INTRO
See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via our interactive Profile Tool.
Highway 39/San Gabriel Reservoir to Mt. Baldy
Ride 27 miles gaining 6,214 (1,240’ descent) at 3.5% average grade.
The true average grade after eliminating descents is 5.7%
This is one of three routes to the top of Mt. Baldy:
This climb is broken into three segments: (a) Start to Glendora Ridge Road (GRR), (b) GRR to the descent into Mt. Baldy Village, and (c) Baldy Village to Mt. Baldy Village.
START TO GLENDORA RIDGE ROAD
It is 10 miles with 2,090’ gained at 3.5% average gain from the start to our turn onto Glendora Ridge Road.
We have some interesting points of interest along this segment of the climb which begins on East Fork Road. East Fork Road becomes Glendora Mountain Road at the big right hairpin at mile 5.2.
We pass the Julius Klein Conservation Camp #19 at mile 2.5:
“The Julius Klein Conservation Camp opened on March 1, 1986. The camp consists of 10 CDCR personnel and 13 LACO personnel, which oversee six (6) inmate hand crews and additional in-camp support inmates. The camp is located in the Angeles National Forest near the San Gabriel River.” California Department of Corrections
Tunnel visible on the left (if you look hard) just as we pass through Camp Williams.
We pass through Camp Williams at mile 4.
We ate at the cafe in 2012, but it was closed due to COVID on our December 2020 ride.
“Campground, Mobile Home Park, Café & General Store Directly on the East Fork of the beautiful San Gabriel River.” Camp Williams Home Page.
East Fork of the San Gabriel River information board at mile 4.7 just past Camp Williams.
Turn onto Glendora Mountain Road from East Fork Road at mile 5.2.
If you have SAG, be sure to check if the road is open. LA Road Closures.
This cave is on the left just after the gate and goes back a significant distance.
GLENDORA RIDGE ROAD TO DESCENT BEFORE BALDY VILLAGE
We ride on GRR for 11 miles and average only 2.1% because of roughly six descents along the way. The roughest stretch on this segment is a 3.4 mile climb at 6% beginning at mile 14.7.
There are some amazing views of the San Gabriel Mountains along segment.
At mile 21.2 we begin a descent for 0.9 miles at -7% into Baldy Village.
MT. BALDY VILLAGE TO MT. BALDY RESORT
We highly recommend you have a meal at Mt. Baldy Lodge.
They are definitely bike friendly.
We ride 5.2 miles through Mt. Baldy Village and up to the ticket booth at Mt. Baldy Resort gaining 2,217’ at 8.1% average grade.
There is a water fountain at the Mt. Baldy Post office at mile 22.2.
Left turn at mile 23.8 and take on eight hairpins over the steepest segment of the climb.
There is a quarter mile at 14% and a full mile that averages 12% along this segment.
Hairpin at mile 24.7.
Sign just before the left turn to the ski resort parking lot.
Ski resort ticket booth 4/10’s mile further