Horn Peak and Turtle Mountains High Point in Turtle Mountains Wilderness Area BLM, CA

Hike Horn Peak and Turtle Mountains High Point Turtle Mountains Wilderness Area BLM, CA

Class 2 13.8 miles 4200 gain 6-8 hrs Loop Jan 28, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Horn Peak and Turtle Mountains High Point GPX Track

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The Turtle Mountains are home to some incredibly cool volcanic peaks, but those are all found in the northern end of the range. This route is intended to reach the large lump that characterizes the Turtle Mountains' high point. The hike is pleasant overall, but requires a long drive and a fair amount of walking through a wash and on a dirt road. I included Horn Peak, another summit to the south of Turtle Mountains High Point. This addition was definitely worthwhile and I got a nice sense of this part of the range because of the traverse between the two peaks. I returned from the high point via the standard route most use to acess the peak.

To reach the trailhead, navigate here (34.11963, -114.68369) and pass over the aqueduct. Just past it take a left, heading west. Don't follow the road that parallels the aqueduct. The road bends here (34.12096, -114.71329) and continues northwest along Horn Spring Road. The road continues to here (34.18861, -114.75138), where it seems to end completely at a wilderness boundary. However, the road makes a hairpin turn and bends back leading southeast where it then crosses a wash, the worst part of the drive. There were a couple of signs that label this road as Castle Rock Road. The road will then turn north around here (34.18744, -114.74678) and continue to the wilderness boundary. My Crossover vehicle made it, but it was tedious at times.

The road continues from the wilderness boundary, but is only accessible on foot. A half mile or so along this road, I noted a large wash draining east from Horn Peak. I left the road and headed through the desert to reach the mouth of this wash. I followed the wash for a while and when the wash narrowed and became a bit boulder-hoppy, I popped out and continued on higher, more tame terrain. I then dropped into a side-drainage while heading northwest. Note on my attached map due to an imagery error it may not appear that I'm within the drainage, so I marked this spot for clarity. This drainage bends west and continues through a short narrow section with some Class 2+ scrambling. From here the most reasonable-looking ascent option up Horn Peak appeared to be via its southeastern ridge. I came out of the drainage and ascended the progressively steepening slope. The ridgeline became rocky and had a few outcrops that needed avoiding. The ridge stays Class 2 and is overall pleasant, but it's got some steep sections with loose rock.

From Horn Peak I continued north along its ridgeline, Turtle Mountains High Point visible to the north, my next objective. I dropped off Horn Peak's steep northern slope (max Class 2) and continued along the humpy ridgeline. After a few lumps along the way (nothing memorable or notable really), I found myself at the final descent to the southern base of Turtle Mountains High Point. I had a choice: follow the meandering ridgeline and then side-hill along a potentially steep slope and lose less elevation, or head directly north and drop to just below the 3000' contour before ascending the southern slope of the peak. I chose the latter and it was fine.

On my way up Turtle Mountains High Point, there was a major false summit at around 3700'. To this point the terrain was steep, but had minimal rockiness and basically no scrambling. It took some steep Class 2 to get down the north side of the false summit to a minor saddle on the southeast side of Turtle Mountains High Point. Some Class 2 on big rocks were the only obstacles. The final southern ridgeline to reach the summit had an extended rock outcrop along the crest, so I kept to the left (west) to avoid this and keep the route Class 2. From the end of this short ridge, a final couple hundred feet led to the summit.

