Mecca Hills Indian Trails, Joshua Tree NP

Ladder Canyon

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• An Indian trail runs up the west rim of Painted Canyon to towers and meets trails running east and west. Loops can be done. I put GPS tracks on peakbagger under Blink Benchmark.
• PAINTED CANYON TRAIL WEST LOOP - this one goes up the canyon then on the left rim up to the towers. Then I took one running west and looped back. This is the best hike on this page. From the Painted Canyon TH, I walked up canyon for 1.2 air miles to a main fork. I stayed left for half an air mile then took the obvious tourist trail up the rim. It goes down the rim to Ladder Canyon, but the Indian trail goes up the rim to the towers. At el 1500 it goes over a steep little hill but there is a wuss route around the left side. I got to the towers and the trail fades but I circled left to one at N33 39790, W115 59042. It follows a road along the wilderness boundary. At 39713, 59698 it shortcuts a bend in the road and angles up to the right to hit the road again. All remaining coordinates are W116.  The trail leaves the road and down a ridge at W33 39634, W116 00553 and on to 39584, 00759 then 39420, 01227. At the end of the ridge an obvious low saddle is to the left. I went thru and up a wash and up to the rim at 38976, 01789 with gorgeous pavement. I walked south a little toward Mecca Hill and into a wash that took me to a main wash then I went up that to a fork at 38530, 01569. I stayed left then left at the next one and it winds around seemingly the wrong way but nope it leads to the divide at 38436, 01375. I dropped down there in mud hills and walked downstream back to the start. 5 and a half hours, 11.4 miles, and maybe 500 noticeable gain. Next time I'll reverse it to be going downhill on the steeper parts and the sandy Painted Canyon. Posted 2024.
• PAINTED CANYON TRAIL EAST LOOP - this time I took the trail to the towers and came back in an east fork of Painted Canyon. From the Painted Canyon TH, I walked up 10 minutes to the sign for Ladder Canyon and went up that to get on the rim. I walked it all the way to the towers and stopped by Blink Benchmark. I then walked the road and headed for an Indian trail at N33 39873, W115 57898. It must have taken them to Box Canyon but so much vehicle impact makes it no fun now. It's better to just plot the best route along the flats to a fork at 38936, 57362 on the north side of peak 1707. It's soft sand down that back to the start and that's why I wouldn't reverse this. 5 and a half hours, 12 miles, 500 noticeable gain. Posted 2024.
• NORTH TRAILS - peak 1513 has trails on the west ridges. The Cactus City exit on I-10 has a high clearance road running south to towers. Westbound drivers have to use the next exit to the east and drive 3 miles on an easy 4wd gas road. Before the towers are two roads forking right. The one on the left at N33 40348, W115 58263 is best. It goes to the mouth of a canyon then a spotty trail goes up canyon at 39889, 59212. It goes over the rim to 39935, 59570 then to 40044, 59809. It soon crosses a road then goes level on the left of a drainage then up a little to the road again. It crosses and soon crosses back then on down a ridge and hits a main wash. There I went right across the wash and up the rim and walked a spotty trail back to peak 1513 and followed the high ground back to the first trail. When I got to where I first crossed the road I left that trail and walked the road. It has a trail but mostly bulldozed. I saw later on the sat image that I could have veered right off the road to a trail at 40034, 59556 then to 40025, 59138 where it runs down a drainage and back to the start. 3 hours, the app has the gain at 800, all easy. All roads are high clearance except the gas road that westbound drivers use. Posted 2024.
