Big Maria Mountains High Point in Big Maria Mountains Wilderness Area BLM, CA

Hike Big Maria Mountains High Point Big Maria Mountains Wilderness Area BLM, CA

Class 2 5.6 miles 2700 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Mar 11, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Big Maria Mountains High Point GPX Track

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Turn north here (33.78832, -114.71587) and take the dirt road to the trailhead, not suitable for low-clearance, but 4WD not necessary. I started from the standard point from some powerlines and headed east toward the high point of the Big Maria Mountains. After some typical rocky desert walking, I made it into a rocky drainage that gets progressively more steep and interesting as i ascends. Plenty of Class 2 on pretty slabs and boulder-hopping lead to the west ridge that stretches pretty far from the peak. I continued east along the ridge on pleasant terrain to the saddle between Big Maria Mountains High Point and False Maria. I went south to False Maria first, then north to Big Maria Mountains High Point, still all Class 2 and straightforward.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
False Maria
3380 ft
340 rise
2
Big Maria Mountains High Point
3381 ft
2298 rise

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Start from the powerlines and head into the canyon. Big Maria's southern summit (False Maria) visible in the center.
Start from the powerlines and head into the canyon. Big Maria's southern summit (False Maria) visible in the center.
Image 1 from gallery
Looking back down the canyon.
Looking back down the canyon.
Image 3 from gallery
Narrower section in the canyon, as the route becomes more steep.
Narrower section in the canyon, as the route becomes more steep.
Image 5 from gallery
Image 6 from gallery
At the top of the ridge, looking down into the canyon I just came out of.
At the top of the ridge, looking down into the canyon I just came out of.
Looking along the ridge toward False Maria (right). Big Maria is on the left somewhere.
Looking along the ridge toward False Maria (right). Big Maria is on the left somewhere.
Image 9 from gallery
Looking back down the ridge I acme up.
Looking back down the ridge I acme up.
Saddle between False Maria and Big Maria. Big Maria visible on the left.
Saddle between False Maria and Big Maria. Big Maria visible on the left.
Headed right first, up to False Maria.
Headed right first, up to False Maria.
False Maria summit looking north toward Big Maria.
False Maria summit looking north toward Big Maria.
False Maria summit looking south.
False Maria summit looking south.
Close-up of the canyon I started up. My car is in the center somewhere.
Close-up of the canyon I started up. My car is in the center somewhere.
Headed to Big Maria High Point.
Headed to Big Maria High Point.
Last bit to the summit.
Last bit to the summit.
Big Maria Mountains High Point summit, looking north toward other high points.
Big Maria Mountains High Point summit, looking north toward other high points.
Big Maria Mountains High Point summit, looking south to False Maria.
Big Maria Mountains High Point summit, looking south to False Maria.

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!