Baldy Mountain
- 12.8 mi
- round trip
- 2,942 ft
- climb
- 10,032 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Jul, Sep
- best months
Is Baldy Mountain open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in San Juan National Forest. It doesn't name Baldy Mountain, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).
Travel is not advised to the San Juan NF
Agency closure covering San Juan National Forest · USFS · San Juan National Forest
Closures and dangerous conditions on roads, bridges, and trails from flooding
Agency closure covering San Juan National Forest · USFS · San Juan National Forest
Multiple roads and trails damaged by flooding on SJNF
Agency closure covering San Juan National Forest · USFS · San Juan National Forest
Bear Activity High Across San Juan National Forest
Agency alert covering San Juan National Forest · USFS · San Juan National Forest
West Fork Road and Bridge Closure Order
Agency alert covering Pagosa Ranger District · Order 02-13-06-25-19 · USFS · Pagosa Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · San Juan National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Baldy Mountain is a hard hike in Colorado's San Juan National Forest, within the Pagosa Ranger District, about 12.8 miles long with a total elevation gain of 2,942 feet. The trail is an out-and-back, starting from the First Fork Trailhead parking, and it climbs from a low point of 7,107 feet to a high point of 10,032 feet. Horses are allowed on this natural-surface route. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show July highs around 76°F and lows near 42°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s with frequent snow days. The trip is open from June 1 to October 15. Dudley and Cold Water are both within a few miles, and the First Fork Piedra River and Piedra Camp 2 lie about 3.6 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Crazy Horse Outfitters10 mi away
- Wilderness Journeys Pagosa16 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- DudleyHiking0.7 mi
- Cold WaterHiking1.8 mi
- First Fork Piedra RiverCanoeing3.6 mi
- Piedra Camp 2Camping3.6 mi
- Piedra Camp 3Camping3.6 mi
- Piedra RiverRock climbing5.3 mi
- Devil CreekCanoeing7.2 mi
- Piedra River - East SideRock climbing8.3 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- DudleyHiking · ~1 min drive
- DEVIL MOUNTAINHiking · ~5 min drive
- Poison IvyHiking · ~6 min drive
- Devils HoleHiking · ~7 min drive
- Cold WaterHiking · ~3 min drive
- Devil MountainHiking · ~9 min drive
- ELK CREEKHiking · ~8 min drive
- Coldwater Stock Dr.Hiking · ~6 min drive
- Devils Hole TrailHiking · ~10 min drive
- MIDDLE MOUNTAINHiking · ~9 min drive
Best time to visit Baldy Mountain
Best months: June–July and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
34° / -4°
4 wet · 4 snow
Feb
37° / -2°
4 wet · 4 snow
Mar
43° / 9°
5 wet · 5 snow
Apr
50° / 20°
6 wet · 5 snow
May
60° / 29°
5 wet · 2 snow
Jun
71° / 36°
5 wet
Jul
76° / 42°
11 wet
Aug
73° / 41°
13 wet
Sep
68° / 35°
9 wet
Oct
58° / 25°
6 wet · 2 snow
Nov
44° / 12°
4 wet · 3 snow
Dec
34° / -3°
4 wet · 3 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rio Grande Rsvr, CO, 25.5 mi away at 9,492 ft. The station sits about 500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