From the summit of Turtle Mountains High Point, I could see much of the larger SoCal desert peaks in the area, a nice vantage point. Now to get back using the standard route. I dropped down from the summit and rather than continue back along the Class 2 ridge, the route headed to the left (east) away from the ridgeline. I was honestly expecting a more obvious social trail, but there was only an occasional cairn. After some easy side-hilling, the route led to a minor eatern spur ridge than led down Class 2. Here the social trail was much more obvious and it was overall a pleasant and straightforward descent along this spur ridge. The route then drops to the right off the spur ridge and wanders southeast. There are very few indicators of the route here, so the best advice I can give is to follow the base of the lumpy ridges, keeping high when possible. I needed to drop in and out of multiple arroyos along the way which run perpendicular to the route, and on a topo map it might look annoying and convoluted, but it wasn't bad at all. The alternative would be to head east away from the side-hilling and arroyos, but this would add a bunch of extra distance. After less time than I expected, I made it to the major wash running southeast away from the mountain. I followed this wash for a mile or so until a cairn marked an exit and led up to the very deteriorated road that I drove in on. Since this section of the road is in a wilderness area no vehicular traffic is permitted. I followed the road for a few miles back to my car outside of the wilderness boundary.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Horn Peak
3865 ft
765 rise
2
Turtle Mountains High Point
4298 ft
2658 rise

