Banshee Canyon and Barber Peak in Mojave National Preserve, CA

Hike Banshee Canyon and Barber Peak Mojave National Preserve, CA

Class 3 3.5 miles 1700 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Apr 13, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Banshee Canyon and Barber Peak GPX Track

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I love loop hikes. It sometimes gets me into trouble when I want something to be a loop, anda it doesn't want to be. Barber Peak was not one of those loops – it was super fun and had interesting points the entire way. Plus, on a topo map, its ridges make it look like the perfect loop. I was happy. 🙂

Starting from the Hole-in-the-Wall parking area, make a quick detour to see the "Hole in the Wall" and the volcanic craziness that makes up Banshee Canyon from above.  Banshee Canyon is the start of what Mojave National Preserve calls the Rings Trail, named because of the rings set within the canyon to aid in downclimbing. Then, head into Banshee Canyon and continue through into open desert, bushwhacking to the base of Barber Peak's left prong. Find whatever Class 2/3 route feels appealing to gain the first of five sort-of grassy benches, each which requires a short Class 2/3 scramble to attain. Once at the Barber Peak summit, continue east along the ridge and scramble down some scree and loose boulders to a final bench. You'll see on my map I continued along the ridge too far and had to briefly head back west to avoid a cliff, and then the fun maze-like Class 3 route-finding commences. Ridiculously interesting volcanic formations that hover above Banshee Canyon prevent an easy descent, but the route-finding here was my favorite part of the route. There is likely more than one way down, but my route was Class 3.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Barber Peak
5505 ft
835 rise

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Quick detour to see the overlook into Banshee Canyon.
Quick detour to see the overlook into Banshee Canyon.
Hole-in-the-Wall, seen from the overlook.
Hole-in-the-Wall, seen from the overlook.
Heading back from the overlook, Banshee Canyon goes down on the left, Barber Peak is hidden up there in the center. The parking lot is just to the right.
Heading back from the overlook, Banshee Canyon goes down on the left, Barber Peak is hidden up there in the center. The parking lot is just to the right.
Entering Banshee Canyon on the Rings Trail.
Entering Banshee Canyon on the Rings Trail.
Image 4 from gallery
Rings on the Rings Trail.
Rings on the Rings Trail.
Image 6 from gallery
Banshee Canyon is short, but very pretty.
Banshee Canyon is short, but very pretty.
Looking back into Banshee Canyon.
Looking back into Banshee Canyon.
Through open desert heading to the left side of that ridge in the distance.
Through open desert heading to the left side of that ridge in the distance.
You can see a gully in the center - likely an easier and faster approach to Barber Peak, but that left prong of Barber Peak was calling my name.
You can see a gully in the center - likely an easier and faster approach to Barber Peak, but that left prong of Barber Peak was calling my name.
Class 2+ to gain the ridge on Barber Peak's left prong.
Class 2+ to gain the ridge on Barber Peak's left prong.
Heading up along the left prong of Barber Peak. You can see the whole route from here.
Heading up along the left prong of Barber Peak. You can see the whole route from here.
Providence Mountains in the distance.
Providence Mountains in the distance.
Looking down the ridge. I came through that gap between Barber Peak's right prong and that small standalone rock butte.
Looking down the ridge. I came through that gap between Barber Peak's right prong and that small standalone rock butte.
Approaching a Class 2+ scramble to gain yet another section of the ridge. There are a few of these. This one was the most work.
Approaching a Class 2+ scramble to gain yet another section of the ridge. There are a few of these. This one was the most work.
Looking back toward the ridge progress. You can see the right prong of Barber Peak peeking out on the left.
Looking back toward the ridge progress. You can see the right prong of Barber Peak peeking out on the left.
Barber Peak's small spiral summit on the right, some crazy rock colors/formations on a peak below on the left.
Barber Peak's small spiral summit on the right, some crazy rock colors/formations on a peak below on the left.
Looking back down the ridge.
Looking back down the ridge.
Barber Peak ahead.
Barber Peak ahead.
Artsy flower photo with Barber Peak.
Artsy flower photo with Barber Peak.
The summit is somewhere up here, but it's hard to tell where the true high point is.
The summit is somewhere up here, but it's hard to tell where the true high point is.
Looking back on Barber Peak's high point toward the Providence Mountains, a beautiful cliff dropping away on my right.
Looking back on Barber Peak's high point toward the Providence Mountains, a beautiful cliff dropping away on my right.
Continuing along the edge of Barber Peak, taking in the views.
Continuing along the edge of Barber Peak, taking in the views.
Image 24 from gallery
Heading down the right prong of Barber Peak.
Heading down the right prong of Barber Peak.
Image 26 from gallery
Looking back the way I came. The high point of Barber Peak is on the left somewhere.
Looking back the way I came. The high point of Barber Peak is on the left somewhere.
Continuing down a scree and loose boulder section.
Continuing down a scree and loose boulder section.
Close-up of Banshee Canyon below.
Close-up of Banshee Canyon below.
Approaching the volcanic rocks and Class 3 stuff.
Approaching the volcanic rocks and Class 3 stuff.
Looking back up the way I came, to give a sense of the volcanic route finding.
Looking back up the way I came, to give a sense of the volcanic route finding.
My route took this break in a cliff on the right to get down.
My route took this break in a cliff on the right to get down.
Image 33 from gallery
Close-up into Banshee Canyon before the final section of route-finding. So close to the parking lot, and yet so much route-finding and turn-arounds.
Close-up into Banshee Canyon before the final section of route-finding. So close to the parking lot, and yet so much route-finding and turn-arounds.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!