Baldy's Got Game!

Disc Golf on Mount Baldy

06.16.2016

Okay, disc golfers, ready to get your game on near the top of LA County’s highest point? Hikers know Mount Baldy is home to a summit clocking in at over 10,000 feet, but lesser known is that it’s also home to an “extreme” 18-hole disc golf course. Starting just off the main ski lift next to the Top of the Notch restaurant (7,800 feet), the 2-mile course begins in a steep, rocky gulch under a zipline course surrounded by sugar pines.

At the base of the ravine, the course veers left to Turkey Run. After 9 holes, return the way you came, hitting the same holes, only this time uphill! In other words, if you have bad aim, you’ll get quite a workout retrieving misfired discs. Be sure to explore the various incredible viewpoints, particularly the eastern view of the San Bernardino mountain range just over the hill behind the first (and last) hole. You can print a map (recommended) as the course can be tricky to maneuver even for the most experienced disc golfer. Holes are often hidden on steep slopes of loose rocks. The “tees” are dirt ramps, always pointing in the direction of the next hole, which helps keep you on track.

BONUS HIKE & BEERS: There are two ways to reach the start of this course: the hard way, and the easy way. The hard way is to park at the base of the mountain and hike 3 miles of switchbacks and 1,300 feet of elevation up a fire road/dirt trail combination starting at Manker Flats Campground. The easy way: take the ski lifts to the Notch. Either way, the Notch is a bonus, with live music, BBQ, and local beers on tap.

To get to Manker Flats Campground or the ski lifts, from I-210 take the Base Line Rd. exit and go west. Take the first right onto Padua Ave. and continue north, making a right onto Mount Baldy Rd. Look for the campground on your right, just after the intersection with San Antonio Falls Rd. If heading to the lifts, continue on Mount Baldy Rd. until it ends at the lift parking lot. Parking is $5; round-trip lift tickets are $25. Dog-friendly! Open Friday through Sunday until late due to events (call for last lift time). Disc rental for $3. Map..

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View

  2. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  3. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

  4. Roaring Good Time

    There’s nothing quite like the majestic beauty of California’s redwood forests. Now, imagine experiencing those towering giants aboard a historic 19th-century steam train. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is home to some of the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View

  2. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  3. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View
  4. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View