McCoy Peak and McCoy Mountain in McCoy Mountains BLM, CA

Hike McCoy Peak and McCoy Mountain McCoy Mountains BLM, CA

Class 3 8.4 miles 4500 gain 5-7 hrs Shuttle Dec 1, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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The McCoy Mountains are a rugged range in California, often overlooked by peakbaggers interested in the nearby prominence giants like Palen Mountain and Granite Mountain. McCoy Peak can be seen from Interstate 10, and the range high point is nestled farther back. Tyler and I decided it made the most sense to get both peaks by hiking a traverse from south to north, not realizing quite how rocky the ridgeline would be. Maybe we were tired from yesterday's bone-jarring rock hopping, or maybe this traverse was particularly tedious and undulating. Either way, we agreed it was a less fun traverse than we thought it would be, though likely the most efficient and fun way to tackle both peaks in one swoop.

Since we had two cars, it made the most sense to set up a shuttle. You'd have to tack on a few miles of dirt road walking to form a loop. To set up the shuttle, follow the dirt road that starts here (33.61098, -114.90182) and bends here (33.61134, -114.90358). I had no trouble getting my Crossover SUV through some deep sand shortly after this point, but I was happy to have Tyler with his Tacoma in case I got stuck. After a few hundred feet of the sand, the road continued in surprisingly great shape. Head north here (33.61295, -114.88181). To reach the route's ending shuttle car drop spot, follow this road north and keep right here (33.66104, -114.88551). We were able to get my vehicle here (33.67436, -114.85971) despite a couple of tricky drainages, where we left it for the end of the traverse. We backtracked and left the start car a few miles south and started on foot through the desert toward the southwesternmost finger of McCoy Peak.

The start of this traverse was a pleasant Class 2 ascent on lightly rocky terrain, really just a straightforward uphill desert walk. A few various small lumps kept blocking the view of McCoy Peak and added some slight undulations. McCoy Peak eventually came into view, still pretty far away. We mostly stuck along the crest as we approached McCoy Peak, but the ridge proper began getting more riddled with rock outcroppings, forcing us to side-hill beneath them on the left or right. The summit block seemed difficult to reach from the west, the way we'd approached, so we side-hilled beneath it on loose terrain to gain one of a few Class 2+ gully options to reach the crest on the north side of the summit. From here was a Class 3 move on solid rock and we were on McCoy Peak. 

We observed the traverse to come, both finally admitting we were not feeling motivated today as we realized the traverse would take more effort than we thought it might, since we hadn't expected the terrain to be quite this tedious. The next summit, Peak 2365, required a massive drop to reach its saddle and to reascend. McCoy Mountain, the range high point, felt laughably far away, separated by countless lumps along the ridgeline. Back down from McCoy Peak we went, side-hilling to the northern ridge. Various little cliff bands added some Class 2+/3 obstacles as we dropped a few hundred feet, and the generally loose nature of the steep slope kept us moving at an uncomfortably slow speed. Tyler pointed out that the lack of an animal trail indicated not even sheep came up here. Literally not even the ever-present sheep wanted to do this route.

Our ascent to Peak 2365 was quite beautiful, the view back toward McCoy Peak's black face in the morning light shining gloriously. It was a steep 800+ feet, but overall some nice quad-killing on slightly better terrain, plus some Class 2 on rock of varying quality.

McCoy Mountain was next, but there were still lots of lumps along the way. There were an abundance of little Class 2/3 obstacles on the way down from Peak 3465, most of them more annoying than fun, then we progressed along a Class 2 section of ridgeline with significant rock outcroppings that we usually chose to wrap around. More ascending brought us to the extended south ridge of McCoy Mountain. It was a mostly tame hike for a while, of course with the regular lump and rock section. We felt like we were doing a lot of up and down for reaching so few peaks since none of the lumps rose high enough to qualify as a true summit, just adding more vertical gain and loss. We avoided a sub-peak just south of McCoy Mountain by using the first significant animal trail we'd spotted all day, then continued along a light Class 3 blocky ridgeline and up to the summit. Here we enjoyed the views of the Palens, Little Maria Mountain, an expansive solar field, and other desert scenery beyond.

We backtracked a bit and started down the standard route to McCoy Mountain. This is a steep undertaking, but we definitely understoof why folks clearly chose this as the most efficient route to approach the peak since the adjacent slopes looked worse. We had to avoid an occasional small cliff using Class 2/2+ bypasses, and navigating poorly could result in getting cliffed-out. After reaching the bottom of the slope descent, we hiked through a bouldery wash before locating an old mining road that we used to get back to our ending shuttle car. Looking back, the blaring sun made all the slopes surrounding McCoy Mountain seem like steep, awful ascent options. Not our favorite range, but a traverse in a remote part of the desert is always a nice time.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
McCoy Peak
2037 ft
731 rise
2
Peak 2365
2365 ft
298 rise
3
McCoy Mountain
2828 ft
1909 rise

