Hike Bat Mountain Funeral Mountains Wilderness BLM, CA

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After hiking Funeral Mountains Wilderness High Point and Pyramid Peak to the west of Bat Mountain, I was looking forward to checking out this cluster of Bat-named peaks. I found that it’s one of the better hikes in the area. I loved the colorful rocks, sloping limestone cliff bands, and the sheer drop on the west side of Bat Mountain North. To access the trailhead, navigate here (36.39961, -116.42247) and just follow the very good southwest-running Clay Road, which then curves north, and then heads southwest again.

I hiked past a construction site and followed a dirt road to just before a gate. I believe this gate is used to access a mine that you can see on the way along the hike, but I didn’t do the extra credit to check it out. A canyon appeared on the right just before the gate, which I followed on Class 2 for a mile or so before gaining elevation and entering the higher hilly terrain. I tried to keep to the minor drainage when possible, but for the most part just followed the path of least resistance. The route I took avoids the major canyon to the west, though I was tempted multiple times to drop in and check it out. Instead, I ascended and descended a couple of times before reaching the base of Bat Mountain East. A Class 2 section on big boulders brought me to just below the cliff guarding the summit. Adam and Frances had just done the peak the day before and approached from the south (which I used as my descent route later), and they recommended the peak. Bat Mountain East’s formidable cliffs looked impossible, but I wanted to try to find a reasonable route up. I located a Class 3 couple of moves up the white base rock toward the northern end of the peak, which led to a ledge. The ledge wrapped around toward the northwest and a Class 3 good chute within the maroon rock led to Class 2/3 terrain above. I don’t know if there are other options, but there likely are since it only took me one attempt. You can keep the entire route Class 2 if you avoid this section I ascended by just using the descent route, but I thought the scramble was enjoyable and I recommend it. I took in the views of Bat Mountain and Bat Mountain North and the possible routes between them before descending on Class 2 along the southern ridge of Bat Mountain East. A break in the cliffs allowed me to head down on loose terrain into the drainage separating Bat Mountain East from the other two taller peaks.

Bat Mountain was next. I located a nice route up a gully and side-hilled a bit. The route stayed Class 2 to the summit. I briefly considered attempting the ridge crest traverse from Bat Mountain to Bat Mountain North, but the jaggedness deterred me (it looked like exposed Class 4). Plus, I wanted to experiment with the lower terrain to see if a route would go without having to drop too far down the slope. From Bat Mountain, I backtracked a bit and then continued along the base of the limestone cliffs, navigating a few terrace-like cliff bands (Class 2) before finding mellow terrain to get back to the ridge. I was able to keep the traverse safe without dropping more than 100 feet from the crest. It felt like a small success. The crest leading to Bat Mountain North seemed potentially hazardous so I followed the base of the cliffs on the east until I could see one of many Class 2 limestone slab options to gain the summit. I loved looking back along the ridge toward Bat Mountain where the sheer west face dropped down to the desert. I dropped east off the summit of Bat Mountain North (Class 2, despite how it may look from above/below) back to the saddle with Bat Mountain East and retraced my route back to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Bat Mountain East

4780 ft

440 rise

Bat Mountain

4950 ft

310 rise

Bat Mountain North

4958 ft

1878 rise

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I hiked through a construction area.

Just before a gate, I turned right and headed up this canyon, south.

The canyon narrows briefly (Class 2 dryfall).

Looking back at the dryfall and the canyon I ascended (center). Mining operation visible top right.

Continuing up the drainage.

Looking back at my progress up the drainage as I ascended into the hills.

I dropped down from the hills into another minor drainage. Bat Mountain East visible center. Bat Mountain North top right.

Continuing through the relatively mellow landscape. Bat Mountain East on the left.

One more small descent before ascending to the cliff bands beneath Bat Mountain East (ascent on Class 2 boulders visible left of center).

Ascending the Class 2, Bat Mountain East's cliff band visible.

View back at the Class 2 ascent. I came from the drainage/hill combo left of center.

Bat Mountain East cliff bands visible on the left.

My Class 3 route choice to get above the white rock base.

I followed a ledge, Bat Mountain North visible top right.

Class 3 chute visible center after following the ledge.

Looking down the Class 3 chute.

View back down the Class 2/3 stuff after the chute, seen from the summit of Bat Mountain East. Bat Mountain North visible up top.

I descended south along the ridge.

View of the ridgeline from Bat Mountain (left) to Bat Mountain North (right).

Looking back at the Class 2 descent along the ridge from Bat Mountain East.

Class 2 break in the cliffs to get off Bat Mountain East's ridge. Bat Mountain visible center, my next objective.

View back toward Bat Mountain East. I descended from the weakness on the right.

Crossing the drainage between Bat Mountain East and Bat Mountain. I ascended Bat Mountain using the gully left of center in this photo.

Ascending the Class 2 gully.

Looking back toward Bat Mountain East.

Class 2 to Bat Mountain's summit (right). I stayed within the drainage in the center before ascending to the high point.

View back the way I came. Bat Mountain North visible top left, Bat Mountain East on the right.

View west toward Pyramid Peak from Bat Mountain's summit.

After backtracking a little from Bat Mountain, I continued north and side-hilled beneath the cliffy ridge. I tried to stay as high as I could to prevent dropping additional vertical. The result was some Class 2 baby-ledge scrambling seen here. Bat Mountain North visible ahead.

Clear shot to Bat Mountain North. You can see the scary ridge I avoided on the left.

View back the way I came. Dropping low would have brought me completely below the cliff band, but I was able to stay along the slope right of center.

At the base of the cliffy ridge below Bat Mountain North. I located some Class 2 slabs to climb on the left to reach the summit.

Once along the Bat Mountain North ridge, view back toward Bat Mountain.

Close-up of the scary ridge, Bat Mountain visible on the left.

Bat Mountain North ahead.

Bat Mountain North summit, view toward Bat Mountain East. The ridge down to the saddle of the two peaks is Class 2.

Close-up of my route up Bat Mountain East, the first peak I did. I wrapped around from the left at the top of the white base, then headed up the Class 3 chute right of center.

View back up at Bat Mountain North from the saddle. I returned to my car the way I came from here.

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!