USDA: Mt. Baldy Trails Closure Extended to March 20
A temporary closure has been extended for National Forest System trails within the Mount Baldy (Mount San Antonio) area of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The purpose of the closure is to provide for public safety. This closure is in effect from February 27 through March 20, 2026.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/angeles/alerts/mt-baldy-trails-closure-extended-march-20
The Guardian: ‘It’s unforgiving’: California park officials grapple with recent deaths on Mount Baldy
"...another volunteer rescue unit, shared details earlier this month of two teenagers who went to hike Mount Baldy’s trails despite the closures and got stuck overnight. They were wearing microspikes on their shoes – small-toothed, wraparound devices to give a hiker extra traction on flat trails or in snow-covered parking lots. But Mount Baldy requires a more intense stability device: crampons – metal teeth that bite down into the snow in high-risk fall or slide areas like the Devil’s Backbone. But in some conditions, even those won’t work...."
(great interview with a search and rescue team member there, also)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/18/mount-baldy-california-hiker-safety
LA Times: As Mt. Baldy trails reopen, county sheriff slams feds’ ‘lack of concern’ for visitor safety
"....Twenty-three people have died on the mountain outside Los Angeles over the last decade, and crews have responded to 345 search-and-rescue calls on its slopes, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release that criticized the U.S. Forest Service, which manages the area, for not doing more to prevent injuries and deaths...."
(paywall, probably)
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-01-15/mt-baldy-trails-reopen-county-sheriff-slams-forest-service
Ooh, they finally identified the two other people found dead on Mt. Baldy. (in the triple fatality). Thoughts with their friends and family of all three. 🙏
Two Remaining Decedents Found at Mt. Baldy Positively Identified
DATE: December 29, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.,
INCIDENT: Search for Injured Hikers on Mount Baldy
LOCATION: Mount Baldy
SUBJECT 1: Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova, 19-year-old Resident of Seal Beach
SUBJECT 2: Juan Sarat Lopez, 37-years-old, Guatemalan National Residing in Los Angeles
SUBJECT 3: Bayron Pedro Ramos Garcia, 36-years-old, Guatemalan National Residing in Los Angeles
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UPDATE #2: Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 9:45 a.m.
On Friday, January 2, 2026, the Sheriff’s Coroner Division positively identified Juan Sarat Lopez and Bayron Pedro Ramos Garcia, two Guatemalan Nationals residing in Los Angeles, were among the three deceased males located at Mt. Baldy. Investigators believe Lopez and Ramos Garcia fell from the Devil’s Backbone Trail the same day they were found.
Additional updates will be provided as they become available.
Still no ID on the two other bodies found on Mt. Baldy. (two men)
Per LA Times: "...The identities of the two other men have not been released. Investigators said they were not hiking with Casanova, and it’s unclear when they died, how long they were on the mountain or whether they were reported missing prior to the discovery....."
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-12-31/mt-baldy-icy-hidden-dangers
U.S. Forest Service Issues Trail Closures at Mt. Baldy Following Public Safety Concerns
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 31, 2025
U.S. Forest Service Issues Trail Closures at Mt. Baldy Following
Public Safety Concerns
SAN BERNARDINO, CA — The U.S. Forest Service, in coordination with local authorities, has issued a temporary closure of select trails at Mt. Baldy. Effective 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2026, through January 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., the following trails will be closed:
Forest System Trail No. 7W12 – Mt. Baldy Trail
Forest System Trail No. 7W02 – Mt. Baldy Bowl Trail
Forest System Trail No. 7W05 – Devil’s Backbone Trail
Forest System Trail No. 7W06 – Three T’s Trail
Forest System Trail No. 7W07 – Icehouse Canyon Trail
Forest System Trail No. 7W07A – Chapman Trail
Forest System Trail No. 7W08 – Ontario Peak Trail
This proactive measure follows the recent, tragic discovery of three deceased individuals in the area. Due to extreme environmental hazards and the current risk to hikers, these closures are being implemented to prevent further loss of life.
“Our primary responsibility is the preservation of life,” said Sheriff Shannon Dicus. “Closing these trails is a necessary step to mitigate ongoing risks. We urge the community to respect these boundaries.”
A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
The Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Forest Service express their deepest gratitude to the community for its cooperation during this difficult time. For real-time updates on trail status, please visit the San Bernardino National Forest website at Home | San Bernardino National Forest | Forest Service.
Hmm, can't decide which location on Baldy here was the actual hoist for this rescue (these two were rescued alive AFTER the first call for rescue for a different party came out, that one eventually turned into a triple fatality, with 2 unknown parties that were found responding to the first injured hiker).
Air track: https://www.flightradar24.com/2025-12-29/20:51/4x/N308SB/3db2e4e2
Release on this rescue:
https://nixle.us/GY2TP
If these hikers did not slip and die on the first ice chute, they had 1.2 miles of up and back to the peak to commit the same error in the same treacherous conditions. They had very poor odds.
LA Times: Bodies of three hikers recovered from Mt. Baldy amid harsh weather
"...A sheriff’s air rescue team recovered the bodies Tuesday at about 2 p.m., the department confirmed Tuesday evening. ..."
Holy crap, there was ANOTHER RESCUE on Baldy on Monday (separate from the three deceased individuals recovered today).
Sheriff's Aviation Rescues Two Hikers from Ontario Peak Trail
DATE/TIME: December 29, 2025, at 1:44 p.m.
INCIDENT: Search and Rescue
LOCATION: Ontario Peak Trail
SUBJECTS: 18-year-old, Male, Resident of Riverside County
31-year-old, Male, Resident of San Bernardino County
SUMMARY: On Monday, December 29, 2025, at approximately 1:44 p.m., deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Fontana Station were notified of two stranded hikers, near Ontario Peak Trail, Mt. Baldy. The hikers, an 18-year-old male and a 31-year-old male, were hiking when one of them fell approximately 100 feet, sustaining injuries. They were able to call 911 for assistance and provide their location.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Air Rescue arrived on scene, located the hikers, and performed a hoist rescue.
This rescue was a separate search-and-rescue call from the Devil’s Backbone Trail incident, where three individuals were found deceased by rescue crews.
For further safety related information, please visit
WILDERNESS SAFETY · West Valley Search and Rescue
#MtBaldy #SearchAndRescue #SAR Hiking
AI6YR Ben
