Cerro Noroeste

Old Sign for Noroeste with its old name, photo by Valerie Norton

Cerro Noroeste Near, photo by Tao Zhang

Old Sign for Noroeste with its old name, Photo by Valerie Norton.

Peak Name

Cerro Noroeste

04F

Elevation

8286

feet

Status

active

Region

Southern Kern County West Of Hwy 5

Range

San Emigdio Mountains

Nearby peaks

Grouse Mountain, Sawmill Mountain, Mount Pinos

Location

34.8308108,-119.2034437

Description

Once referred to as Mount Abel, after a Kern County supervisor responsible for building the road to the peak, the name fell out of favor when his Ku Klux Klan affiliation was disclosed, prompting the USGS in 1989 to assert its original Spanish name. The name persists on the benchmark, however. Cerro Noroeste is one of several peaks where the location of the HPS summit is different from the USGS summit.

Although Cerro Noroeste can be a drive-up peak (Route 1), it is usually paired with some or all of the remaining peaks on the ridge to Pinos (Route 2). There is a nice and sparsely visited campground on top.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1- Drive-up

Elevation Gain

None

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

None

Estimated time

None

Route Rating

Drive-up

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

Go north on I-5 to the Frazier Park exit.
Go west 7.2 miles past Frazier Park and on to Lake of the Woods.
Keep straight here and go 5.3 miles farther to the junction with Mil Potrero Road. Turn right. Note odometer and go as follows:
At 8.3 miles, highway junction and a ranger station at Apache Saddle. Turn left.
At 16 miles, a circle road at the campground on the summit. Park at the south end of the circle near a restroom.

Hiking route

Hike south about 200 yards along a dirt road (which goes to a radio site) to a rockpile on the right side of the road. This is the traditional HPS summit, which differs from the USGS summit 150 yards to the east.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2- From Mount Pinos Ridge

Elevation Gain

750′ gain, 900′ loss

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

3 miles one way on trail and road

Estimated time

1-1/2 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

See driving directions for Grouse Mountain.

Hiking route

From the top of Grouse Mountain, hike north 1/4 mile back down to the trail.
Turn left (west) on the trail and follow it down to where it meets the Mesa Spring Trail at Puerto del Suelo (the saddle between Grouse Mountain and Cerro Noroeste.)
Continue straight (west) on the trail as it goes up a short steep section until it meets the road in Route 1.
Turn right (north) up the road and walk 0.8 mile to the top following Route number 1 driving and hiking instructions.

Route Notes

From the top of Grouse Mountain, hike north 1/4 mile back down to the trail. Turn left (west) on the trail and follow it down to where it meets the Mesa Spring Trail at Puerto del Suelo (the saddle between Grouse Mountain and Cerro Noroeste.) Continue straight (west) on the trail as it goes up a short steep section until it meets the road in Route 1. Turn right (north) up the road and walk 0.8 mile to the top following Route number 1 driving and hiking instructions.

Printable Route

Road Type

None

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Additional Peak Information

Please keep the register hidden since it is so close to the campground. Mount Pinos, Sawmill Mountain and Grouse Mountain, and Cerro Noroeste (Mt. Abel) are often combined as a car shuttle trip from Pinos to Cerro Noroeste, 7.5 miles with 2100′ gain. By reversing the climbing instructions, it can be done in the reverse order.