• LOST PALMS OASIS is in the southern part of Joshua Tree NP. An easy one way hike is possible. I put a track on peakbagger under Mastodon Peak. At the southern entrance to the park there is an aqueduct. Go east along it on a graded road for 4 miles then left along power lines for a fifth mile to a gate. Leave a car there then ride an ebike 12 miles to the upper TH in the park. The topo shows the trail to the palms. There is a signed side trail to Mastodon Peak. At the palms the trail forks. Left goes down to the palms then it's just down canyon with a couple of minor boulder obstacles then there is a pipeline trail on the right bank at N33 42360, W115 45349. Not used in years, it needs pruning. I could see it on the sat image. It follows the pipeline and hits the creekbed below Victory Palms. Soon there is a canyon on the left that goes to good palms at Summit Spring. A cairned route on the right bank goes up then merges back to the creekbed at 42475, 44859. It's less than 10 minutes to the palms and spring but dry that day. Back in the main wash there is an option to go up a gully at 42206, 44717 to get on a huge bench and avoid ATV tracks in the main wash. Near the end of the bench is a low saddle that offers an alternate route but rocky and takes longer. It is more scenic though and has no tire tracks. For that, go thru the saddle reading 41877, 442222  then a faint trail goes along the right side of the canyon then down. Get on the left bank at 41249, 43829 and then the last steep bouldery drop has a route on the far left. It took me 4 hours and 9 miles and that includes the side trip to the peak and walking the easy way in the main wash at the end. The gain is all super easy but for about 400 and half of that is the peak. A side trip to Summit Spring would add an hour. The only water was a tiny stream about 10 feet long at Lost Palms. The alternate rocky canyon at the end of the hike had a huge pothole full of water. Posted March, 2024.
• COTTONWOOD BASIN is in south Joshua Tree NP and SW of the visitor center. A one way hike can be done by entering by way of Pinkham Wash then out the easy east wash. I parked on the highway at BM 2826 which is mp 31.5 then rode my Zizzo bike nearly 2 miles to the visitor center then went left on the high clearance Pinkham road for a bit over 6 miles to point 3316. I walked to N33 46591, W115 54500 to get around a point and into the wash. I strolled up to the basin then took a side trip up peak 4262. It's too easy to pass up. I stayed in the main wash to avoid gullies then left it for 700 feet to high ground at 44511, 55538 that leads to a ridge at 44622, 55984 then followed the topo up. I came back down then crossed the basin to a century old marker at 44654, 53889. I went on over the divide to a wash at 44586, 53509 then down it to the highway. 5 hours, 12.5 miles and no noticeable gain except for the side trip up the peak and that isn't steep. A mtn bike and high clearance vehicle is all that's needed. It wouldn't be a bad plan to haul 2 or 3 gallons of water into the basin and set up a base camp. Solitude is a big plus. The Pinkham road goes on over a low divide then down the wash to a graded road along the interstate. 4wds have packed the sand somewhat and my cycle didn't have many traction issues. It's 99% easy 4wd with a few harder obstacles in the central part. Jeeps get thru easy. At the 1960 line there is tricky fork. The real road  follows posts to get on the right bank then on to the boundary of the park and then a left fork goes to the graded road. Then it's 3 miles to a freeway interchange. It's 20 miles from the visitor center to the graded road making a total of about 23 to get to the interchange. It's hard to judge if fat tire ebikes can make it down the wash. Posted 2024.
• PEAK 4262 is on the west side of Cottonwood Basin. An easy one way hike can be done out of the basin then down the south ridge. I took I-10 to exit 162 then drove nearly 3 miles west on the graded frontage road to Pinkham Wash. I left my truck there then rode my cycle back to the freeway and on to the visitor center then went left on the high clearance Pinkham road for a bit over 6 miles to point 3316. I walked to N33 46591, W115 54500 to get around a point and into the wash. I strolled up to the basin and stayed in the main wash to avoid gullies then left it for 700 feet to high ground at 44511, 55538 that leads to a ridge at 44622, 55984 then followed the topo up. The west summit had a reg placed in 1986 by M&L with only 2 entries since. I then dropped to the south saddle and walked the easy ridge on around the west side of peak 3905 then to peak 3023 where I turned west. I hit a saddle at 43179, 57768 el 2600 and could have dropped down either side. I went down the drainage on the left as it's shorter and more scenic. Soon I could move to the left rim then down and out in a nice wash. At the main Pinkham Wash I stayed near the left bank and walked pristine washes to my truck. 5 hours, 10.3 miles and the only noticeable gain is the easy 500 up to the peak out of the basin. The next day I did the hike over peak 4493 to retrieve my cycle. A party with 2 cars and mtn bikes can do the same over 2 days. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2024.
