Timber, Telegraph, Thunder, Harwood, Baldy Loop

Angeles National Forest, CA San Gabriel + San Bernardino Mountains

Trip stats

Distance
21.2 mi
Net Gain
8,500 ft
Time
9-12 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 1
Route
Loop
Peaks
7

Ratings out of 10

Effort
8.9/10
Personality
8/10
Beauty
9/10
Solitude
4/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

Ridgeline of the 7 summits in route order 01 02 03 04 05 06 07
  1. Timber Mountain
    8,303′ elevation · 583′ prominence
  2. Telegraph Peak
    8,985′ elevation · 1,183′ prominence
  3. Thunder Mountain
    8,587′ elevation · 387′ prominence
  4. Gold Ridge
    8,400′ elevation · 40′ prominence
  5. Devils Backbone
    9,009′ elevation · 9′ prominence
  6. Mount Harwood
    9,552′ elevation · 152′ prominence
  7. Mount San Antonio
    10,064′ elevation · 6,224′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

34.250120, -117.635850

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

May 20, 2018 — This loop was one hell of a beautiful, long day. I've known about the Three Tees (Timber, Telegraph, Thunder) for a long time, but I never committed to doing them because I didn't want to descend the annoying ski roads to get back, so after some map-staring and motivation, I planned a loop that would continue from the Three Tees along the ridgeline to form a traverse, hitting Timber Mountian, Telegraph Peak, Thunder Mountain, Mt. Harwood, and finally, Mt. San Antonio (Old Baldy). Originally, I intended to take the standard route down from Mt. San Antonio, which I did a few years ago, and hitch a ride to the Ice House Canyon Trailhead (where I parked). However, I hadn't realized there is a trail known as the Old Baldy Trail that continues down to the town of Mt. Baldy, at the Visitor Center, which would take me much closer to my car, and also provide a ridgeline route down from the summit I had never done before. I learned of this trail at the summit when I saw a sign reading "Mt. Baldy Town 6.5 miles". I am so glad I went this way, because it had the best views of the day.

The entire route follows maintained trails, starting up the Ice House Canyon Trail. There are likely going to be a ton of people on this trail because it goes up to the more popular Cucamonga Peak, but from the Ice House Saddle through Thunder Mountain, I didn't see anyone, and this was a weekend. Anyway, from the Ice House Saddle, head up to Pine Mountain, where a sign points you to leave the main trail to hit the summit. Next is Thunder Peak, which has much nicer views and looks out toward Mt. Baldy's Devil's Backbone, the route still to come. Hit Thunder Mountain, an easy hump, and then find the very popular Devil's Backbone Trail to the summit of Mt. San Antonio, making a quick side trip to Mt. Harwood, a bald and beautiful sub-peak. Enjoy the views and the company of people before heading down the Old Baldy Trail, following a series of really interesting trail construction choices along the ridgeline and down to the town of Mt. Baldy. Hike a bit under two miles back to the trailhead. Nobody picked me up when I tried hitching. 🙁

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Photos

72 photos

  1. Along the Ice House Canyon Trail.
  4. Ice House Canyon Trail exits the forested section and starts to gain elevation.
  9. Ice House Canyon Trail, almost at the Ice House Saddle.
  10. From Ice House Saddle headed up to Timber Mountain.
  11. Looking back toward Bighorn Peak (other side of the Ice House Saddle) along the trail to Timber Mountain
  13. Timber Mountain summit.
  14. Continuing along toward Telegraph Peak (center). Baldy Peak on the left.
  15. Telegraph Peak ahead.
  16. On the way up Telegraph Peak, looking back toward Timber Mountain.
  18. Looking back toward Timber Mountain.
  21. Really pretty trail along the side of Telegraph Peak.
  23. Looking back along the summit ridge to Telegraph Peak.
  24. Telegraph Peak looking toward Mt. Baldy.
  25. Looking back toward Telegraph Peak on the way to Thunder.
  26. Headed up Thunder Mountain.
  27. Thunder Mountain summit, looking toward Mt. Baldy.
  28. Headed down a dirt toad to the saddle before starting the trek up the crowded trail to Mt. Baldy. You can see the ski lift area on the left. People were taking this up to get most of the way up to the summit.
  29. Heading up toward Mt. Baldy (and Mt. Harwood).
  32. Devil's Backbone.
  33. Looking back along the Devil's Backbone - you can see Thunder Mountain and Telegraph Peak.
  36. Trial carved into the side of the mountain just after the Devil's Backbone.
  37. Looking back toward the Devil's Backbone.
  39. Starting up the use trail to summit Mt. Harwood.
  40. Looking back from just below the summit of Mt. Harwood.
  41. Mt. Harwood summit looking toward Mt. San Antonio (Baldy).
  42. Looking back toward Mt. Harwood summit on the way down.
  43. Mt. Baldy ahead.
  46. Looking back along the whole ridgeline. I think Timber Mountain is hidden behind Telegraph Peak, but all four peaks I've done so far seem very far away.
  47. Close-up looking toward the ridgeline, Mt. Harwood on the left.
  48. Continuing on the Old Baldy Trail.
  55. A beautiful surprise ridgeline along the Old Baldy Trail.
  56. Clouds hovering over the city far below.
  58. Looking back up toward Mt. Baldy.
  61. The trail begins to switchback and enters a canyon below.
  62. Looking back toward Timber, Telegraph, and Thunder.
  67. Very pretty Southern California sunset haze.
  72. The trail exits in the town of Mt. Baldy. Follow the road for a bit back to the trailhead.

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Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

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