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** Use at Your Own Risk **
02C |
Nicolls Peak |
6070' |
Location: Kern County, about 3 miles south of the town of Weldon, 175 miles from Los Angeles
Maps
| Auto Club | Kern County |
| Forest Service | Sequoia National Forest |
| USGS Topos | Woolstalf Creek 7½, Weldon 7½ |
| Official HPS Maps | TPO file - Save to your computer then open with National Geographic TOPO! |
| Viewable JPG file - Approximately 1.4 megs | |
| 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) |
Nearby Peaks: Heald Peak
ROUTE 1
- Distance: 3 miles round trip cross-country
- Gain: 2000'
- Time: 5-6 hours round trip
- Rating: Class 2, strenuous, summit area is class 2
- Navigation: Difficult
Original: John Backus, October 1987
DRIVING ROUTE 1
- Start at SR 178 at Kernville Airport Road junction.
- Go 0.2 mile west to Vista Grande Road and turn left. Mark odometers at the intersection of Vista Grande and SR 178.
- 0.0 Go south on Vista Grande.
- In 0.5 mile, pavement ends at Bella Vista. Go straight.
- In 0.3 mile, intersect Hill View Acres Road. Go right.
- In 0.8 mile, intersect Brooks Road. Go left.
- Proceed on Brooks Road past "El Rancho Poco" and several intersections to the "W" ranch.
- In 1.2 miles take left fork at a sign "BLM Access". Follow a fence on the left.
- In 0.1 mile; intersection - turn sharp left on Last Chance Trail. 4WD is probably required for the remainder of the drive.
- In 0.1 mile, go right on Last Chance Trail (avoid taking Miners Gulch trail).
- In 0.1 mile, fork. (Turn off for Heald Peak). Go left.
- In 0.1 mile, fork. Go left.
- In 1.5 mile, end of road just past a fence. Park here (3950').
Note: There are multiple confusing roads. The BLM has added road names that are shown on our latest map. Check your mileages going in and coming out.
HIKING ROUTE 1
- From the cars observe the saddle just south (right) of the summit. This is the low point between Heald and Nicolls.
- Follow a trail easterly for a short ways until you see a tree on the north side of the wide wash.
- Leave the trail here and proceed northerly until you gain the wash on the north side of the wide wash. Follow this wash until you are just south-southwest of the saddle.
- Head up toward the saddle.
- At the saddle proceed north (left) until you encounter ducks.
- Follow a well-ducked use trail northerly, contouring around the east side of some rocky terrain.
- Follow the ducks, scrambling over or around rocky outcrops to the summit.
- The southernmost summit is the high point.
This peak can be combined with Heald Peak. See Route 2 for Heald Peak.
Learn more about Nicolls Peak.
Please report any corrections or changes to the Mountain Records Chair.