Location: Kern County, about 12 miles west-northwest of Inyokern, 159 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Nearby Peaks: Morris Peak, Mount Jenkins, Five Fingers

Distance: 7 miles round trip on road and use trail

Gain: 3200' total, 3100' out plus 100' on return

Time: 6 hours round trip

Rating: Class 2, moderate

Navigation: Intermediate

Original: Paul A. Lipsohn, May 1974

DRIVING ROUTE 1

• Take SR 14 to Mojave.
• Continue north on SR 14 to the intersection with SR 178 (Freeman Junction).
• Continue north on SR 14 another 5.3 miles to a dirt road on the left. Turn left. This is 0.4 mile past Indian Wells, with a lodge and brewery. SR 14 is under construction. It may be necessary to continue farther north and turn around, returning to the dirt road. Note your odometer and go as follows:
• At 2.6 miles, Powers Well on the left. Keep straight. This is a good camping spot.
• At 2.7 miles, fork. Turn right.
• At 3.2 miles, fork. Keep left. This is the turnoff for Five Fingers.
• At 3.8 miles, fork. Keep left.
• At 3.9 miles, fork. Keep left.
• At 5.2 miles, fork. Keep right.
• At 5.8 miles, fork. Go right. (Left goes to the Morris Peak parking area.)
• At 6.5 miles, fork. Go right.
• At 7.2 miles, a small radio site on the right.
• At 7.7 miles, fork with a road on the right going out to a camping spot on an outcrop. Park here. This at the barricaded Wilderness boundary.
• Note: High clearance may be required to proceed beyond the 5.2 mile point.

HIKING ROUTE 1

• From the parking area (5440'), hike past the barricade along the old road, which eventually becomes a trail.
• Continue on this trail up the canyon to a small clearing at about 6100'. The canyon forks here.
• Follow the excellent use trail up the right canyon to about 7000' where the trail becomes quite steep, then starts through a field of dark boulders.
• Follow ducks up through these boulders. (If you come to a field of white boulders, you are too far to the right.)
• Continue on the use trail up toward the summit passing a steep rock friction slope at about 7800' on the way.
• Continue on a good but steep trail to the summit.