I've done this hike twice last year prepping for Whitney & loved it. This is lots of incline... essentially 6 miles up & 6 miles back down, but the views are worth it. I've only seen this sparsely populated, running into a few people here & there but never enough to be distracting. I'll be driving up from San Diego, so the 8:30a start is really the earliest that will be practical, but I'd love to have some company. I'm considering Whitney again in July, so this is one of a few hikes I'll be tackling to put me over 10,000 feet in May/June/July.

From the new 210 Freeway extension, driving east: Exit Baseline Road in Claremont. Turn left on Baseline. In one block turn right unto Padua Avenue. In 1.7 miles turn right onto Mt. Baldy Road (stop sign). At 7.1 miles you reach the intersection of Bear Canyon Road (coming in from the left) at the center of Mt. Baldy Village (in another one tenth of a mile you pass the Angles National Forest Mt. Baldy Visitor Center).

From the new 210 Freeway extension, driving west: In Upland, exit Mountain Ave./Mt. Baldy Exit, Exit 54. Turn right and proceed north on Mountain Ave. Drive 5 miles to Mt. Baldy Road.

Turn left on Bear Canyon Road and find a parking place immediately on the right. On the left is the Village Chapel, so please respect their parking rights. There is also a small parking area up the road a 0.15 mile. Another option is to park directly in front of the Visitor Center on the Street or across the street. Please do not park in the parking places designated for Mt. Baldy Lodge; we need to respect local businesses and other private property. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for parking. 

I should be queueing near the church parking lot with hiking poles, a tan baseball cap that's seen better days & a backpack bulging with water.