Asbestos Mountain

Asbestos Summit Block, photo by Sunny Yi

Asbestos Mountain in the Distance with Martinez Mountain Beyond, photo by Kathy Wing

Asbestos Mountain, photo by Kathy Wing

Martinez Mountain, Toro, Santa Rosa, photo by Kathy Wing

Asbestos Mountain, Photo by Kathy Wing.

Peak Name

Asbestos Mountain

30A

Elevation

5265

feet

Status

active

Region

Santa Rosa Mountains

Range

San Jacinto Mountains

Nearby peaks

Location

33.6275257,-116.4586251

Description

Asbestos Mountain, named for the mineral once mined in abundance in the area, lies west of the Desert Divide at the feet of the Santa Rosa Mountains east of Anza. It shares the desert terrain and flora typical of the area. The views from the summit are remarkable (clockwise from the north): the Desert Divide and San Jacinto massif, the Coachella Valley to the Salton Sea, Martinez Mountain, Toro, and Santa Rosa Mountain. Route 1 involves a moderate scramble up a gully, then weaves around bold rock outcrops to the summit plateau.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1

Elevation Gain

1000′

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

3 miles round trip road and cross-country

Estimated time

2 1/2 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-10 or SR 60 east to SR 79 in Beaumont. Take exit south to SR 79.
Go south on SR 79, which becomes a four-lane road for 8.1 miles to the Ramona Expressway. Turn left (east).
Go east on the Ramona Expressway for 8.8 miles until it ends at SR 74 (Florida Avenue). Turn left (east) on SR 74.
Go east on SR 74 to Mountain Center, approximately 14.7 miles.
Continue east on SR 74 for about 20.5 miles to Palm Canyon Drive. Turn left (north). Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 1.3 miles, turn right (east) on Pinon Drive.
At1.5 miles, turn left (north) on Jereboa Drive.
At 2.3 miles, a turn-around with a narrow dirt road continuing on.
Drive another 0.7 mile on a jeep road, keeping right at a fork, to its end. Depending on road conditions, this last 0.7 mile may require 4WD.

Hiking route

From the parking area (4240′), note the large boulder visible on the skyline at the top of a gully. Hike north-northeast toward this shallow gully.
Hike up the gully, following a ducked route, and heading generally toward the boulder.
Go left around the large boulder and up the shallow gully behind it.
The summit is a rocky outcrop on the left, about 100 yards northeast of the large boulder, with a conspicuous dead tree on it. For an easy route to the summit, go to the top of the gully and look for ducks on the south side of the summit. Follow a ducked route which curves around the east side of the summit to the northeast side. If you do not find the gully immediately behind the large boulder, but instead stay in the larger main gully, the summit will be on your right.

Route Notes

Printable Route