Mount Baldy via West Baldy Trail #94 is a 15 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Eagar, Arizona that features a river and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking and backpacking and is best used from May until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
This is a popular high altitude route in eastern Arizona. The peak of Mount Baldy is in the jurisdiction of the Mountain Apache Reservation, so hikers cannot reach it without permission. This hike can also be made into a loop by combining this trail with the East Baldy Trail.
One of the most beautiful trails in AZ. We took our three boys, 5, 8, 10 and hiked to the top. It was a challenging hike with incredible views.
Between this hike and Thompson Trail, you will see some of the most beautiful scenery Arizona has to offer. They both have you hiking along a stream but differ enough that they don’t feel like you’re on the same hike. I highly recommend this easy trail. We went Sunday afternoon and were one of four groups on the trail.
Beautiful Alpine Country with grassy meadows and a creek running along the trail
Beautiful shaded trail. Bring bug spray. Did 5 miles in and back. Well worth it.
Great trail! We did about 2.5 miles out, 5 total. It was relatively flat and easy. Views were great. It was a little buggy.
My wife and I ran up West Baldy and then down East Baldy (3-1/2 miles), then turned around and went back up, then down West Baldy Trail. It was a 22 mile out and back of gorgeous views, fast single track sections, airplane crash remnants (on East Baldy) and perfect weather. The wild flowers were in full bloom and lots of new vegetation everywhere! Yes, there are some blown down trees, but nothing too challenging oh to climb over or under. We actually enjoyed the extra obstacles! I highly recommend starting early, as this parking lot will fill up fast!
Other than for the exercise or for bragging rights, why bother going to the top? There are limited views. My GPS says it was 15 miles round trip. I really enjoyed early morning walking the first 4 miles in, hoping to see a bear, but no such luck. The trail is definitely easy to moderate for walking, trail tread is mostly clear and the grade is reasonable, at least for the first 4 miles. I would say that for the rest of the climb to the top, but scrambling over the bug-kill blowdown trees is a bit aggravating.
Beautiful trail! I backpacked in about 5 miles, and turned around to make camp near the river. As soon as I set up camp we got an intense storm that dropped the temp about 20 degrees and left a layer of slushy wet hail/ice. If backpacking, be prepared for everything and camp where it’s dry - a lot of the meadows are gorgeous yet swampy. I highly recommend a bear canister rather than hanging a bear line as there were no trees with branches strong or long enough. The elevation/altitude make this a tough hike but worth it!
This was a beautiful hike on a cool day. We did not do it all and had not planned to do it all either. It was a cool 69 degrees while in Pine Top it was 85. It was in crowded and full of butterflies and the sounds of a cool stream. We hiked in an hour and back out an hour. I will definitely do it again.
Trail easy to follow. It’s 16 miles round trip from the parking lot. Not sure why everything says 14. Creek is perfect and runs for the first 4.5 miles. We saw a black bear about 2 miles in about 100’ from the trail. Not aggressive but closely watched us. we’ll be careful for camping. Also good to keep dogs on a leash here.
I took the trail less traveled and headed toward Greer. I was glad that I downloaded the topo map as I needed to refer to it at times as the trail was a little hard to find at times. The area was devastated by the Wallow fire in 2011 however there is a lot of new aspen growth. Lots of downed trees and many across the trail. If you want solitude this is a good one. I was rewarded by the rushing Little Colorado when I arrived at the edge of Greer.
Amazing hike! 5/17/2020 still a lot snow on the last 1/2 mile. Kind of hard to find the sign at the top of the mountain because of the heavy snowfall covering the trail. Definitely recommend downloading the AllTrails map, it was a life saver! I had a 2 liter Camelback and 2 water bottles I ran out of water the last 4 miles but drank out of the stream without a filter. The water was cool and refreshing!
*As of April 28, I found the highest Eastern slope of Mt Baldy to be impassable due to knee-hip deep snow. Even with all the sun, between being heavily wooded along with being shaded from the afternoon sun, this section is melting slowly. Turned back about 1 mile from junction with East Baldy trail. Should probably give it until mid-May.* The meadow and creek portion were beautiful as everything wakes up for Spring.