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Starting from the wilderness boundary. Horn Peak visible far left, Turtle Mountains High Point left of center.
Starting from the wilderness boundary. Horn Peak visible far left, Turtle Mountains High Point left of center.
I left the road and headed through the desert.
I left the road and headed through the desert.
I entered a wash below Horn Peak, which is visible top center.
I entered a wash below Horn Peak, which is visible top center.
View back within the wash on my way up to Horn Peak.
View back within the wash on my way up to Horn Peak.
Approaching Horn Peak, top left.
Approaching Horn Peak, top left.
Minor drainage on the left that would lead me to the southern ridge of Horn Peak.
Minor drainage on the left that would lead me to the southern ridge of Horn Peak.
Narrow section within this side drainage. Class 2+.
Narrow section within this side drainage. Class 2+.
Ascending to Horn Peak's south ridge.
Ascending to Horn Peak's south ridge.
View back as I ascend to Horn Peak's south ridge. I came up from the top right in this photo. In the distance you can see Mopah and Umpah Peaks.
View back as I ascend to Horn Peak's south ridge. I came up from the top right in this photo. In the distance you can see Mopah and Umpah Peaks.
On the south ridge, some rock outcrops to avoid. Class 2.
On the south ridge, some rock outcrops to avoid. Class 2.
Continuing up to Horn Peak.
Continuing up to Horn Peak.
On the way up to Horn Peak, view the way I came. My car is somewhere top right. The wash/drainage I came up from is seen center of this photo.
On the way up to Horn Peak, view the way I came. My car is somewhere top right. The wash/drainage I came up from is seen center of this photo.
Final bit to Horn Peak summit.
Final bit to Horn Peak summit.
Horn Peak, view toward Castle Rock, Mopah, and Umpah.
Horn Peak, view toward Castle Rock, Mopah, and Umpah.
Horn Peak, view north toward Turtle Mountains High Point.
Horn Peak, view north toward Turtle Mountains High Point.
Class 2 down from Horn Peak's northern ridge.
Class 2 down from Horn Peak's northern ridge.
Along the lumpy ridgeline from Horn Peak to Turtle Mountains HP.
Along the lumpy ridgeline from Horn Peak to Turtle Mountains HP.
View back toward Horn Peak and its northern ridge I came down from.
View back toward Horn Peak and its northern ridge I came down from.
Turtle Mountains HP ahead. First I had to head over the lumpy ridgeline.
Turtle Mountains HP ahead. First I had to head over the lumpy ridgeline.
Along the ridgeline.
Along the ridgeline.
View back along the ridgeline, Horn Peak visible top left.
View back along the ridgeline, Horn Peak visible top left.
The final descent before reaching the southern base of Turtle Mountains HP. I had two options: drop down into the drainage below and ascend, or stick to the ridge on the right (out of frame) and loose less elevation. I took the direct route down.
The final descent before reaching the southern base of Turtle Mountains HP. I had two options: drop down into the drainage below and ascend, or stick to the ridge on the right (out of frame) and loose less elevation. I took the direct route down.
Ascending the southern base of Turtle Mountains HP.
Ascending the southern base of Turtle Mountains HP.
View back toward Horn Peak as I ascent Turtle Mountains HP.
View back toward Horn Peak as I ascent Turtle Mountains HP.
At a false summit. Turtle Mountains HP visible ahead. Well, technically what you see here is the southern end of the peak. The summit is still out of view.
At a false summit. Turtle Mountains HP visible ahead. Well, technically what you see here is the southern end of the peak. The summit is still out of view.
Last big push.
Last big push.
Class 2.
Class 2.
View back, Horn Peak visible top right. My car is somewhere top left.
View back, Horn Peak visible top right. My car is somewhere top left.
Southern ridge of Turtle Mountains High Point, where there was an extended rock outcrop along the crest. I kept left to keep the route Class 2.
Southern ridge of Turtle Mountains High Point, where there was an extended rock outcrop along the crest. I kept left to keep the route Class 2.
Turtle Mountains High Point, view west.
Turtle Mountains High Point, view west.
Turtle Mountains High Point, view south.
Turtle Mountains High Point, view south.
Close-up toward Mopah, Umpah, and Castle Rock.
Close-up toward Mopah, Umpah, and Castle Rock.
Now for the descent. I backtracked off the summit to the minor saddle on Turtle Mountains High Point's south side, then side-hilled off the ridgeline.
Now for the descent. I backtracked off the summit to the minor saddle on Turtle Mountains High Point's south side, then side-hilled off the ridgeline.
The side-hilling brought me to this spur ridge, where cairns and a social trail became more apparent.
The side-hilling brought me to this spur ridge, where cairns and a social trail became more apparent.
View back up the Class 2 spur ridge descent along the standard route up Turtle Mountains High Point.
View back up the Class 2 spur ridge descent along the standard route up Turtle Mountains High Point.
Still desending along the spur ridge. Soon I'll leave the ridge and head to the right. The hump visible top right is my landmark. I want to end up to its right, where I can pick up a major wash.
Still desending along the spur ridge. Soon I'll leave the ridge and head to the right. The hump visible top right is my landmark. I want to end up to its right, where I can pick up a major wash.
View back up the spur ridge, Turtle Mountains High Point visible top right.
View back up the spur ridge, Turtle Mountains High Point visible top right.
Dropping off the spur ridge. You can see the terrain is lumpy ahead and there are many arroyos I needed to climb in and out of. The goal is a wash to the right of the peak visible on the top left.
Dropping off the spur ridge. You can see the terrain is lumpy ahead and there are many arroyos I needed to climb in and out of. The goal is a wash to the right of the peak visible on the top left.
View back up toward the spur ridge I came down from.
View back up toward the spur ridge I came down from.
Heading through the desert at the foothills of Turtle Mountains High Point. You can see plenty of little arroyos ahead.
Heading through the desert at the foothills of Turtle Mountains High Point. You can see plenty of little arroyos ahead.
View back after navigating the somewhat annoying terrain.
View back after navigating the somewhat annoying terrain.
Final bit to get into the wash. The peak I mentioned earlier is visible on the left. I wrapped to the right of the minor bump in the center of this photo and the made a final drop into the wash.
Final bit to get into the wash. The peak I mentioned earlier is visible on the left. I wrapped to the right of the minor bump in the center of this photo and the made a final drop into the wash.
Within the wash, which I followed for a while.
Within the wash, which I followed for a while.
Shortly after this granitic Class 2 obstacle there is a cairn pointing out of the wash.
Shortly after this granitic Class 2 obstacle there is a cairn pointing out of the wash.
Leaving the wash to get back to the road.
Leaving the wash to get back to the road.
Along the road.
Along the road.
A few road walking miles led back to my car at the wilderness boundary.
A few road walking miles led back to my car at the wilderness boundary.

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