Snowy Hike On Lower Baldy

We brought sleds but the snow was just a little too heavy and wet, and the incline just not steep enough to negate that. Still one of our favorite local hikes though!

Mount Baldy To The Summit

We did lower Mount Baldy which is a moderate hike. All three adults were carrying children in packs and we're exhausted. :) We also had a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old with us. The total time was four hours and that includes stopping for a snack and a break.

To take the lower trail, walk straight from the parking area (past the gate) and when you reach the pond turn right up the hill. The trails are well-defined but not marked. The first part is scrubby brush and grass but you soon reach Arctic tundra (my favorite). The trail was muddy in a few places and two patches of snow and ice but not bad. Be sure to check out the small plants of the tundra as a few of them were blooming.

Once you reach the saddle walk along the wide ridge to get to the actual summit of Baldy. On a clear day once you're out of the trees it's all views. The Inlet, Mount Foraker and Denali, Ptarmigan Blacktails, Chugach Mountains, Eagle River, and Anchorage.

For more information on Mount Baldy click here.

Lower Baldy With Hike It Baby

This is a fun and easy hike for kids. From the Baldy parking area walk straight through the gate (it's not the path slightly to the right with the large incline). It's sled-friendly or let the kids run free on a wide, level path. There's pretty views from the parking area and that continue along the trail. On days when we don't want to go to the top we stop at the pond and let the kids play before turning back.

This next set of photos is from five days prior, Baldy is usually a good choice when it's foggy in Eagle River and we want to get above the clouds for a bit.

For more information on Mt. Baldy click here.
For more information on Hike It Baby click here.

Mt. Baldy and Blacktail Ridge

This was one of those perfect Alaskan days. We've done Baldy many times, this time we wanted to explore further into the Blacktail Ridge. We're hoping next summer to go even farther! The views from Baldy are great but they're incredible the further back you go. The easiest route with kids is to take the path straight from the parking area, not the one that immediately goes up a steep hill. After about 3/4 mile there will be a well-defined trail that starts going up the hill, right at the pond. After hiking through the brush you'll end up in alpine tundra. If you keep going straight up you'll end up on the saddle and you can walk the ridge to either Baldy or back towards the Blacktails. You can also take the trail that veers left which will be a longer, gentler trip up to the ridge.

For more info on Mt. Baldy and Blacktail Ridge click here.

Mount Baldy Lower Route

This was my first time hiking the lower route and holy moly I wish we would have known about it earlier. If you have small children, and especially if you are carrying one on your back, use this trail instead of the main one. It's all the fun and views of climbing Baldy without the tears and scrambling. Just go straight past the gate from the parking area. You'll come to a pond and the turnoff to go up is there. It's well-defined and just keep following it until you're on top! You'll end up on the saddle rather than the, um, knob but you just have to walk the ridge until you get there. Et voila! Baldy with small kids! They can also cool off in the pond at the end.

For more information on Mt. Baldy click here.

Straight Up Mt. Baldy

First off, if you have small children I do NOT recommend this way up Baldy. Obviously it's doable but the tears and stress are not worth it. Go do the lower trail. If you're a fairly in-shape adult you might enjoy this quicker route up Baldy. There's little (or no?) switchbacks so there's no wasting time getting up to the beautiful views. If it's raining or not dried out after Break Up this trail can be insanely muddy and slick.

For more information on Mt. Baldy click here.