Bald Mountain Loops

The Bald Mountain Loop Trails are a series of several loops progressing up the western side of Bald Mountain in the Buntingville area just south of Susanville.There are a total of 12 loops, along with several other spurs. Along with hiking, you might see the occasional mountain biker or horse rider using these paths as well. However, owing to its location away from any sizeable cities, these trails don't receive much use, and you'll likely be able to spend a day here and not encounter anyone else.The trails climb about 1000' from the parking area to the peak of Bald Mountain, though the lower loops have minimal elevation change, and generally stay on flattened dirt single track, making these the easiest to stick to for those just looking for a short hike. As the trails progress higher, more technical terrain is crossed, and the smooth trails of the lower sections start to become switchbacks as the path makes its way up the mountain.Signs stand at each trail fork, giving hikers a sense of their location, and we had cel phone coverage throughout our entire hike enabling us to check the GPS. With so many different loops and forks, it can get a bit confusing. Near the top, there are several more forks that begin to circle the high point of Bald Mountain. The peak itself is marked only by a tie up for horses, and views extend to the north and south, along with a scenic view of the mountains to the west. Hikers should keep in mind that there is no shade along the hike, no water, and the western mountains cut off the sun creating a much earlier sunset time on the hike.Bald Mountain and all of the trails sit on BLM land. It is very easy to adjust hiking distances and elevation gains based on the difficulty level desired. There are no restaurants, gas or food in the area. The nearest amenities are located in Susanville.