Manker Flats / San Antonio Falls (Mt. Baldy)
Get there before 7am on a weekend, or plan to walk. Manker Flats is the upper trailhead on Mt Baldy Road — the start of the easy San Antonio Falls walk and the hard Mt. Baldy summit via the Ski Hut/Baldy Bowl. Parking is a mix of a small paved area and roadside pullouts along Falls Road, and it fills fast on any nice weekend. On the pass question the sources genuinely disagree: most vendors and signs say display an Adventure Pass (or an America the Beautiful pass), while the Angeles NF fee map lists some of this stretch as non-fee — so the safe move is to display a pass and avoid the ambiguity, because cars here do get ticketed.
The facts
- Trail served
- San Antonio Falls (1.4 mi RT, easy) and Mt. San Antonio / Mt. Baldy summit via Ski Hut & Baldy Bowl (~10–11 mi RT, strenuous)
- Cost / pass
- Adventure Pass ($5/day, $30/yr) or Interagency pass — display it; parts of the corridor are signed non-fee but enforcement is inconsistent, so don't risk it
- Lot size
- Small paved area plus roadside pullouts along Falls Rd — a few dozen cars total before it spills down the road
- When it fills
- Weekends and holidays: by 7am, earlier for a summit start
- Overflow option
- Park farther down Mt Baldy Road toward the Village and walk up, or start from the Village lots — adds road-walking either way
- Tow / citation risk
- Park fully off the pavement; Mt Baldy Road is narrow and CHP/USFS ticket cars blocking the lane or parked in no-parking zones
- Restrooms
- Vault toilet near the trailhead; none higher up
- Road to the lot
- Paved: Mt Baldy Road up through the Village to Manker Flats; chains possible in winter
- Busy season
- Waterfall best late winter–spring for flow; summit is a summer–fall hike (snow/ice gear needed off-season)
Getting there
Falls Rd / Mt Baldy Rd, Mt Baldy, CA 91759
Get directions →Two very different hikes, one parking problem
Manker Flats serves two very different Mt. Baldy outings. The San Antonio Falls walk is a mostly paved 1.4-mile round trip to a 75-foot waterfall, best in late winter and spring. The Mt. Baldy summit via the Ski Hut and Baldy Bowl starts here too: roughly 10–11 miles and 3,900 feet of gain, with mountaineering conditions in snow. They share modest parking, so summit hikers arrive before dawn and waterfall visitors should come early.
Parking is a small paved area plus roadside pullouts along Falls Road. It often fills by 7am on weekends. Park downhill only where the pavement is clear and signs allow it.
The Adventure Pass question, honestly
Parking rules at Manker Flats are disputed: vendors, signs, and many guides call for an Adventure Pass or America the Beautiful pass, and citations happen here. Parts of the Angeles National Forest fee map call the corridor no-fee. Rather than gamble on a particular pullout, display a valid pass. A $5 day pass costs less than a ticket, and an interagency pass works too.
To avoid the roadside scramble, use the Mt. Baldy Village lots lower down (some paid or attended). You can buy a day pass at the Mount Baldy Lodge/Visitor Center; our Adventure Pass guide has the details.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need an Adventure Pass to park at Manker Flats?
Most signs and vendors say yes — display an Adventure Pass or an America the Beautiful pass. Parts of the corridor are mapped as non-fee, which causes confusion, but cars do get ticketed here, so the safe move is to display a valid pass. A day pass is $5.
Where do you park for San Antonio Falls?
At Manker Flats on Mt Baldy Road — a small paved area plus roadside pullouts along Falls Road. It fills by about 7am on weekends. The falls are a short, mostly paved 1.4-mile round trip from there.
When does Manker Flats parking fill up?
By roughly 7am on weekends and holidays, and earlier if you're starting the Mt. Baldy summit hike. After that, cars park down Mt Baldy Road and walk up.
Where can I buy an Adventure Pass near Mt. Baldy?
The Mount Baldy Lodge / Visitor Center on Mt Baldy Road sells them, and you can buy online ahead of time. See our Adventure Pass guide for the full list of vendors.
Facts on this page last verified August 1, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.