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Mount Jenkins

7921'
(UTM 102519)

Mount Jenkins is located in Kern County, about 10 miles northwest of Inyokern, 150 miles from Los Angeles. It lies within the Owens Peak Wilderness. The peak was named in 1983 for James Charles Jenkins (1952-79), USFS Forester, beloved hiker, and author of five books renowned for their accuracy. He was tragically killed by a passing car while he was attempting to repair his vehicle that had stalled near Grapevine by the Tejon Pass. Mount Jenkins was added to the HPS Peak List in 1987. See the Summit Signature for more history and some background about the name of the peak.

Peak Guides
HPS has three current documented routes to the peak. Route 1 is 13 miles round trip with a total of 2700' of gain, and follows the Pacific Crest Trail from Walker Pass until it passes below the summit, then ascends a ridge to the summit block. Route 2 (6 miles round trip, 2500' gain) ascends the same ridge, but starts at the Owens Peak parking area. Route 3 begins at the summit of Owens Peak, descends a ridge from Owens to the saddle between Owens and Jenkins, then follows the Pacific Crest Trail south to the same ridge used in Route 1. From the Owens summit to the Jenkins summit is 3 miles one way and 1100' gain.

Older Peak Guides (routes may no longer be legal or safe, use caution!): 1993, and Microsoft Word version from 2002.

Maps! Lots of maps!

Current Conditions

Trip Reports from our Archives

Emblems earned on Mount Jenkins

Links of Interest

Sierra Club

Angeles Chapter

Desert Peaks

Lower Peaks

Sierra Peaks

San Diego Peaks