Eagle Rocks in Mojave National Preserve, CA

Hike Eagle Rocks Mojave National Preserve, CA

Class 4 1.6 miles 800 gain 1-2 hr Out + Back Apr 13, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Eagle Rocks GPX Track

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Initially I just wanted to visit Eagle Rocks because they looked cool in photos and they're in an area of the Mojave National Preserve that I haven't visited, but after some research, Bob Burd outlined a Class 4 route to the highest pinnacle and that made this little outing more exciting. Eagle Rocks is in a beautiful area, so it's worth a visit even if getting the high point isn't your thing.

I started west through the desert from the easy-to-access Mid Hills Campground, making my way down and out of a dip in the landscape before reaching the southern pinnacles of Eagle Rocks. I skirted their base as I headed north to the base of the highest pinnacle. Some Class 2 led up to more difficult scrambling on the southeast side of the high pinnacle. I took slgihtly different routes on my ascend and descent to reach the north side of the pinnacle, but there are numerous Class 3 options to get around the boulders. Once on the peak's north side, I started up the Class 4 set of moves. The first felt the most scary to me due to the exposed slab, but it continued to be a bit sketchy, sticking around the Class 3/4 for the next few moves to the summit.

I backtracked down the sketchy stuff and scrambled generally east, headed through the desert, and picked up my approach route to get back to the car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Eagle Rocks
5770 ft
n/a rise

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Starting out from the Mid Hills Campground, you can see Eagle Rocks in the distance.
Starting out from the Mid Hills Campground, you can see Eagle Rocks in the distance.
Eagle Rocks, just a small gully away.
Eagle Rocks, just a small gully away.
Image 2 from gallery
Checking out the southern pinnacle first.
Checking out the southern pinnacle first.
Burnt area with cool trees laying around. Higher pinnacle is ahead.
Burnt area with cool trees laying around. Higher pinnacle is ahead.
Looking back toward the smaller pinnacle from the start of the scramble to the higher pinnacle.
Looking back toward the smaller pinnacle from the start of the scramble to the higher pinnacle.
Just before the Class 4 section, looking back toward the lower pinnacle.
Just before the Class 4 section, looking back toward the lower pinnacle.
Looking north just before starting the Class 4 scramble.
Looking north just before starting the Class 4 scramble.
The Class 4 section. The start is the scariest.
The Class 4 section. The start is the scariest.
Looking down the scariest section.
Looking down the scariest section.
Eagle Rocks High Point summit, looking north.
Eagle Rocks High Point summit, looking north.
Eagle Rocks High Point summit, looking south.
Eagle Rocks High Point summit, looking south.
Heading back across the gully.
Heading back across the gully.
Looking back toward the higher pinnacle.
Looking back toward the higher pinnacle.

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!