Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point in Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Hike Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Class 2 9.6 miles 3000 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Feb 19, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point are really two blobs (a term coined by Whiley that I've since stolen, which refers to any hill, knoll, bump, or otherwise unmemorable small peak) at the southern end of Joshua Tree National Park. Both are similar, and neither are particularly interesting. We had a good time though since the goal was to run through the desert and ascend quickly to get in some cardio. We both agreed that the views and small scramble on Monument Mountain were the highlight of that peak, while the steepness of Cottonwood Mountains High Point was its highlight. The road to the trailhead (Pinkham Canyon Road) was overall very good, with a couple of short sections where low clearance may struggle.

We started off toward Monument Mountain to the north first. A short desert jaunt brought us to the base of our chosen ascent finger, which led to the major southern ridge of Monument Mountain. We followed it the whole way up the mountain, encountering two sections of low Class 2, but otherwise just enjoying pleasant desert walking on varying steepness. A short Class 2 section led to the summit.

Back at the car, we headed south to Cottonwood Mountains High Point. The first slope section led steeply to a nice ridge. The ridge curved a bit as it continued south, one more section of steepness before a pretty ridgeline reached the summit blob.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Monument Mountain
4834 ft
1114 rise
2
Cottonwood Mountains High Point
4493 ft
1153 rise

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!

Monument Mountain to the north.
Monument Mountain to the north.
Ascending the slope to reach the Monument Mountain ridgeline.
Ascending the slope to reach the Monument Mountain ridgeline.
Class 2.
Class 2.
View back the way we came, Cottonwood Mountains High Point visible in the distance.
View back the way we came, Cottonwood Mountains High Point visible in the distance.
Continuing along the ridgeline to Monument Mountain.
Continuing along the ridgeline to Monument Mountain.
Monument Mountain ahead.
Monument Mountain ahead.
Pretty section of ridgeline as we approach Monument Mountain.
Pretty section of ridgeline as we approach Monument Mountain.
Fun Class 2 to the summit of Monument Mountain.
Fun Class 2 to the summit of Monument Mountain.
Class 2.
Class 2.
Summit of Monument Mountain, view toward Cottonwood Mountains High Point (right).
Summit of Monument Mountain, view toward Cottonwood Mountains High Point (right).
On our way back through the desert to Cottonwood Mountains High Point, center.
On our way back through the desert to Cottonwood Mountains High Point, center.
Approaching the gentle slope leading to Cottonwood Mountains High Point.
Approaching the gentle slope leading to Cottonwood Mountains High Point.
Our chosen slope. Many would work fine.
Our chosen slope. Many would work fine.
Image 13 from gallery
View back as we ascend, Monument Mountain visible top left.
View back as we ascend, Monument Mountain visible top left.
Cottonwood Mountains High Point ahead.
Cottonwood Mountains High Point ahead.
View back again toward Monument Mountain as we ascend to Cottonwood Mountains High Point.
View back again toward Monument Mountain as we ascend to Cottonwood Mountains High Point.
Image 17 from gallery
Cottonwood Mountains High Point ahead.
Cottonwood Mountains High Point ahead.
Image 19 from gallery
Cottonwood Mountains High Point summit, view toward Eagle Mountain.
Cottonwood Mountains High Point summit, view toward Eagle Mountain.

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!