Weldon Peak

Weldon Peak, photo by Google Earth

Weldon Peak, Photo by Google Earth.

Peak Name

Weldon Peak

02Q

Elevation

6320

feet

Status

active

Region

Southern Sierra South Of Hwy 178

Range

Piute Mountains

Nearby peaks

Sorrell Peak, Piute Lookout

Location

35.3566261,-118.2900791

Description

Weldon is located in pine forest just off of the Pacific Crest Trail. Route 1 starts as a pretty walk along the PCT, then ascends a somewhat brushy gully to the peak ridge. Weldon is one of several HPS peaks that is not at the same location as the USGS summit, which is just to the southwest. Be certain to stay on the trail for the first portion of the hike (this is a public easement through private property) and observe the no trespassing signs. Weldon is usually hiked with Piute and Weldon in a very long dirt road driving day.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1

Elevation Gain

1600′ total, 800′ out plus 800′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

5 miles round trip on trail, road, and cross-country

Estimated time

3-4 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 2, moderate, optional summit block is short class 3

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

Southern approach:
From Mojave, go north on SR 14 for 19.5 miles to Jawbone Canyon Road on the left. Turn left, note your odometer and go as follows:
At 4.2 miles, pavement ends.
At 6.2 miles, fork. This is the parking area for Cross Mountain. Turn right.
At 14.7 miles, saddle. This is the parking area for Butterbredt Peak.
At 17.9 miles, fork. Keep left.
At 18.2 miles, intersection of Jawbone Canyon Road and Kelso Valley Road. Go straight, continuing on Jawbone Canyon Road.
Continue on this road for 6.8 miles as it begins to switchback up the hill (Geringer Grade). It soon comes to the top of the ridge and turns sharply right, passing a dirt road on the left with a locked gate.
Continue about 0.3 mile north of this locked gate. There is convenient parking on the right in an obscure junction with an old jeep road. This spot (UTM 250158) is just north of small bump 6385′ shown on the USGS topo.

Northern approach:
The parking area for Route 1 can be reached from Claraville Flat to the north via County Route 589. This allows this peak to be combined with Sorrell Peak or Piute Lookout.

Hiking route

From the parking area (6360′), hike down the slope (southwest) a short distance to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Note: The PCT is shown incorrectly on the 1994 topo.
Turn left on the PCT and hike about 1/2 mile to a BLM easement post next to the trail. The trail enters private property here. Continue on the trail to where it meets a dirt road.
Turn right on this road and follow it about 1/4 miles down to a fork.
Keep left here and continue on the main road past a locked cable gate, continuing for another 3/4 mile to where the road levels out at a junction (about 5600′) which is marked “Casa de Oso”. Take the right fork to stay on the main road for about 250 feet to where the PCT leaves the road on the left.
Follow the PCT for about 1/3 mile over a low ridge and down into the next significant gully. There may be a duck here.
Leave the PCT, follow the gully southeast, and then continue in the same general direction to the main ridgeline.
The summit register has been placed on a conspicuous 60′ pinnacle in the farthest northeast corner of the summit plateau. On the topo, this spot is located 0.2 mile north of the letters “do” of “Weldon Peak”.
To reach this spot, turn left at the main ridgeline, staying high. The summit block is obvious.
The register is found 2/3 of the way to the top of the rock. It is reached by a short class 3 route that begins at the northwest corner. Caution: On the return from the summit, trend westward and northwest to avoid encroaching on the property of “Casa de Oso”, a hunting club.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Dirt

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Additional Peak Information

Special conditions: The BLM has arranged an easement for hikers through this area. Please stay on the marked easement route! No trespassing signs refer to the land on both sides of the BLM easement. All of sections 35 and 36 are private property. The summit recognized by the HPS is not the “Weldon Peak” shown on the USGS topo. It is a pinnacle located 0.3 mile to the northeast. See the hiking directions for more details.

Note: The dirt roads are seasonal. Excellent secluded car camping is available another 2 miles farther north where a dirt road on the left leads to a rocky outcrop. The route to Weldon Peak from this spot: Drop southwest to the PCT and then turn left. Add 1 mile round trip.