• PEAK 4493 is an easy walk from the visitor center. I went over the peak to retrieve my cycle from the peak 4262 hike the day before. I parked a fifth mile in on the Pinkham road at a wash. I walked up that then to high ground at N33 45199, W115 49937. I walked with the flow for a bit over half a mile to a main wash then up that then got on the right bank at 45284, 51225. Then I had some good pavement to the wussiest ridge on the map at 45080, 51741 el 3500. I followed the topo up to the summit then down a ridge at 45618, 52968 and used the topo to stay on the easiest ridges down to my cycle at point 3316. 3 hours, 10 minutes, and 1000 noticeable gain. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2024.
• COTTONWOOD BENCHMARK el 4372 is south of Cottonwood Basin. I did a one way from the visitor center over  the peak then down the south ridge. I dropped my cycle off at exit 162 on I-10 then drove 15 miles to the visitor center. I went left there on the Pinkham road for a fifth mile to a wash. I walked up that then to high ground at N33 45199, W115 49937. I walked with the flow for a bit over half a mile to a main wash then up that then got on the right bank at 45284, 51225. I then followed the low ground around the right side of a hill then on to a main wash at 44720, 51914. I crossed it to the far bank and strolled past a century old marker at 44650, 52161. I kept going a third mile or so and dropped left to a main wash then up to a fork at 44619, 52970. I went left and stayed in the main wash then thru the north saddle of peak 4356 then on to peak 4425. A reg placed by M&L in 1980 was still there. I went on to the BM then to 42997, 54870 where a path took me around a bump to the descent ridge. I went down past peak 3994 then peak 3110 then Cottonwood G which has a rectangular marker. I went south from there then it got rockier so I dropped right at 41068, 55096 then soon went to the right down a drainage and hit bottom. I walked the far bank till it ended then on to a road at 40622, 54973 that goes to exit 162. 6 and a half hours, 11.6 miles, 1500 gain but more than 1000 of that is easy washes. The descent ridge is rocky soil but no boulders or cliffs to figure out. Sheep trails skirt some of the bumps. Thick soles needed. An alternate route for ascent or descent is the main wash at mp 31.5 on the road to the visitor center. Not nearly as dramatic as the ridge. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2024.
• MONUMENT MOUNTAIN el 4834 is a huge one along the Pinkham road. I made a good loop up smooth washes from the east then down the south ridge. I rode about 3 miles in on the Pinkham road from the visitor center then headed for the main east wash at N33 47962, W115 50852. I went up that to the first main fork and went right then stayed on smooth gravel along the west side of peak 3846 then SW of peak 4157 and on to the final NW ridge of the peak at 49249, 53834 el 4150. I went up and over the summit then down the south ridge on a spotty hiker trail. The ridge levels off around the 4600 line and I stayed right past all the bumps along there. At a saddle reading 47752, 53238 el 3950, I dropped left to a level ridge el 3800 and walked it to a canyon at 47850, 52830 el 3700. I went down that and it got rough so I stepped up to the left thru a saddle at 47570, 52712 el 3500 then down to the flats. A bike there would have saved me a mile and a half back to the start but I was asleep at the wheel. That took 5 hours, 13 minutes, 11 miles and no noticeable gain until the last 700. I couldn't believe how easy the washes are all the way up to el 4100. I put a track on peakbagger. A mtn bike is all that's needed for this without the shuttle but to avoid the mile and a half at the end would need a high clearance vehicle and bike. Posted 2024.
