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. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Mini Guide to Reno Tahoe’s Lodging and Dining

    So, you’re going to Reno Tahoe for some time in nature, and some time in nurture? Excellent choice. The fun and wonder of Reno Tahoe is the easy part.

    View

  3. Hidden Long Ridge

    After heavy rains, the rolling headwaters of Peters Creek in Long Ridge Open Space Preserve pulsate along the forest floor via a series of small waterfalls that cut grooves in sandstone boulders. See it on a 4.5-mile loop hike starting from the Grizzly Flat parking lot.

    View

  4. Hike Artdoors

    Add a little color to your new year. This 3-mile loop through the Montalvo Arts Center mixes the beauty of the natural world with local artists’ creations.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

    View
  2. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

    View
  3. People gathered around a tree at an LA Park as part of the Tree Tour led by Stephanie Carrie

    LA's Tree Tour

    Los Angeles is famous for its iconic palm trees but did you know that LA is home to one of the most diverse urban forests in the world? With over 1,000 different tree species lining its streets, LA offers a unique urban canopy waiting to be explored. One of the best ways to discover it is by joining a Tree Tour

    View

  4. White Tank Campground for Stargazing

    Heaven for star buffs: the best campground in Joshua Tree National Park for night-sky viewing, in a place named an International Dark Sky Park, with a full-on observatory just minutes away! White Tank Campground is at 3,800 feet in the eastern part of the park.

    View