Bailey Canyon Trail is one of the best hikes in the Sierra Madre and one of my favorite hikes in LA. This hike is dog friendly and gives you 360 views of the surrounding area.
Bailey Canyon Trail – Hiking Guide
Trail Distance: 6.1 miles
Elevation Gain: ~2,300 ft.
Terrain Rating: Medium
Hike Time: 3 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes
Recommended Seasons: All but Summer can be hot so start early
Cell Service: Spotty! Download offline maps to leave the parking area if needed
Trailhead: Bailey Canyon lot in Sierra Madre here, around 30 minutes from Downtown LA
WHY HIKE JONES PEAK VIA BAILEY CANYON TRAIL
Jones Peak via Bailey Canyon Trail is one of my favorite hikes if I’m in the East LA area. This hike is the perfect amount of distance with elevation gain, and it’s also a super close drive from the city. It is also dog friendly which makes it a great hike for you and the pups. Bailey Canyon Trail is also one of those trails where it’s about the journey and the destination (i.e. your hike will be beautiful but there is also a great view at the top).
Baily Canyon Trail also leads to a great beginner canyon for canyoneering. Read more about it here.
WHEN TO HIKE
Bailey Canyon Trail can be hiked in all four seasons, but the best time to hike is in Fall, Winter, or Spring when it is not too hot. There is some shade on the trail but not a ton, so Summer can get very hot. If you want to hike in the summer, try getting there before 10AM so you can be done before peak heat around 1PM.
BAILEY CANYON TRAIL – TRAIL NOTES
We started hiking at 9:30AM on a December day. It was a hot winter day but the temp ended up being perfect – around 70 degrees!
The parking lot is on the small to medium side, but there was plenty of parking when we arrived. There are also bathrooms at the parking lot which is great. Not all hikes have infrasturcture like that so I definitely appreciated it.
The hike begins fairly flat for the first 0.5 miles as you have to enter the park, go through a small gate, and then climb on a concrete road. Once you actually get into the Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park, the trail becomes more dirt / loose rock and also starts climbing really quickly.
There are a lot of switchbacks up the mountain and also a few spots to take a break and enjoy the view. Once you get to around 1.5 miles up, you can start seeing views when you peak around the corner of the switchback.
At the top of the trail, enjoy an amazing 360 degree view! There is even a bench to sit on if you want to relax and have a snack. I saw a rock pile into a heart which was pretty cute too.
To get back down, just turn back down the way you came. Take caution as sometimes when it is very steep the rocks can get a little slippery.