• LEE BENCHMARK el 3383 is on the west rim of Cottonwood Canyon near the south entrance of Joshua Tree. A one way hike is easy using the ancient road to Coyote Mine. I parked on the highway at mp 34.3 then rode my Zizzo 3 miles up to a mega wash at BM 2826. I walked up the wash to the faint road at N33 44079, W115 50787. It soon fades so I went over the rim to it again at 43908, 50778. It goes down a wash then up left at 43878, 50612 and on to the mine. Then it's an easy ridge to the BM and then I went on to a saddle at 43053, 49813. I followed the topo on thru the west saddle of peak 3155 and immediately veered onto the south ridge of that peak and down to a saddle at 42255, 49589. The ridge turns nasty there so I dropped left out of the saddle down the drainage for 350 feet then I could move left to an easy ridge down then walked the base to my vehicle. 3 hours, 40 minutes for the hiking part and the app had the gain at 860 and all easy. ALTERNATE ENDING - it would easier to walk straight south at the end of the hike to a car spotted at  1778 on the canal road. But it makes for a harder shuttle if all you have for a second vehicle is pedal bike and so I think not worth it. Posted 2024.
• GOLDEN BEE MINE TRAIL - this trail goes from the mine to the crest then it's easy to run the crest to the tipples trail. I parked on the Pinto Basin Rd at the tipples TH at mp 8. I then coasted down a mile and a half on my bike and locked to a yellow sign. I walked the flats to the mine road at N33 54908, W115 56199. It is soon gone so I went straight to ruins at 54675, 56249 then was on the road again and walked it to the end at a spool. A trail starts there and goes to the mine then resumes on the right at 54282, 56124. At a saddle it splits and I went right up the ridge and the trail goes around the north side of peak 3298 and fades. But it's easy to go on to peak 3641 then along the east side of the plateau to the easiest ridge down at 54486, 58216 el 3550. I hit the wash then thru a low saddle to 55089, 57813 and on down canyon to the fork with the Golden Bell Mine. I walked a road up the fork to the mine then a trail at 55486, 57506. It goes to mines then up to the right and on up the right slope of the canyon and to the tipples where a tourist trail goes to the highway. 4 hours, 2000 gain, 7.5 miles. Easy terrain. SHORT VERSION - take the trail to the tipples then go east on the ridge and soon the trail to the Golden Bell shows up.Then just follow the topo on to the Eldorado and on to the highway. Posted 2024.
• WASHINGTON WASH - the upper part is the best. I did a loop down into it from Hexie Mtns high point. I parked on the west side at point 4067. I could have drove a car all but the last 5 miles then ebiked it. I walked to the south side of peak 3903 at N33 51720, W116 01852 then to high ground at 51684, 01048. I just kept going up to peak 4725 then peak 4491 and on down the ridge to peak 4161. I dropped south down a ridge there at 51925, 56693. I went down that to the final ridge at 51180, 56673 el 3650 then at 50520, 56614 el 3100 I dropped down to the right to hit the wash. Then I just went up canyon on smooth sand to a fork at 51267, 01089 and went left back to the start. 8 hours, 15 minutes, 18 miles with 3000 gain. The last 1200 gain is up the easy wash. Rocks were not an issue except for the last 300 down to the wash. The reg on Hexie high point was the only sign of humanity but for balloon trash. Sheep tracks were in the wash. Where's the water? Show me the water! I put a track on peakbagger under Hexie high point. Posted 2024.
• TWENTYNINE PALMS MOUNTAIN el 4560 has two roads up that can be connected for a loop. The 4wd Gold Park Road goes in from town as shown on the topo. The road that branches off toward the summit has a locked gate at the base of the mountain. So I just went on past that road for half a mile and parked. Then I walked to the closed road and on up to the summit where I could see the other road to the south near peak 1308. I walked down that back to the start. 3 hours, 1500 gain. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2024.
