Five Fingers Mountain in Owens Peak Wilderness Area, CA

Hike Five Fingers Mountain Owens Peak Wilderness Area, CA

Class 3 1.9 miles 1700 gain 1-2 hr Out + Back May 16, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude
Directions
Route Map
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Five Fingers Mountain is an interesting-looking set of rock pinnacles visible from Ridgecrest, toward the base of Owens Peak. I started along Indian Wells Road and followed a ridge until a social trail materialized. It's a really steep and sandy slope that leads to a notch between two of the taller rock pinnacles of the five main ones (hence the name Five Fingers). I headed through the notch and dropped north 100 feet, then worked around on Class 2 boulders to the northeast side of the high point. A Class 3 set of moves leads to the summit. Unfortunately, someone carved steps into the rock making the climb a bit too easy, but it was still a fun time.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Five Fingers
5174 ft
734 rise

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Five Fingers Mountain visible from the trailhead.
Five Fingers Mountain visible from the trailhead.
Heading up the steep ridge. The route leads to the notch in the center (where the clouds are).
Heading up the steep ridge. The route leads to the notch in the center (where the clouds are).
A social trail materializes.
A social trail materializes.
Class 2 stuff before the notch. The high point is on the left.
Class 2 stuff before the notch. The high point is on the left.
Looking back down the steep and sandy ascent. My car is in the little pullout on the top left.
Looking back down the steep and sandy ascent. My car is in the little pullout on the top left.
View northwest toward Owens Peak and Jenkins Mountain.
View northwest toward Owens Peak and Jenkins Mountain.
Approaching the notch.
Approaching the notch.
Looking back from the notch.
Looking back from the notch.
Looking north through the notch. I wrapped around on the left.
Looking north through the notch. I wrapped around on the left.
Wrapping around the north side of Five Fingers Mountain's high point.
Wrapping around the north side of Five Fingers Mountain's high point.
Some Class 2 obstacles.
Some Class 2 obstacles.
Approaching the Class 3 section.
Approaching the Class 3 section.
Class 3.
Class 3.
Looking down the first section of Class 3.
Looking down the first section of Class 3.
Some more Class 3. Unfortunately someone carved foot holds into the rock.
Some more Class 3. Unfortunately someone carved foot holds into the rock.
Five Fingers Mountain, looking north toward the way I came up the Class 3 section.
Five Fingers Mountain, looking north toward the way I came up the Class 3 section.
Five Fingers Mountain, view southeast. Indian Well Road (what I came in on) visible below on the right.
Five Fingers Mountain, view southeast. Indian Well Road (what I came in on) visible below on the right.
Five Fingers Mountain, view northwest toward Owens Peak.
Five Fingers Mountain, view northwest toward Owens 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!

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