Mt. Baldy (#15, S-HC)

Not my photo

Summerson calls this “Perhaps the hardest climb in Southern California, and used in the Tour of California.” I didn’t think much of it. The first two thirds are nothing special, then you get to Mt Baldy Village and the grade steepens. There are a few steep sections but it’s not continuous, and the steepest part is at the end, through a big parking lot. I guess you have to do this as it’s supposedly one of the tough ones, but I didn’t think it was very special. The climb is 12.9 miles with 4,830 feet of climbing.

To get to the start, get off I-210 at Baseline Road. Follow this west to Mills Road, then follow this north to its intersection with Mt Baldy Road.

However, a much better ride would be to go up Glendora Mountain Road followed by Glendora Ridge Road to Mt Baldy Village, and then do the hard finish to Mt. Baldy. This route is much prettier and longer, with a gorgeous twisty road winding up and across the hills. There is a good parking lot at the intersection of Glendora Mountain Road and Big Dalton Canyon Road.

39/Dawson Saddle (#16, S-HC)

I loved this ride. It’s big and beautiful and the views are spectacular. Or, as Summerson says, “a massive climb….with excellent views in places along the way.”

The climb is 22.9 miles with 6,438 feet of climbing. You can think of it as three parts – the first part, the steepest part, goes up a smooth, winding road to the turnoff for Crystal Lake. Part two is up a closed road that cuts across the hillside and which I had to myself. Part three heads up the Angeles Crest road to Dawson Saddle. Well worth doing, and you might as well add in the short side trip to Crystal Lake.

From I-10 or I-210 drive north to Asuza and follow Hwy 39 into San Gabriel Canyon. Follow this for several miles past the San Gabriel Reservoir. Just after East Fork Road and the end of the reservoir there is a OHV staging area on the right. This is the start of the climb.