• PAYMASTER MINE LOOP - the 4wd road in by way of Gold Park is closed at point 1118 south of a guzzler. So it's better to come in from the Pinto Basin Rd at the sand pit. There is a faint road cutting north of peak 3607 and it connects to the road to the mine. Some relics are there and a risky tunnel.There is an option to go on up canyon to get on the easy ridge to peak 3734 or just go down the easy wash running west of it then pick a route back to the start. It measures out on the map at 8 miles or so. I came in the Gold Park route and went to the mine then along the ridge to peak 3734 then down to the wash and back. It took 3 hours, 40 minutes. Easy hike either way. Posted 2024.
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  That's all there was in the book on peak 4262 west summit.

  
  

Soda Mountains Wilderness, California

2. ⦁ CRONISE BENCHMARK el 3617 has easy routes from the north. But instead of taking the tedious road around to the north, I made a loop from the south. At exit 230 on the interstate a sandy road goes staight north to East Cronise Lake. Everybody drives across it to BLM road #8806 on the north side. I followed that road to point 1086 like the topo shows then walked north to the main wash at N35 11710, W116 20673 that leads to the west canyon which is south of peak 1927. I strolled up that then up an easy ridge at 12519, 19517 to get around to the flats north of the peak. I cut thru hills at 12911, 19146 then on to where I could see up the north ridge then the rest to the summit was obvious. I also could have stayed in the washes to the east saddle. I found my name in the reg from 2 decades earlier but couldn't remember a thing. I must have come in from the north power road when it was in better shape. CHP helicopter pilots signed in but they don't get credit. I walked from the summit to 11523, 17959 where I could see ridges all the way down. Near bottom I moved left to a gully at 11186, 17790 el 2450 and had easy gravel down to the flats.6 hours, 17 minutes, nearly 12 miles with 2700 gain and that's all easy washes except for the last 800. Next time I'll do the loop minus the peak and there will be hardly any noticeable gain. There is good pavement on the north flats. All roads easy 4wd. Road #8806  goes on past a corral near point 1086 and apparently on to the power road. It is not ruined by OHVs, yet. CRONISE MOUNTAINS HIGH POINT el 2360 can be done from road #8806. I just walked to the north canyon at 07433, 19157 then up the obvious ridge. 1000 noticeable gain. I put a track on peakbagger.  Posted 2024. 
3. ⦁ CRONISE CAT is a sand dune shown on the topo SW of East Cronise Lake. At exit 230 on the interstate a sandy road goes staight north to power lines. Go left along those for a third mile then right and the road will bend toward the dune. I went up a ridge south of BM 1076 reading N35 07333, W116 17643. At 07259, 18137 el 1900 I could see the ears but had to go a little higher to get there then down the back of the cat to the flats. It purred all the way. 90 minutes, 900 gain. All roads easy 4wd. I could have rode an ebike most of the way. Posted 2024. 
4. ⦁ SANDTASTIC PEAK el 2395 is what hikers call the high point of the Mollhausen Mountains. Take the Rasor exit and get on an airstrip behind a gas station. Go west to the end then a sandy road goes on across a deep wash then splits. Stay left to where the road tops out then walk to N35 06354, W116 12704 and follow easy ground up and to 06141, 12456 then stay on the high ground to the summit. 90 minutes, 700 gain. Easy terrain. If parked at the gas station I would loop back in the east part of the mountain. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2024.
5. ⦁ PAVEMENT IN THE SKY is what I call the mile long plateau that peak 823 meters sits on just south of peak 2719 . I took the Rasor exit and followed the road as the topo shows to get at the mega wash that runs east of the peak. A nose cone is along the way at N35 09960, W116 14101 and that's the only sign of humanity I saw. I soon came to boulders but there is a passage in the middle then I took a left fork around the north side of the plateau then at 10415, 15448 el 2450 I climbed left to the top. Then I went to the south rim and walked it past some good pavement and a tortoise shell at 09806, 14648 and then on to the south point. I went down a stairway there at 09674, 14647  and angled down to the right to a smooth rim and walked it down then out. I could see that the north ridges of peak 808 would be easy. That takes 4 or 5 hours, 8 miles and 150 noticeable gain. This is so easy it makes pie look hard. It's pie in the sky. The road in is very bumpy 4wd. Posted 2024.
