Mule Mountain Benchmark and Mule Peak in Mule Mountains BLM, CA

Hike Mule Mountain Benchmark and Mule Peak Mule Mountains BLM, CA

Class 3 4.2 miles 1800 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Apr 11, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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I recommend approaching this peak via the Wiley's Well Road, or from Bradshaw Trail from the west. The road from the east is rocky and a little scary on the tires. Once at the spur road turn off (33.49092, -114.79442), we continued north to reach the trailhead. This spur road requires mid-clearance until where we parked. Some road walking led us to the south finger coming down from Mule Mountain Benchmark, the high point. We followed this ridge on Class 2 terrain, with some low Class 3 obstacles. It was pretty loose in spots, but not unpleasant. After the first bit of ridgeline, we scrambled up a loose and steep Class 2 gully, route-finding a bit to avoid sketchy-looking rock outcroppings, some more difficult Class 2 stuff along the way before reaching the summit ridgeline.

Once on the summit of Mule Mountain Benchmark, we noted Mule Peak to the southeast and decided to drop down the major gully from Mountain Benchmark to get over to the saddle with Mule Peak. From the saddle of the two peaks, a Class 2 slope led to a pretty ridgeline with one obstacle near the summit, which we bypassed on the right. The last signature in the summit register was from 41 years ago!

We headed back along the ridgeline for a hundred feet and dropped to the northwest down the most reasonable-looking Class 2 slope we could locate to get down from Mule Peak. I almost want to recommend back-tracking to the saddle of the two peaks because this gully we descended was steep, fairly loose, and slower-moving.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mule Mountain Benchmark
1803 ft
1164 rise
2
Mule Peak
1761 ft
695 rise

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Mule Mountain Benchmark visible left, Mule Peak right. We followed an old road for a while after parking, since we couldn't get farther.
Mule Mountain Benchmark visible left, Mule Peak right. We followed an old road for a while after parking, since we couldn't get farther.
Mule Mountain Benchmark ahead. We followed the ridge left of center.
Mule Mountain Benchmark ahead. We followed the ridge left of center.
Looking back along the ridge we ascended. The car is down in the center somewhere.
Looking back along the ridge we ascended. The car is down in the center somewhere.
Class 2 ridgeline, some minor Class 3. The rock was loose, but not awful.
Class 2 ridgeline, some minor Class 3. The rock was loose, but not awful.
After following the ridge for a bit, we ascended the gully visible ahead.
After following the ridge for a bit, we ascended the gully visible ahead.
Class 2, steep gully.
Class 2, steep gully.
Looking back, you can see the ridge we ascended right of center. Mule Peak visible top left.
Looking back, you can see the ridge we ascended right of center. Mule Peak visible top left.
More Class 2/3 after the gully, Mule Mountain Benchmark up there somewhere.
More Class 2/3 after the gully, Mule Mountain Benchmark up there somewhere.
Class 2/3 fun stuff before the summit.
Class 2/3 fun stuff before the summit.
Looking back below the summit of Mule Mountain Benchmark.
Looking back below the summit of Mule Mountain Benchmark.
Mule Mountain Benchmark ahead.
Mule Mountain Benchmark ahead.
After summitting Mule Mountain Benchmark, we dropped down the major gully to the southeast. Mule Peak visible ahead.
After summitting Mule Mountain Benchmark, we dropped down the major gully to the southeast. Mule Peak visible ahead.
Looking back up the loose descent.
Looking back up the loose descent.
From the saddle, headed up the ridge to Mule Peak.
From the saddle, headed up the ridge to Mule Peak.
Looking back toward Mule Mountain Benchmark as we ascend to Mule Peak. You can see the gully we descended from coming down from Mule Mountain Benchmark.
Looking back toward Mule Mountain Benchmark as we ascend to Mule Peak. You can see the gully we descended from coming down from Mule Mountain Benchmark.
Mule Peak ahead.
Mule Peak ahead.
Fun Class 2/3 obstacles, most avoidable by keeping to the right.
Fun Class 2/3 obstacles, most avoidable by keeping to the right.
Looking back along the ridgeline to Mule Mountain Benchmark (top left).
Looking back along the ridgeline to Mule Mountain Benchmark (top left).
Mule Peak view south.
Mule Peak view south.
Close-up toward Mule Mountain Benchmark. You can see the gully we descended from Mule Peak at the bottom of this photo. You can see the gully we used to descend from Mule Mountain Benchmark earlier (coming down from the center of the peak).
Close-up toward Mule Mountain Benchmark. You can see the gully we descended from Mule Peak at the bottom of this photo. You can see the gully we used to descend from Mule Mountain Benchmark earlier (coming down from the center of the peak).
The gully was a bit loose and steep. Maybe go back to the saddle to descend for a slightly less annoying descent? I don't know.
The gully was a bit loose and steep. Maybe go back to the saddle to descend for a slightly less annoying descent? I don't know.
Summit register - look at the previous ascent before us!
Summit register - look at the previous ascent before us!

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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!