Baldy Base Camp

Overnight at Harwood Lodge Below Mt. Baldy

The grand stone house known as Harwood Lodge is just a short walk from Mount Baldy Trail, the quintessential SoCal mountain trek. Set at 6,000 feet amid the pine-forested splendor of the San Gabriel Mountains, the Sierra Club lodge offers the perfect way to acclimate to the altitude before bagging Old Baldy, and a chance to enjoy a setting full of warmth and solidarity. If you're not planning a summit hike, there's plenty of other nature to enjoy amid more leisurely trails.

The lodge was built by Sierra Club members in 1930 and named in honor of the club’s first woman president, Aurelia S. Harwood. The edifice was built entirely with rough, eclectic stones—walls, deck, outside stairs, everything but the pitched roof—lending it a rustic whimsy. Inside is a 40-foot-long great room with wood-burning fireplace, a cozy dining room, and a compact, fully equipped kitchen. Upstairs are men’s and women’s dormitories with bunk beds, plus private “family” rooms. All in all, the lodge accommodates 64 overnight guests. Expect the place to fairly hum on most weekends this summer.

You have to be a Sierra Club member to stay at Harwood, but membership is quite reasonable, supports conservation efforts, and comes with some nice bonuses. Also, up to two nonmember guests can join you. Everyone staying at the lodge is expected to share in daily cleanup duties. The Sierra Club also owns the San Antonio Ski Hut, perched dramatically beneath Baldy Bowl on the summit trail.

Take the I-210 to Claremont and exit Baseline Rd., turning west, then north onto Padua Ave. Turn right on Mt. Baldy Rd. and continue 11 miles. Look for a rough gravel turnoff on the right (the lodge shares a driveway with the Mt. Baldy Zen Center). Harwood is set back from the road behind a dense screen of pines. The lodge is open only on weekends, based on the availability of volunteer hosts. Check the Angeles Chapter’s outings calendar for the schedule. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View
  2. Waterfalls and Wine Pours

    Cooler temps, green hills, and the return of our magnificent waterfalls! This family-friendly 2-mile hike at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill is a great way to get the most out of a short hike post-rain.

    View
  3. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

    View
  4. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Peace Labyrinth

    Hidden in LA’s historic West Adams district, the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens is a welcome respite from the norms of urban noise.

    View
  2. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

    View
  3. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

    View
  4. People gathered around a tree at an LA Park as part of the Tree Tour led by Stephanie Carrie

    LA's Tree Tour

    Los Angeles is famous for its iconic palm trees but did you know that LA is home to one of the most diverse urban forests in the world? With over 1,000 different tree species lining its streets, LA offers a unique urban canopy waiting to be explored. One of the best ways to discover it is by joining a Tree Tour

    View