6. ⦁ SODA MOUNTAINS HIGH POINT -  I made a loop up the south canyon to the west ridge. The best road in is from the Zzyzx exit. It's easy 4wd. I went north to the power lines then west 3 miles to a BLM road that goes to the east canyon. I went .6 mile up that and parked then coasted down a mile and a half on my Zizzo bike to high ground at N35 10101, W116 12040. I walked that to the south canyon then walked the forks that lead to the east side of peak 3461. At 11292, 15242 el 2560 I came to a fall. I climbed up to the right up a smooth ridge and on to 11457, 14814 where I could skirt a bump. I went over the summit then down the north ridge to a saddle near peak 894 then took a hard right to the final ridge at 12088, 13980. I went north down that then moved left near bottom then down canyon to a road on the far left a half mile before the mouth. It cuts right at 11222, 12110 and on to where I parked. The hike took 5 hours, 40 minutes and 11 miles. Gain is 2000 but the first half is up easy washes. I measured on the topo the distance to walk in from the Rasor exit and up the south canyon route and it came out a bit over 6 miles. The south canyon route is the most enjoyable. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2024.
7. ⦁ SODA OESTE is the name in the reg on peak 1044 meters. Placed by M&L in 1978, only 4 parties signed in since. I took the Zyzzyx exit and then north on the road to the Blue Bell Mine. I went .8 mile past the power lines and parked. I went up the ridge to peak 935 but that's a rocky mess. It's way better to go up the north ridge. Head for a drainage at N35 13566, W116 12796 then move left onto the ridge and up to the summit. 4 hours, 1700 gain. All roads easy 4wd. I could have ebiked it. Posted 2024.
8. ⦁ PEAK 874 is a minor one SE of Cooper Mtn. A good loop goes up the east canyon then down the south ridge. I took the easy 4wd power road on the north side of Baker for over 3 miles and parked at N35 14756, W116 07098 then walked to 14973, 07651 and then to the bank of a wash at 15337, 08812. I dropped in and stayed right at a main fork then up to a gully on the left at 15433, 09508. I went up and bent left to a ridge at 15355, 09532 then up that to the main south ridge then down on a spotty sheep trail. I went over peak 835 then left down a ridge at 14337, 08741 and stayed on the right side of it all the way down to the wash then down canyon to the power road with less than a mile back. 3 hours, 45 minutes and all easy gain but for the 300 to get up on the south ridge. Smooth canyons and ridges. Posted 2023.
9. ⦁ COOPER MTN el 3438 has a road from the south but I made a loop from the Otto Mine at Baker up the east canyon then down the north canyon. The road to the mine is easy 4wd and goes on a little more then I walked to N35 16313, W116 06879 then 16234, 07446 then 16189, 07972 and at 16184, 08206 a word is spelled with rocks. I kept going with the flow into the main east canyon and stayed right at main forks and then stepped up on the right bank at 16336, 10737. I could see a little saddle a few feet north that is the descent canyon but first I went up the bank to the peak then back to the little saddle and down canyon. I hit 2 drops that I got around OK but it would be better to just walk from the little saddle down the east rim. It's gravel on down to 17325, 10900 where I went over the right bank then down the next wash. At 17725, 10496 I got on the right bank and walked pavement for half an air mile where I could cut right across the flats but hit the Mariana Trench. I dropped in it at 18179, 10197 and went downstream a few feet then over into the next fork and up that a little to exit. The next trench I crossed at 18139,09984 and the last one I entered at 18071, 09860 and went upstream nearly a fifth mile to exit then had it easy to a main wash at 17932, 09592. That soon forks then it's easy to walk between the forks and on to a low pass at peak 553 reading 17534, 09203 then it's downhill back to the start. 6 and a half hours, 13 miles and the only strain is the 400 gain on the side trip up to the peak. Good pavement and smooth washes. Various loops are possible as viewed from the summit. The BM says " Copper". I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2023.
