Big Baldy Ridge

Big Baldy Ridge is one of those trails that delivers a wildly disproportionate reward for the effort. The path climbs gradually through a mixed conifer forest — white fir and red fir providing generous shade — before the trees thin out and the ridge opens up like a curtain being pulled back. The elevation gain is modest, about the equivalent of walking up a 60-story building, spread across two miles so it never feels punishing. As you move along the ridge, granite slabs and manzanita replace the forest canopy, and the views start stacking up: Redwood Canyon sprawls below you, harboring the largest grove of giant sequoias on Earth, while the Great Western Divide fills the eastern horizon. The bald granite summit is the kind of place where you sit down and forget what time it is. This trail is perfect for hikers who want big views without big suffering — and for anyone who appreciates that the best sequoia grove in the park is best seen from above.