Ken Point

Ken Point, photo by Sunny Yi

Ken Point, Photo by Sunny Yi.

Peak Name

Ken Point

28O

Elevation

6423

feet

Status

active

Region

Desert Divide

Range

San Jacinto Mountains

Nearby peaks

Butterfly Peak, Rock Point

Location

33.609322,-116.551769

Description

Ken Point and its neighbors mark the end of the Desert Divide that began at Mount San Jacinto. The slopes are dotted with green chaparral, outstanding outcrops, and impressive rock walls. The summit overlooks pretty Garner Valley, and the string of peaks of the Desert Divide above to the north. Ken Point Route 1 can be hiked together with Butterfly Peak.

Route 1 starts from Santa Rosa Summit and follows the PCT to a junction with a trail to Butterfly Peak to the west, then continuing southeast to the summit. Route 2 describes the route to or from Butterfly Peak, which can be somewhat brushy.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1

Elevation Gain

2600′ total, 2200′ out plus 400′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

16 miles round trip on trail, road, and cross-country

Estimated time

8-9 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, moderate

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take SR 60 east to I-215.
Go south on I-215 to the Ramona Expressway. Turn left (east).
Go east and then southeast on the Ramona Expressway until it ends at SR 74. Turn left (east).
Go east on SR 74 to Mountain Center.
Continue east on SR 74 for 12.5 miles to the intersection with SR 371 on the right.
Continue east on SR 74 about 1.0 mile to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) on the left. Park here.

Hiking route

From the trailhead (4950′), hike north on the PCT for about 5 miles to where it crosses a dirt road.
Continue north on the PCT another mile to a trail junction just before a gate across the trail.
Turn right at this junction and hike southeast along this trail past the remains of another gate for about 1.0 mile through two saddles to a duck on the left where a faint use trail goes up through the brush (UTM 413190).
Hike up this use trail to the ridge.
Turn right and hike up over a false summit and then on to the peak.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2- From Butterfly Peak

Elevation Gain

3000′ total, 2400′ out plus 600′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

10 miles round trip on road, trail, and cross-country including Butterfly Peak

Estimated time

6-7 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 2, moderate

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

See the driving instructions for Butterfly Peak Route 1.

Hiking route

See the Butterfly Peak guide for climbing Route 1.
From the summit of Butterfly Peak, hike down the southeast ridge to the 4WD road below.
Follow this road east and then southeast to where it crosses a creek bed. Just past the creek is a road junction.
Follow the 4WD road northeast up to a saddle at 5920’+ where it intersects the PCT.
Turn right and follow the trail south through a gate. Just past the gate is the trail junction on Route 1. Follow the instructions for Route 1 to the summit.
On the return trip, retrace your steps to where you first intersected the 4WD road southeast of Butterfly Peak. Continue up the road to its end at the point marked “Prospect” on the map. Contour west from here into a gully. Go over a small rise and intersect the ducked trail of Butterfly Peak Route 1. Follow this route back down to the parking area.

Route Notes

Printable Route