10. ⦁ OTTO MOUNTAIN el 1715 is next to Baker. It has a mine trail up the south canyon. A sandy power road runs along the south side then a road branches off to the Otto Mine. Just past that the trail starts at N35 16334, W116 05975 and goes up canyon to a mine. It's easiest to go up along the left of the mine to the trail above it at 16608, 06015 and it cuts back left to a mine on the ridge then it's easy up the ridge. 90 minutes, 600 gain. I saw no reg. This trail needs to be adopted. With no 4wd I would just make a loop over it. Posted 2023.
11. ⦁ PEAK 572 is at the south end of Silver Lake. An easy 4wd road comes up from Baker to the south side of the lake as the topo shows. I walked washes along the north base to the main north canyon at peak 423 then up canyon almost to peak 553. I turned south up a smooth drainage at N35 17563, W116 08801 and over the rim into the main wash that goes south of the peak. I went over the peak and saw a 1929 mine claim then went down the ridge almost to point 411 then left down and along the base back. I could see that I could have gone to peak 547. 4 hours, 500 noticeable gain. Posted 2023.
12. ⦁ PEAK 1961 (598) is on the west shore of Silver Lake. A traverse is easy. A graded road cuts across the lake then drivers go south along the shore. Not legal but nobody's going to observe that. Just stay on the playa and drive lightly. I went up the canyon on the north side of peak 488. It soon enters a narrows and I got on the left bank. That ends then there is a fork. I stayed right and soon had it easy on the right bank up the NW saddle of peak 488. The next peak has a smooth saddle high on the right then there is a spotty sheep trail to the summit. I then went down the main south ridge to a wash. It goes back to the shore but it's easier to get on the right bank at about the 350 line and follow the flow. 3 hours, 1000 gain. This is one of the more enjoyable peaks. Posted 2023.
13. ⦁ PEAK 1696 (517) is NW of Silver Lake. I made a clockwise loop around it but a one way is better. I was camped on the east side along the graded power road. I walked to the mouth of the canyon that runs north along the west side of the peak. At the mouth there is a mine road on the far right bank. I goes into the wash then resumes to the divide, but I stayed in the wash almost to the divide then went up to the road. It ends just before the NW ridge then it's steep but not loose up the ridge to the summit. I retraced back to the road and then north in the main canyon. Soon the right bank is easy. I took the canyon on the north side of peak 413 to get around to the flats and then I should have gone straight to the highway with a bike stashed there because walking the east side has too many gullies. That took 3 and a half hours and all easy but for the 300 gain up to the summit and I'll skip that next time. The pristine north canyons are the main attractions. Posted 2023.
