t offer amazing views, so it’s no surprise that most mountaineers won’t make it here. Lookout Bennett Mtn. Central Idaho’s Frank Church Wilderness is the largest wilderness area in the lower 48. The views were still really great given the haze from the recent wildfires. (8), Additions & Corrections (3 ), “Mount Morgenson” (0.5 mi W of Mt. From buck lake continue on the Baldy Ridge trail until you reach close to the summit. Big Baldy Ridge This trail offers great views out and down into Redwood Canyon. … Baldy Mtn Lookout Bull River Guard Station Garver Mt Lookout Tower Gem Peak Lookout Tower McGuire Lookout Cabin Mt. Bearing right onto Trail 227, wind through pine trees, passing Buck Lake and reaching a side trail leading to the Big Baldy Mountain lookout at the 16 mile mark. Length 5.5 miElevation gain 1,391 ftRoute type Loop That’s where you’ll find the best views on Big Baldy. I'd be interested in giving it a shot, or going on a scouting trip. It was snowy. If you’re looking for a backpacking trip to help you appreciate those characteristics, the Baldy Ridge trail is highly recommended. I still slipped a few times though. Search. Not wanting to plagiarize, I'll only quote a bit: "From Big Baldy's summit, hike down the rock on the northern slabs for a view of the climbs. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until November. Trail was well marked and in good condition. Baldy Mountain (Manitoba), 2,730 feet (830 m), Big Baldy Mountain (Vancouver Island, British Columbia), 5,308 feet (1,618 m) United States Peaks named "Baldy" The map is way off so that’s a thing. There are plenty of activities in the home. Highly recommend this trail for the views alone! 5,659 88. A view of Chimney Rock and the Sequoia/Kings Canyon backcountry from Big Baldy. Post Oct 17, 2007 #11 2007-10-17T02:54. (1), Images "No one is completely useless — They can always serve as a bad example. 8 feet below the highest point of big baldy mountain, and 13 feet east of the northeast corner of big baldy lookout house. Time for today's Peak #4, Once again, we were off the trail. Big Baldy Ridge is close to Big Baldy Grove. It anchors the east end of Big Baldy Ridge which runs east from Pistol Rock. Our trail intersects the Dry Canyon trail just below this saddle (you can make out the trail mid-right in this photo). It is the highest Salmon River Mountains summit west of the Middle Fork and dominates a huge section of country. From the trail head take Buck Creek 5 miles until you reach a junction with Indian Creek trail and Baldy Ridge Trail. Just before the west face rounds into the south face, a spectacular right-facing finger crack/corner with several large overhangs comes into view. Read more. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $70. On inspection, the snow was … Russell). A 2.2 mile (3.4 km) to the summit at 8209 feet (2,502 m). You get a mostly shaded trail and a variety of trees that makes for a beautiful view while walking through the forest. This trail was demanding but well worth it. Lookout Cabin Yaak Mtn Lookout Tower . Great shorter hike with amazing views along the way and at top. Note: my gps had it labeled as Caton Lake. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen. From the summit of Big Baldy hikers are treated to views of Utah Valley that is laid out before them to the west dominated by the expansive Utah Lake. Even the littlest 6 yr old in our group enjoyed the hike. Went yesterday Jan 9th. For example, the Doesn’t get any better!! This post follows the Dry Canyon trail to a ridge line on the east side of Big Baldy where it ascends to its summit. Get good work out and as soon as you think it's getting too hard it balances out with nice vista points, cool breeze and some spots in shade to sit and just enjoy the view. There's Papoose Lake. Added by Tobin Akehurst Hike the easy to follow trail to the Summit of Big Baldy (8,209ft) for epic views of the surrounding area. Looking north, we could see the start of the ridgeline one follows to get to Big Baldy, with Chilcoot Peak dominating. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. Loved it! Kings Canyon. Baldy Ridge Chalet offered all the necessities and plenty of extras for our family as we spent 4 nights mostly cooped up enjoying the home during a beautiful but unexpected May snowstorm. The Ridge was really cool, the hike otherwise but a bit underwhelming but definitely worth the view from the ridge. Would suggest hiking poles, it would help a lot with that first half mile. Big Baldy Mountain is a broad, treeless summit west of Gold River. The trailhead says it's 2.2 there and back, but I got 4.88 miles. Slide 1 of 12; Slide 2 of 12 This trail passes over the peak’s North Ridge at 8,800 feet. It's still family friendly and worth the trip. For a longer dayhike, the 9-mile trail to Mist Falls links woodlands, wildflower-strewn … The climbs below are listed in a left-to-right (north-to-south) order: Spine Line 5.9 Drillathon 5.9 Top Hat 5.10 By Gully 5.6 Young Eagle 5.10d Phrenology 5.10a/b Free Enterprise 5.12b Welcome to Big Baldy 5.11" I have neglected to type out the detailed route descriptions--for that you can buy the book! If you have a large group then Estate at Baldy Ridge is the home for you. There is a sign for Big Baldy on the road. Not too steep, and goes by pretty quick. Big Baldy. But don’t think there isn’t plenty to see while on the trail. Giant sequoia trees may be the main attraction in the Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park, but the area contains several granite peaks, and the highest point - 8,209 foot Big Baldy - may be reached by a pleasant, 2.2 mile trail through scattered pine woodland, starting from the Generals Highway (CA 198). There's still a little snow here and there above 8000'. I will 100% do this one again. Hazy because of the fires but perfect for a group of 10, all of us had a great time and was perfect for all levels of hikers. Water is must here. Canada. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. Due to fires, it was very smoky/hazy most of the hike. This trail is not too hard but it ain't easy. Also, regarding Montecito-Sequoia, the Forest Service doesn't run the lodge. Sequoia National Park charges a fee to enter. Stray too near the Ridge That’s where you’ll find the best views on the for... The littlest 6 yr old in our group enjoyed the hike get you back on Big Baldy fun... Up on the east side of the Dry Canyon trail to Big Baldy Ridge is a hiking trail near Canyon! Help you appreciate those characteristics, the snow was … Russell ) out-and-back ( not loop! On our day off of No Return Wilderness, Big Baldy Ridge is a really gorgeous and trail! 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