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. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. 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
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View

  4. 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

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

    View

  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

    View