14. ⦁ RED PASS BENCHMARK el 3268 is on the north side just inside the Fort Irwin base. The south ridge is easy. The road in is the only issue. A graded powerline road goes in from highway 127 at mp 9.5 but turns 4wd. Another road goes in at mp 8.1 and merges. The power  road would be easy if not for severe washboard caused by OHVs. After nearly 9 miles of 4wd there is a wash at N35 16942, W116 16530. I walked that to the end then up a ridge at 17110, 17583 and had it easy to the summit. 3 hours, 1000 noticeable gain. The last mile and a half of that nasty road could be avoided by hiking the north ridge. A loop over the summit would be good. Another possibility for driving is the corridors on the north side of the power lines. I was on one for a couple miles and it wasn't bad. PEAK 3494, 3 and a half miles to the east, can be done on the drive back. Mine trails on the south side make for a good loop. The road in departs the power road at 20832, 12072 like the topo shows. It's easy 4wd and lightly used. At the last mile it goes into a rocky wash. I started walking there but I goofed because it appears again in a tenth mile. I could have drove a jeep to the TH at 17706, 13309. The trail is in good shape and goes past a tunnel. I went in it but chickened out when I saw timbers supporting the ceiling. The trail ends at a steel tram tower. I went up past it a few feet into a gully at 17842, 13515. That leads to a notch where I leveled off left of center to a saddle then up the ridge. A trail resumes to the right at 17972, 13468 and goes up along the north side of the ridge to a mine on the ridge. It's easy to walk level on past a peak there on the left side then next is the reg at 17849, 13895. Placed by M&L and party in 1978 and only had half a dozen entries. I kept going on the main ridge then left of crags and back to center at 17741, 14001. Then I had it easy down to a major saddle and a spotty trail goes down the canyon. At bottom it runs on the right bank back to the road. 3 and a half hours, 1000 gain. ALTERNATE - it looks good to walk from near the Red Pass BM parking spot to the canyon with peak 853 then run the ridge north to peak 3494. Posted 2023.
15. ⦁ HOLLOW HILLS WILDERNESS is tiny but loops in easy washes can be done in the central part. I took the smooth road in from Silver Lake ruins on highway 127. It goes along the wilderness boundary and meets a power road. I parked there and walked to a wash at N35 23549, W116 04719. I went nearly a half air mile up that then 400 feet to a trail on the left bank of a small wash at 23395, 04197 then left around a small hill and on to the main valley. Then to the bank of a wash at 23101, 03414 and on to high ground at 23127, 02019. I stashed a water bottle in the wash there. I stayed on the high ground for half a mile to a wash that leads toward peak 924. I walked the bank to a fork then dropped in and had it mostly smooth to 23045, 00374. There I went left up to the NE saddle of peak 942. Then I went left to the next ridge down and hit the canyon floor and had it smooth to 22069, 00297 at the mouth. I then walked the base to a wash at 22141, 00574. I crossed and on to high ground at 22166, 00707. I walked it down to a wash then down it and up on the right bank at 21983, 01001. I crossed the next wash and up thru a gap at 21927, 01148 and down to the main wash then up. It turns rocky but at 22322, 01560 the left bank works to the east saddle of peak 768. Then I could see the last saddle straight ahead but gullies were in the way. I dropped down into the deep one then skirted above the rest and thru the saddle and down to my water then retraced back. 7 hours, 13 miles and all easy gain except for 2 or 300. Backpackers could set up camp where I stashed my water and take a hike up the NW ridge of Silver Lake BM. I posted a track on peakbagger under the BM. Posted 2023.
16. ⦁ SILVER LAKE BENCHMARK el 3773 - I made a loop from the north in easy washes and ridges. I took the smooth road in from Silver Lake ruins on highway 127. It goes along the wilderness boundary and meets a power road and goes across then parallel. I took the next connecting road to get back to the power road then a mile on that to a road that goes to peak 1927. I only had a mile of washboard. I walked up a wash on the east of the peak and thru a saddle at N35 23894, W115 59266 then got on the right bank at N35 23609, W115 58858. I followed the easiest ground around peak 994 then up the canyon north of peak 956. I went up a ridge at N35 23173, W115 59067 then easily stayed left of bumps to the summit. I then walked to the south saddle of peak 1154 then dropped west and moved right to an easy ridge down to the wash. I went down to a fork at N35 23069, W116 00139 and went right then stayed left over a saddle then down the easy wash. At N35 22952, W116 01489 I got on the right bank and it took me to the mega wash leading back. I took a left fork at N35 23796, W116 00922 for the last part. 6 hours, 11 miles and less than 1000 strenuous gain. I put a track on peakbagger April 2024.

    

    Pavement in the sky

    
    

    

    Easy canyon to Cronise BM