Hike Old Dad Mountain Mojave National Preserve, CA

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Route Map

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Old Dad Mountain is a really fun route out in the Mojave National Preserve. To reach the trailhead, turn-off from Kelbaker Road (the paved road) here (35.1551666,-115.7905489). The sandy Powerline Road was in overall good shape, though the sandiness calls for 4WD, and once we entered Jackass Canyon's, mid-clearance to not bottom out on the mound separating the tire tracks. Most people seem to drive farther south in Jackass Canyon to get to the mouth of the approach wash, but we didn't see the point to only save a quarter mile of hiking (Whiley and I would both rather walk), instead choosing to park at a junction with another dirt road that led west earlier on. This side road led right into the main approach wash that runs along the east side of Old Dad Mountain. We continued northwest along this wash until we located a cairn leading up a minor drainage on Old Dad Mountain's southeast slope. The route is hard to describe, but it was well-cairned and for the first half was consistently fun Class 2/Class 2+ on solid rock. There was a short break in the vertical gain as the route traversed north to avoid heavy cliff bands on the left, and then it started gaining more steeply. I'd recommend making a note of where the traverse ends and the vertical gain begins, because on the way back down it could be easy to miss this turn-off.

Once past the traverse section, we continued scrambling on fun, sticky, slabby limestone. I'd almost argue there is maybe a Class 3 move in there somewhere, but probably nothing someone attempting this hike couldn't handle. The route for the last few hundred feet was a little convoluted, but there are many possible routes up. It's just a steep slope mixed in with some grassy patches. The summit views were nice, but really the scrambling was what made this peak a good one.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Old Dad Mountain

4252 ft

1218 rise

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Heading down our chosen drainage, the southern end of Old Dad's ridge visible ahead.

Now within the main wash on the east side of Old Dad Mountain. The peak is visible ahead.

We headed up this minor drainage on the left.

View back as we ascend the drainage.

Class 2/2+.

View back as we scramble up, plenty of cairns along the way.

Navigating the rugged Class 2 face.

View looking back toward the wash we walked up.

Close-up of Whiley on a section of Class 2.

Lots more limestone to come.

A section of horizontal traversing to avoid some rougher-looking cliffs.

Starting up the crux of the hike, a series of Class 2+ moves.

A small notch that is easy to miss on the way back.

More fun scrambling to just below the summit.

Last few hundred feet to the summit of Old Dad offers lots of options. Just remember the route you came up as not to get lost on the descent.

Old Dad Mountain summit, view south.

Old Dad Mountain summit, view north.

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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!