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From the trailhead to the southern tip of McCoy Peak.
From the trailhead to the southern tip of McCoy Peak.
Rocky, but pretty tame ascending at first.
Rocky, but pretty tame ascending at first.
There were a few little rock outcroppings that formed lumps to go up and over.
There were a few little rock outcroppings that formed lumps to go up and over.
Low Class 2 most of the way, just rocky terrain.
Low Class 2 most of the way, just rocky terrain.
View back at our progress so far.
View back at our progress so far.
One of many short spurts of uphill.
One of many short spurts of uphill.
McCoy Peak comes into view.
McCoy Peak comes into view.
Along the crest still remaining to McCoy Peak.
Along the crest still remaining to McCoy Peak.
Plenty of small obstacles like this one to slow us down.
Plenty of small obstacles like this one to slow us down.
View back at one of the numerous little drops along the ridge that made it a bit more tedious than expected.
View back at one of the numerous little drops along the ridge that made it a bit more tedious than expected.
A steeper Class 2 slope.
A steeper Class 2 slope.
McCoy Peak ahead.
McCoy Peak ahead.
McCoy Peak ahead, following the rocky ridgeline.
McCoy Peak ahead, following the rocky ridgeline.
We wrapped left around this pinnacle.
We wrapped left around this pinnacle.
Continuing along the crest when we could.
Continuing along the crest when we could.
The last quarter mile included a bunch of obstacles along the crest best avoided on the left or right.
The last quarter mile included a bunch of obstacles along the crest best avoided on the left or right.
Wrapping around a more sketchy-looking portion of the crest.
Wrapping around a more sketchy-looking portion of the crest.
McCoy Peak's summit is above  us on the right, but the cliffs prevented easy access. We used one of many gully options (Class 2+) to regain the ridge crest.
McCoy Peak's summit is above us on the right, but the cliffs prevented easy access. We used one of many gully options (Class 2+) to regain the ridge crest.
Class 3 move to gain the summit.
Class 3 move to gain the summit.
Tyler on the summit of McCoy Peak.
Tyler on the summit of McCoy Peak.
Back below the summit, onward to the traverse.
Back below the summit, onward to the traverse.
Descending from McCoy Peak. Peak 2365 seen on the right. McCoy Mountain seen top center.
Descending from McCoy Peak. Peak 2365 seen on the right. McCoy Mountain seen top center.
Close-up of the traverse to come.
Close-up of the traverse to come.
View back toward McCoy Peak.
View back toward McCoy Peak.
Steep, somewhat loose terrain.
Steep, somewhat loose terrain.
View back toward McCoy Peak.
View back toward McCoy Peak.
Close-up toward the descent from McCoy Peak.
Close-up toward the descent from McCoy Peak.
A steep, Class 2 ascent to Peak 2365.
A steep, Class 2 ascent to Peak 2365.
Ascending to Peak 2365.
Ascending to Peak 2365.
A shot back toward McCoy Peak as we near the summit of Peak 2365.
A shot back toward McCoy Peak as we near the summit of Peak 2365.
Peak 2365 ahead.
Peak 2365 ahead.
Peak 2365 summit, view back the way we came.
Peak 2365 summit, view back the way we came.
McCoy Mountain on the left seen from Peak 2365.
McCoy Mountain on the left seen from Peak 2365.
Plenty of little Class 2/3 obstacles on the way down from Peak 3465.
Plenty of little Class 2/3 obstacles on the way down from Peak 3465.
Along the more tame section of the traverse, short-lived.
Along the more tame section of the traverse, short-lived.
View back toward Peak 2365. You can see the various little cliff bands that add obstacles to overcome.
View back toward Peak 2365. You can see the various little cliff bands that add obstacles to overcome.
The ridgeline included some outcroppings we were able to wrap around or just go over, nothing exceeding Class 2.
The ridgeline included some outcroppings we were able to wrap around or just go over, nothing exceeding Class 2.
View back along the ridge, Peak 2365 seen top right.
View back along the ridge, Peak 2365 seen top right.
More descending on loose, rocky terrain.
More descending on loose, rocky terrain.
View back toward Peak 2365 (top, right of center).
View back toward Peak 2365 (top, right of center).
McCoy Mountain seen far right. Last bit of ridgeline ahead.
McCoy Mountain seen far right. Last bit of ridgeline ahead.
View back.
View back.
Avoiding a small lump on our way to McCoy Mountain.
Avoiding a small lump on our way to McCoy Mountain.
McCoy Mountain ahead.
McCoy Mountain ahead.
Some light Class 3 on the way to McCoy Mountain.
Some light Class 3 on the way to McCoy Mountain.
Summit of McCoy Mountain, view back at the traverse.
Summit of McCoy Mountain, view back at the traverse.
McCoy Mountain, view northwest toward Granite Mountain and the Palen Mountains.
McCoy Mountain, view northwest toward Granite Mountain and the Palen Mountains.
Close-up, Little Maria Mountain seen right of center.
Close-up, Little Maria Mountain seen right of center.
We backtracked and started down the standard route to McCoy Mountain. It's a steep undertaking.
We backtracked and started down the standard route to McCoy Mountain. It's a steep undertaking.
Class 2 most of the way, but often loose. You can see the road we drove in on top center.
Class 2 most of the way, but often loose. You can see the road we drove in on top center.
A Class 2+ obstacle along the way.
A Class 2+ obstacle along the way.
Toward the bottom of the slope as we enter the major drainage on the south side of McCoy Mountain.
Toward the bottom of the slope as we enter the major drainage on the south side of McCoy Mountain.
View back up the slope we descended.
View back up the slope we descended.
An old mining road leads back to the end car we'd set up.
An old mining road leads back to the end car we'd set up.

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