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** Use at Your Own Risk **
02E |
Pinyon Peak |
6805' |
Location: Kern County, about 11 miles east of the town of Weldon, 153 miles from Los Angeles
Maps
| Auto Club | Kern County |
| Forest Service | Sequoia National Forest |
| USGS Topo | Walker Pass 7½ |
| Official HPS Maps | TPO file - Save to your computer then open with National Geographic TOPO! |
| Viewable JPG file - Approximately 800K | |
| GPX file or Google Earth KML file to download to GPS units and other map software (How to use GPX and KML files) | |
| Routes as shown on CalTopo using the above files (How to use CalTopo) |
ROUTE 1
- Distance: 5 miles round trip cross-country
- Gain: 3100' total, 2800' out plus 300' on return
- Time: 4-5 hours round trip
- Rating: Class 1, moderate
Original: J. C. Jenkins, 1978
DRIVING ROUTE 1
- Take SR 14 to Mojave.
- Continue north on SR 14 to the intersection with SR 178 (Freeman Junction).
- Go west on SR 178 to Walker Pass.
- Continue on SR 178 for 3 miles to the Walker Pass Lodge ruins.
- Continue 0.7 mile and park off the pavement on either side of the highway.
HIKING ROUTE 1
- Hike southwest up the slope to the top of a low ridge just east of elevation 5101'.
- Turn right and hike west up to elevation 5101'.
- Turn south and hike up the steep slope to the top of another ridge at 6050'.
- Turn right and hike west over bump 6822' and down into the saddle on the other side.
- From here hike southwest up the ridge to the summit. Keep left of the brush as you approach the summit.
ROUTE 2
Permission to park on and cross private property is required. Route has been withdrawn from publication, due to availability of alternate, non-private, approaches. See the Retired Peak Guides in the Archives for other (older) versions of this peak guide.
ROUTE 3
- Distance: 7.6 miles round trip on trail and cross-country
- Gain: 2950' total, 2500' out plus 450' on return
- Time: 6 hours round trip
- Rating: Class 1, moderate
DRIVING ROUTE 3
- Take SR 14 to Mojave.
- Continue north on SR 14 to the intersection with SR 178 (Freeman Junction).
- Reset your odometer and turn left (west) on SR 178.
- At 8.2 miles, cross Walker Pass.
- At 9.2 miles, pass Walker Pass Campground.
- At 9.7 miles, a warning sign (on the right side of the road) about a school bus stop in 500 feet. Park here or on the west side of the road.
HIKING ROUTE 3
- On the west side of the highway, find the beginning of the Pinyon Jack Trail (4820'). Follow this trail (vague in places) for about a mile. It crosses over a saddle (5020'+) then goes down to Jacks Creek.
- Turn right (north) and briefly follow the stream. It narrows a bit and usually can be easily crossed.
- Cross the stream and hike up the ridge you can see to the northwest. Follow the ridge about 2 miles to the summit.
CAMPING
About a mile past Walker Pass is the entrance on the left for Walker Pass Campground. There are restrooms and water during summer months. There are walk-in primitive sites. There are no fees or reservations at this time.
NOTE
Scodie Mountain, Pinyon Peak, Onyx Peak #2, and Skinner Peak lie in the Kiavah Wilderness which is bounded on the south by the road over Bird Spring Pass and on the north by SR 178 and Walker Pass.
Learn more about Pinyon Peak.
Please report any corrections or changes to the Mountain Records Chair.