Class 3 4.3 miles 1200 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Mar 1, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Chalcedony Peak GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

Chalcedony Peak is a really nice add-on to other peaks in the northern Mopah range. It's got some fun scrambling and route-finding. Any car can make it here (34.43005, -114.82584), but high clearance is required for a couple of big dips and decent tires for rocky sections past this leading to the trailhead. Not being able to drive this section would result in an additional two miles round-trip. Due to the huge number of chalcedony specimens (no, I didn't know this until I looked it up), we named this otherwise unnamed peak Chalcedony Peak.

We set out along a deteriorated dirt road into the wilderness area, leaving it to cross a wash and enter the mostly flat and pleasant desert hills. We found ourselves within a wash on the west side of Chalcedony Peak and followed this for a bit until it was clear we had to leave to reach the saddle on the peak's south side. The slope leading here was Class 2 and we found lots of cool rocks along the way. Once over the saddle, a Class 2 slope led to a narrowing Class 2 gully leading to its terminus. A fun Class 3 scramble through a hole formed by a chockstone served as the easiest route up. My friends didn't spend a single second trying to locate this easier option, instead ascending via a Class 4 climb on the left. I was glad I looked around and found this fun little chockstone instead. Just above was the ridge crest, but it certainly wouldn't go. Instead, just along the cliff wall was a Class 3 set of moves, followed by a bench-link feature that hugged the cliffs on the left. My friends headed along the bench to its end and ascended on Class 3/4 terrain, but I was able to locate an easier Class 3 option shortly after emerging from the Class 3 cliff wall set of moves.

The route I chose headed up some big boulders in an open gully with some light brush, followed by a Class 2 flat ledge, and then a Class 3 move to gain a small slab. The slab was exposed Class 2, and it led to the final stretch where I could see the summit. Matt and Tyler beat me there since their route was scarier, though more direct. I had a lot of fun navigating the route I took, and had no regrets at showing up late to the party. Reaching the summit only required navigating up and around some big granite-looking boulders.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Chalcedony Peak (Peak 3054)
3054 ft
600 rise

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!

After hiking along the dirt road and navigating the open desert, we ended up in the wash seen center. Chalcedony Peak is top left. We followed the wash for a bit and left it to get to the saddle in the center of this photo.
After hiking along the dirt road and navigating the open desert, we ended up in the wash seen center. Chalcedony Peak is top left. We followed the wash for a bit and left it to get to the saddle in the center of this photo.
Within the wash.
Within the wash.
After leaving the wash, heading to the saddle.
After leaving the wash, heading to the saddle.
Just over the saddle, this lovely route presented itself. We headed up the narrowing gully.
Just over the saddle, this lovely route presented itself. We headed up the narrowing gully.
Class 2 up the gully.
Class 2 up the gully.
View back down the gully toward the saddle we ascended from.
View back down the gully toward the saddle we ascended from.
At the top of the gully, this Class 2+/3 hole under a chockstone became the clear best option. Matt is facing me because I took this shot on the way back since my friends did a sketchy ascent option and decided to follow this better way on the way back. You can see the open sky behind the chockstone, marking the ridgeline.
At the top of the gully, this Class 2+/3 hole under a chockstone became the clear best option. Matt is facing me because I took this shot on the way back since my friends did a sketchy ascent option and decided to follow this better way on the way back. You can see the open sky behind the chockstone, marking the ridgeline.
Close-up of the chockstone scramble.
Close-up of the chockstone scramble.
Just above the chockstone, a Class 3 scramble along the cliff since the ridgeline was a no-go.
Just above the chockstone, a Class 3 scramble along the cliff since the ridgeline was a no-go.
Looking down the Class 3 section, the chockstone in the shadows in the center.
Looking down the Class 3 section, the chockstone in the shadows in the center.
View back toward the Class 3 section (blocked by the slope, but located basically where the ridge is in the center) as we ascend on a bench-like feature.
View back toward the Class 3 section (blocked by the slope, but located basically where the ridge is in the center) as we ascend on a bench-like feature.
My friends headed up this Class 3/4 direct option. I kept to the left on the darker-colored rock out of frame on the left.
My friends headed up this Class 3/4 direct option. I kept to the left on the darker-colored rock out of frame on the left.
You can see the lighter-colored stuff my friends ascended on the right in this photo. I chose to take this more reasonable Class 3 option. Above this section is a Class 2 ledge on the right that wrapped around some of the more vertical terrain (no photo, sorry).
You can see the lighter-colored stuff my friends ascended on the right in this photo. I chose to take this more reasonable Class 3 option. Above this section is a Class 2 ledge on the right that wrapped around some of the more vertical terrain (no photo, sorry).
Past the Class 2 ledge is this somewhat exposed slab.
Past the Class 2 ledge is this somewhat exposed slab.
Just past the slab is a view of the summit.
Just past the slab is a view of the summit.
View back along the ridge from the summit of Chalcedony Peak.
View back along the ridge from the summit of Chalcedony Peak.

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!