
Starting from the Whipple Trailhead. The trail only briefly follows the Middle Fork of the Santa Clara River.

Entering Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness.

The slope view is often obscured by trees, but there are plenty of lookout points.

Wide switchbacks along the Whipple Trail.

Higher up, view north toward Gardner Peak.

The Whipple Trail is pretty along the initial few wide switchbacks, nice views below.


View back as I near the top of the initial set of switchbacks.

The Whipple Trail enters the forest.

And then descends a bit into Hop Canyon.

Crossing a stream within Hop Canyon.

Now ascending out of Hop Canyon to the east.

View back into Hop Canyon at some pretty rock formations.

Another shot back toward the way I came from.

Onward east along the Whipple Trail, views north-ish toward the Santa Clara River drainange.

Another shot back. The Whipple Trail came up from the saddle seen right of center.

Ascending into the forest.

A final shot back before entering the forest again.

Descending into Whipple Valley.

Junction, keep left.

Entering the gorgeous meadows of Whipple Valley.

Bog crossing within Whipple Valley.

View back. Cool rock outcroppings poke out everywhere.

Onward toward North Whipple Valley.

View back.

The trail follows a small stream.

Approaching North Whipple Valley.

Cool formations in North Valley.

The trail gets totally lost for a moment, but it skirts the east side of North Valley. Don't let a spur trail lead the wrong way.

View back into North Valley.

Back through the forest.

More cool rock formations jutting out of the forest.

So cool.

Ascending through the forest, with some switchbacks.

Eventually after some forest walking, I reached the east ridge of Peak 9943, clearly heavily affected by the fire.

One of two possible summits of Peak 9943.

Descent from Peak 9943 toward the saddle with Big Point.

A nice view on the way down, marked and named with a sign.

Through the forest along the trail, leaving it to access Big Point.

At the saddle before starting up to Big Point, seen ahead.

Big Point has a cool-looking eroded southern face.

Along the ridgeline.

View back at my progress along the ridgeline, initially very little brush.

The crest was the least brushy option, I found.

Farther along, the summit seen just ahead.

Just below the summit, looking back.

Summit of Big Point, view south.

Summit of Big Point, view northeast.

Summit of Big Point, view northwest toward the cool rock formations surrounding White Rocks Reservoir and Timber Mountain.
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!