Clipper Mountain in Clipper Mountain Wilderness Area, CA

Hike Clipper Mountain Clipper Mountain Wilderness Area, CA

Class 2 6.8 miles 2300 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Jan 4, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Clipper Mountain 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.

Abnormally bad weather in the area pushed us to go for Clipper Mountain, a high-prominence mountain just south of Interstate 40. Normally folks seemed to approach the peak from the north here (34.82055, -115.36535), but that road is completely washed out as of January 2023. Whiley and I instead set out to find another way to reach the trailhead, locating a dirt road heading west here (34.79666, -115.31801). It's passable to Crossover vehicles, a couple of dips into washes being the main obstacles. We parked just before the wilderness boundary and continued hiking along the road.

The first couple of miles continued along the mining road until we reached an open mine shaft. The road was pretty eroded in spots, but easy to follow for the most part. To get above the mine there was some Class 2 crawling up a slope to gain a minor saddle. Once at the saddle, we headed south through the major drainage on Clipper Mountain's northeast side. There were lots of boulders in the drainage and it was slower-moving than we anticipated, plus the landscape was pretty typical and uninspiring so we were happy to have lots to catch up on after months of not playing in the mountains together. It's always excellent to hike with friends who immediate talk about the deep, good stuff in life. And all the giggles.

Farther up the drainage there were some pretty cliff faces and slightly more colorful rock to look at. You can pretty much ascend south toward the summit from here in any direction, though it's least steep if you stick to the drainage until it dissipates and then head to the ridgeline on the east side of Clipper Mountain. You can gain the summit from there. We got some unique views thanks to the distant clouds.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Clipper Mountain
4593 ft
2050 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!

Along the old mining road heading toward Clipper Mountain.
Along the old mining road heading toward Clipper Mountain.
The road becomes eroded, but it's still pretty easy to follow.
The road becomes eroded, but it's still pretty easy to follow.
Old mine shaft where the road ends. We headed up Class 2 to gain the saddle above.
Old mine shaft where the road ends. We headed up Class 2 to gain the saddle above.
View back the way we came from the saddle.
View back the way we came from the saddle.
At the saddle, a small drop into the major drainage.
At the saddle, a small drop into the major drainage.
Heading up the drainage, lots of boulder-hopping.
Heading up the drainage, lots of boulder-hopping.
Some better scenery farther up the drainage.
Some better scenery farther up the drainage.
Clipper Mountain summit visible top center. We stuck to the drainage, though you could ascend the slope to reach the summit at any point.
Clipper Mountain summit visible top center. We stuck to the drainage, though you could ascend the slope to reach the summit at any point.
One of the options to ascend to the summit.
One of the options to ascend to the summit.
View back down the drainage at our progress.
View back down the drainage at our progress.
View northwest just before the summit.
View northwest just before the summit.
Clipper Mountain summit ahead.
Clipper Mountain summit ahead.
Clipper Mountain summit, view west.
Clipper Mountain summit, view west.

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!