Chaparrosa Peak
Peak Name
Elevation
feet
Status
Region
Range
Nearby peaks
Location
Description
Chaparrosa Peak lies within the Pioneertown Mountains Preserve, owned and operated by the Wildlands conservancy. The rocky rolling landscape is inviting to the eye and peaceful to the spirit. It has views of the Joshua Tree area. Both of these moderate routes start from the Preserve’s visitors center on well-maintained but occasionally hard to follow trails and make an excellent loop hike.
Route 1 crosses rolling hills to wind its way gradually to the peak. Route 2 follows Pipes Canyon along a lovely creek where you can find historic cabin ruins, before departing for the peak.
Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission
Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides
Driving route
Drive east on I-10 past Banning to SR 62.
Go north on SR 62 to Pioneertown Road in Yucca Valley. Turn left.
Go north on Pioneertown Road 7.3 miles to Pipes Canyon Road. Turn left (west).
Go 0.6 mile to a fork. Go right.
Continue 0.3 mile farther to a parking area at a locked gate (“The Pipes”, UTM 421811). Park here.
Hiking route
From the parking area (4460′), hike south past the locked gate, cross the wash and hike up the jeep road to UTM 415800, which is about 3/4 mile from the parking area.
Here the jeep road ceases to go roughly southwest up the broad ridge. Instead it turns south at a constant elevation. Leave the road on the right at a trail marked by the figure of a horse painted on a rock and continue up the ridge on this trail.
The trail ascends for 100′, crosses the crest of the ridge, and descends into a broad wash. It crosses the wash, and goes south up the wash to a saddle at UTM 406796. It then goes on the south side of a bump to a saddle 250 meters to the southwest at UTM 404787.
Leave the trail here and go west up through some rocks to the summit. On the return trip it is pleasant to descend the broad ridge over elevation 5315′.
Note: Route 1 was rerouted in 2022 to avoid private property. Please follow signs or check HPS map.
Driving route
Drive east on I-10 past Banning to SR 62.
Go north on SR 62 to Pioneertown Road in Yucca Valley. Turn left.
Go north on Pioneertown Road 7.3 miles to Pipes Canyon Road. Turn left (west).
Go 0.6 mile to a fork. Go right.
Continue 0.3 mile farther to a parking area at a locked gate (“The Pipes”, UTM 421811). Park here.
Hiking route
From the parking area (4460′), hike west down the road into Pipes Canyon about 2 miles to where the canyon bottom widens out and a prominent canyon comes down from the south-southeast.
At the point where the road forks and a wash goes off to the left (south), go up the wash and follow ducks to pick up an old trail which goes south-southeast up the canyon.
Follow it about 1/2 mile to a saddle at 5200’+. Then follow the trail up the slope southeast to the saddle northeast of elevation 5490′.
From here, contour southeast over two more bumps to the fourth bump, which is the summit. The register is on the east end.
Route Notes
Additional Peak Information
Note: Since both routes share the same parking spot, they can be combined into an excellent loop trip.
Access note: Chaparrosa Peak is within the Pioneertown Mountains Preserve. The Preserve is open seven days per week, sunrise to sunset. It is OK to come out after dark, but park outside the gate and leave a note on your vehicle (so they don’t go in looking for you). Docent led hikes can be scheduled through the Preserve office (760) 369-7105 if you would like to learn more about the area. The preserve requests that hikers stay on officially designated trails, which are those shown on the preserve’s map and the HPS map.
External Links
Nearby Peaks
External Links
Peakbagger.com
Nearest ranger station
NOAA Forecast
Google Earth
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