125 miles with 16,300 feet of elevation gain*
Locate ride on interactive map.
[Interactive Course | enlarge]
[Route Profile]
Dawson Saddle and Mount Baldy - Counties Visited:
Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County
Dawson Saddle and Mount Baldy - Cities/Towns Visited:
Azusa, Mount Baldy Village, and Glendora
Dawson Saddle and Mount Baldy - Climbs:
Mile 3 (cat. 4), 6 (cat. 4), 12 (cat. 1), 32 (cat. 2), 72 (cat. 2), 82 (cat. 3), 90 (cat. 2), and 100 (cat. 4)
Dawson Saddle and Mount Baldy - Stops (Self-Supported):
Mile 30 (Crystal Lake Recreational Area), 71 (Camp Williams), and 90 (Mount Baldy Village)
Dawson Saddle and Mount Baldy - Description:
This super century is a variation of the Mount Baldy and Islip Saddle century.
It starts in Azusa and initially leads up to the Crystal Lake area. After the store, the road continues single lane to Deer Flats group campground (6,400 feet). Then it turns into a fire road (too rough for skinny tires), which leads all the way up to South Mount Hawkins fire lookout tower (7,500 feet).
The ride continues on San Gabriel Canyon Road to Islip Saddle (6,600 feet) and on Angeles Crest Highway to Dawson Saddle (7,900 feet).
After a very long descent, East Fork Road leads to Glendora Mountain Road, Glendora Ridge Road, and Mount Baldy Road, the steep section up Mount Baldy (6,400 feet).
The descent follows the same route, but instead of turning towards East Fork Road, it continues to Glendora and back to Azusa.
Dawson Saddle and Mount Baldy - Pictures:
[Crystal Lake Road]
[Crystal Lake Road]
[Dawson Saddle]
[Mount Baldy]
[View from Cow Canyon Saddle]
Dawson Saddle and Mount Baldy - Personal Notes:
With over 100,000 feet of climbing in my legs from the past few weeks, and my usual riding partner unavailable, I decided last minute to head to the San Gabriel Mountains for a solo ride.
I started at sunrise to have enough daylight. The climbs to Crystal Lake and Dawson Saddle were perfect, but on the climb to Cow Canyon Saddle, I ran low on water and started bonking in the heat. After three cold cokes and a large ice cream in Mount Baldy Village, I was able to continue. The descent into the sunset was awesome. On Glendora Mountain Road, two downhill skateboarders were racing me.
Dawson Saddle and Mount Baldy - Current Weather:
See also Top Bike Climbs in California.