Recently closed trails around Mount Baldy have reopened, but the local Sheriff’s Department advised that conditions still may not be safe.
Though trails have reopened, hazardous winter conditions still persist and hikers should come prepared to meet snow-covered trails, icy sections, limited visibility, and the possibility of sudden storms, said the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in a news release. That means evaluating weather conditions, carrying appropriate gear, and understanding personal limits.
Severe weather and recovery efforts for three hikers who were found dead on Mount Baldy led to the trail closures on Dec. 29, 2025 directly following the death of Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova, a 19-year-old from Seal Beach. A freshman at Santa Clara University who was visiting home for the holidays, Casanova fell about 500 feet near the Devil’s Backbone trail while hiking with a friend, according to officials. His friend called local officials for help and gave them GPS coordinates.
Rescuers searching for Casanova also found the bodies of two men near him, Juan Sarat Lopez, 37, and Bayron Pedro Ramos Garcia, 36, according to officials. Both were Guatemalan nationals. The two men are believed to have fell from the same trail as Casanova and died the same day they were found, according to investigators.
Located above 10,000 feet, Mount Baldy is known for its quick changing weather, steep exposed trails, snow, ice, and high winds. These conditions can become dangerous even for prepared and experienced hikers.
Between 2016 and 2025, 23 people died while hiking on Mount Baldy, according to the news release. Most of those people did not live in the area, and most deaths occurred in the Devil’s Backbone and Icehouse Canyon areas.
Here are the precautions the SBCSD urges hikers to take before hitting Mount Baldy trails:
• Check weather forecasts and trail conditions immediately before your trip.• Be prepared for winter terrain, including snow and ice. Traction devices and proper footwear are critical.• Avoid narrow, exposed trails during icy or windy conditions.• Hike within your experience level and turn back if conditions worsen.• Carry navigation tools, extra food and water, and emergency communication devices.• Let someone know your hiking plans, including your route and expected return time.
“The frequency of rescues our department is involved in annually, and the lack of concern for what’s happening on Mt. Baldy by those who are responsible for maintaining visitor’s safety needs to be addressed,” San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said in a written statement. “Over a year and a half ago, I met with the U.S. Forest Service and our representative from Congress that covers this area, and I continue to meet with them to address this safety concern. It is my hope that with the new leadership who recently took over the area, this will be a priority for them, and they take visitor safety seriously for those who use public lands and the allied agencies who support them.”
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