Mid Hills High Point in Mojave National Preserve, CA

Hike Mid Hills High Point Mojave National Preserve, CA

Class 4 9.1 miles 2300 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Feb 21, 2024
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mid Hills High Point GPX Track

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The Mid Hills High Point is an interesting cluster of granitic rock atop an otherwise lumpy and undulating desert landscape within Mojave National Preserve. It's a bit of an uninspired region, but it's always nice to explore a seldom-visited peak, especially when it has an excellent string of interesting moves to gain the summit. Chris and I drove on Cedar Canyon Road, passable by any vehicle. We parked at a pull-out and started up the remains of an old road. This deteriorated fully, and we entered a sandy wash that very gradually ascended through a pretty canyon, the sides steep enough that we felt a little enclosed. We even encountered some flowing water on slickrock.

The wash exited the canyon, and we were awarded views to, well, lumpy desert terrain. Still within the wash, we followed its course until it became less defined since we were nearing its head, and it made sense to pick our way out of it and onto the gentle slopes through a burn area to the base of Mid Hills High Point, marked by a sudden chunky wall of granite. It made the most sense to keep to the right and side-hill a bit to avoid the majority of the boulders, but you could add some scrambling if you decide to stay amongst them. It wasn't super clear where the high point was from here since there were a series of contenders that appeared similar in height from below, but we chose well and ended up at its base. We snuggled up to a cactus between two faces, pulling a short Class 3 move, then ascended a slabby portion on the southwest side of the peak and wrapped around on a series of fun Class 2/3 moves to gain the summit crest. The summit was just ahead, but the Class 4 crux came first: a huge chunk of granite slab barely separated from the summit, but forming a nice crack. Chris preferred to use the crack created by the slab, while I chose to use the face, which had a massive horizontal crack I could use. There was some slightly more exposed, but only Class 3 scrambling above this. The summit had nice views of the New York Mountains and the otherwise pretty flat desert below.

Our sight was now set on a series of lumps to the southeast, the tallest of them named Pinto Mountain. It was really, truly nothing to be desired as far as peaks go. Chris mocked the generic name, "It's not even in the top 50 best Pinto Mountains!" But, we figured we were out here already, so why not? It never hurts to add on another peak. We backtracked to the wash we'd hiked along, then exited the steep bank to hike cross-country to the base of Pinto Mountain. Aside from a small cliff band tower at the peak's base that we wrapped around on the left, this was a grassy and trivial summit, though steep.

Rather than backtrack, we figured we'd try to descend via the southern side of Pinto Mountain. On our way down, we encountered a rocky cliff band that was surprisingly steep, but we pretty quickly found a down-climb at Class 2/3. Once below this obstacle, we hiked through open desert again, passed under a barbed wire fence, and returned to Cedar Canyon Road.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mid Hills High Point
6430 ft
787 rise
2
Pinto Mountain
6142 ft
614 rise

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Along an old road to get into the wash ahead.
Along an old road to get into the wash ahead.
Within the sandy wash we'd follow for a few miles.
Within the sandy wash we'd follow for a few miles.
Steep banks within the wash/canyon.
Steep banks within the wash/canyon.
It was lush, but we didn't encounter any bushwhacking.
It was lush, but we didn't encounter any bushwhacking.
Image 4 from gallery
Some flowing water.
Some flowing water.
The canyon opens up, but we followed the wash.
The canyon opens up, but we followed the wash.
Avoiding a small section of brush using an animal trail. Mid Hills High Point seen ahead.
Avoiding a small section of brush using an animal trail. Mid Hills High Point seen ahead.
We left the wash when it became too wiggly toward its head and followed a slope that led to Mid Hills HP's base.
We left the wash when it became too wiggly toward its head and followed a slope that led to Mid Hills HP's base.
View back.
View back.
At the base of Mid Hills High Point. The summit is seen on the right. Wrap to the right of this initial chunky wall of granite.
At the base of Mid Hills High Point. The summit is seen on the right. Wrap to the right of this initial chunky wall of granite.
View back as we avoid the rockiness. Pinto Mountain seen above Chris, our next peak.
View back as we avoid the rockiness. Pinto Mountain seen above Chris, our next peak.
A Class 3 move around a cactus.
A Class 3 move around a cactus.
A slabby Class 2/3 bit.
A slabby Class 2/3 bit.
Some initial Class 2/3 to gain the summit crest.
Some initial Class 2/3 to gain the summit crest.
Mid Hills High Point seen ahead, a Class 4 crux. I chose to ascend using the face, with that horizontal crack. Chris preferred the vertical crack, which he took on the way down.
Mid Hills High Point seen ahead, a Class 4 crux. I chose to ascend using the face, with that horizontal crack. Chris preferred the vertical crack, which he took on the way down.
Chris on the face move.
Chris on the face move.
Mid Hills High Point summit, view at Chris coming up the final Class 3 move.
Mid Hills High Point summit, view at Chris coming up the final Class 3 move.
Mid Hills HP summit, view toward the New York Mountains.
Mid Hills HP summit, view toward the New York Mountains.
On the way back I snagged a shot of the high point left of center with a contender seen right for reference.
On the way back I snagged a shot of the high point left of center with a contender seen right for reference.
We backtracked and headed toward Pinto Mountain, the high point seen left.
We backtracked and headed toward Pinto Mountain, the high point seen left.
After some tree zig-zagging, it was open desert to the base. There's a minor cliff band at the peak's base.
After some tree zig-zagging, it was open desert to the base. There's a minor cliff band at the peak's base.
Grassy slope to the summit.
Grassy slope to the summit.
Pinto Mountain summit. The wash we hiked up is in the center, Mid Hills HP top right.
Pinto Mountain summit. The wash we hiked up is in the center, Mid Hills HP top right.
Pinto Mountain.
Pinto Mountain.
Descending from Pinto Mountain.
Descending from Pinto Mountain.
We found a Class 2/3 way down from this cliff band.
We found a Class 2/3 way down from this cliff band.
Almost back to the road, a view back toward Pinto Mountain (poking up center).
Almost back to the road, a view back toward Pinto Mountain (poking up center).

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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!