Mt. Baldy

Mt. Baldy (West Baldy #94 trail to East Baldy #95 trail)

Date: September 2nd 2022

Location: Greer AZ

Distance: 16.5 miles

Hiking Partners: Colin, Uncle J, Desiree 

Mt, Baldy is the second tallest peak in AZ. I used to solo hike the super loop every year and it's still one of my favorite hikes in AZ! Colin and Desiree had never done this hike before and Uncle J, well lets say it's been a while...two decades sounds about right! 

This hike can be completed in a loop for solo hikers or up one trail and down the other with a car drop. We decided on a car drop this time. We started on West Baldy #94. As you start from the parking lot your greeted by vast meadows that follow the Little Colorado (creek) throughout the hike. Once your past the meadows and do a little creek crossing your now in an area I like to call the dark forest. 

I've never done this hike so late in the season so the dark forest was not as dark as I'm used to seeing it, due to the trees already changing color and dropping their leaves but it's still a dramatic change in scenery coming from the meadows. 

Once in the dark forest the switch backs begin. As you start switching back and forth up the mountain you'll start to see huge towering trees all over the place. Not just towering but super wide trees that I can't even wrap my arms around! I could spend all day in here snapping pictures and exploring but we continued up the mountain. 

Once you make the transition to East Baldy Trail #95 the decent begins. The views here are amazing.

On this part of the trail you'll often see many fallen trees. Some in the distance while others lay neatly on the trail.

Something to look out for on the trail is an old WII bomber that crashed in the area in 1943. There's pieces of the plane all over the place. I found a really big piece on this hike. We had to do a little bush wacking to get there but it was totally worth it.

Bush wacking on the way down seemed a little more challenging.

Once down and pictures taken we continue through the open meadows and back into the second half of the dark forest. Again, much less coverage this time but still some great views. The big difference between this trail and the other is the boulder field. At one point of the hike you'll come out of the dark forest to a big opening on the side of the mountain. The terrain will change from forest floor to hard pack dirt and solid rock. Here you'll see huge boulders barely teetering and a big rock field that you get to descend the hike through.

After you pass the boulder field then your back down in the dark forest once again.

A few miles later your out of the dark forest and back in the meadows. If you time your visit for this hike right the meadows are normally filled with thousands of yellow, pink and blue flowers! Once you pass this meadow, a few miles later your back at your car and the hike is complete!

I'll be back again next year Baldy! See you soon!

Until Next Time!