New York Mountains High Point Loop in Mojave National Preserve, CA

Hike New York Mountains High Point Loop Mojave National Preserve, CA

Class 3 7.2 miles 3100 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Apr 11, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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I've driven through the Mojave National Preserve so many times on my way from Las Vegas to Southern California, the New York Mountains looming to the east. I finally decided to get to the rocky pinnacle-filled high point. This route follows Keystone Canyon along a dirt road that ends at a mine shaft with abandoned mine rails. Along the way, I took a detour on a side road leading to an old mine with a mostly intact shack and rusty truck, and then crossed over a ridge to gain the main route again. From the old mine shaft, a steep gully leads to a lightly forested ridge with views of the two big pinnacles on the right that were visible most of the way up, as well as the summit of the New York Mountains on the left. There are two similar-looking boulder piles on the parallel ridge on the left, but it will be obvious which one is the true summit. After gaining some elevation, a pretty and rocky wannabe knife-edge ridge easily follows up to the base of the New York Mountains High Point summit, but this ridge is avoidable if you keep just to the east, but you'll miss the nicest views of the day. Find a short Class 3 scramble from the base of the boulder-stacked high point to the summit. I noticed a smaller white peak in the distance, which I later found out was unnamed Peak 6512, but the ridgeline to get there was clearly not a big deal and would avoid the annoying gully from the mine shaft as well as the less desirable dirt road, so I made the day a little longer and into a loop by including this additional summit, totally worth it. I actually recommend my descent route as the ascent – it feels cleaner and has far better views than the Keystone Canyon standard route.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
New York Benchmark
7461 ft
79 rise
2
New York Mountains High Point
7533 ft
3334 rise
3
Keystone Point (Peak 6512)
6503 ft
269 rise

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Starting up Keystone Canyon.
Starting up Keystone Canyon.
Those rocky pinnacles are not the summit, but pretty views looming above anyway. The trail up Keystone Canyon is a dirt road and unremarkable.
Those rocky pinnacles are not the summit, but pretty views looming above anyway. The trail up Keystone Canyon is a dirt road and unremarkable.
Quick side trip to an old mine.
Quick side trip to an old mine.
Intact cabin at the mine site.
Intact cabin at the mine site.
Image 4 from gallery
Heading back to the main Keystone Canyon road (below).
Heading back to the main Keystone Canyon road (below).
Continuing up Keystone Canyon.
Continuing up Keystone Canyon.
Approaching mine shaft, the pinnacles that have been looming above getting closer and more discernible.
Approaching mine shaft, the pinnacles that have been looming above getting closer and more discernible.
Looking back from the mine shaft.
Looking back from the mine shaft.
Mine shaft.
Mine shaft.
Continuing up from the mine shaft on an annoying rocky slope.
Continuing up from the mine shaft on an annoying rocky slope.
Looking down the annoying rocky slope, almost eye level with the two pinnacles.
Looking down the annoying rocky slope, almost eye level with the two pinnacles.
After the slope, at the ridgeline headed up easier terrain, the two pinnacles on the right.
After the slope, at the ridgeline headed up easier terrain, the two pinnacles on the right.
Along the ridgeline, New York Mountains High Point the bump in the center.
Along the ridgeline, New York Mountains High Point the bump in the center.
Looking back along the rocky ridge.
Looking back along the rocky ridge.
Two bumps, the higher one is obviously the high point.
Two bumps, the higher one is obviously the high point.
Along the ridge, approaching what some people call New York 1, the non-technical high point (no scrambling required).
Along the ridge, approaching what some people call New York 1, the non-technical high point (no scrambling required).
Looking back along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
From New York 1 looking at New York 2 (the true high point).
From New York 1 looking at New York 2 (the true high point).
Starting up the scramble, looking back toward New York 1.
Starting up the scramble, looking back toward New York 1.
Almost at the summit of New York Mountains high Point, the similar-looking rocky bump just to the east, below.
Almost at the summit of New York Mountains high Point, the similar-looking rocky bump just to the east, below.
Summit of New York Mountains, looking south.
Summit of New York Mountains, looking south.
Summit looking east, at the ridgeline I plan to take on the way back. Keystone Canyon is on the left. Castle Mountains far in the distance.
Summit looking east, at the ridgeline I plan to take on the way back. Keystone Canyon is on the left. Castle Mountains far in the distance.
Back at the top of that rocky slope from earlier, looking back toward New York Mountains High Point.
Back at the top of that rocky slope from earlier, looking back toward New York Mountains High Point.
Continuing along the ridgeline toward Peak 6512.
Continuing along the ridgeline toward Peak 6512.
Looking back toward a nice little avoidable ridge on the way.
Looking back toward a nice little avoidable ridge on the way.
Peak 6512 in the center, a nice ridgeline away.
Peak 6512 in the center, a nice ridgeline away.
Peak 6512.
Peak 6512.
Peak 6512 summit!
Peak 6512 summit!
Looking at my chosen descent rideline. There is an old dirt road on the right (not pictured) that takes you down, but I couldn't help myself - the pictured ridge looked too pretty to bypass for a dirt road. You can see the Keystone Canyon dirt road on the
Looking at my chosen descent rideline. There is an old dirt road on the right (not pictured) that takes you down, but I couldn't help myself - the pictured ridge looked too pretty to bypass for a dirt road. You can see the Keystone Canyon dirt road on the
Image 30 from gallery
Looking back up toward Peak 6512.
Looking back up toward Peak 6512.
My car is on the right somewhere, the ridge takes you easily down back to the Keystone Canyon Trial.
My car is on the right somewhere, the ridge takes you easily down back to the Keystone Canyon Trial.
Last look at the New York Mountains (high point is the second bump from the left).
Last look at the New York Mountains (high point is the second bump from the left).

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!