It may have been because it was a weekend, but parking by hikers anywhere including the lots on Bear Mountain Road was prohibited. The parking for the trail was either in front of the Visitor Center, on the road or 1/4 mile up the road across from the trout lakes. An adventure pass is needed for the trout lake parking.
As of August 23, 2014 per ANF Mt. Baldy Ranger Station:
Bear Canyon (Old Baldy) Trail is CLOSED due to a washout from a early/mid-August monsoon. Washout reported by them to be at Bear Flats. Confirmed with ranger station again on September 20, 2014 prior to considering a Baldy 20-mile "Big Loop" trek - Bear Canyon trail is still CLOSED. Confirmed by them that it will remain CLOSED for the rest of this season. Will remain CLOSED until August 2015.
All other trails said to be fine though. Have been on some of them after that monsoon and they seemed fine. Actually, Devil's Backbone East and Register Ridge were in better shape then prior to that monsoon rain.
joup - Sep 1, 2003 12:35 am - Hasn't voted
Route CommentChiggers are thick for most of the first half of the trail, which skirts the Bear Canyon Creek.
jerryn - Sep 15, 2013 5:51 pm - Hasn't voted
parkingIt may have been because it was a weekend, but parking by hikers anywhere including the lots on Bear Mountain Road was prohibited. The parking for the trail was either in front of the Visitor Center, on the road or 1/4 mile up the road across from the trout lakes. An adventure pass is needed for the trout lake parking.
spapagiannis - Sep 20, 2014 5:42 pm - Hasn't voted
Trail CLOSEDAs of August 23, 2014 per ANF Mt. Baldy Ranger Station:
Bear Canyon (Old Baldy) Trail is CLOSED due to a washout from a early/mid-August monsoon. Washout reported by them to be at Bear Flats. Confirmed with ranger station again on September 20, 2014 prior to considering a Baldy 20-mile "Big Loop" trek - Bear Canyon trail is still CLOSED. Confirmed by them that it will remain CLOSED for the rest of this season. Will remain CLOSED until August 2015.
All other trails said to be fine though. Have been on some of them after that monsoon and they seemed fine. Actually, Devil's Backbone East and Register Ridge were in better shape then prior to that monsoon rain.
peter612summit - Jul 1, 2016 12:40 pm - Hasn't voted
Water at Bear Flats?Does anyone know if water is currently flowing at Bear Flats?
Thanks!