Owens Peak, Jenkins Mountain, and Morris Peak in Owens Peak Wilderness Area, CA

Hike Owens Peak, Jenkins Mountain, and Morris Peak Owens Peak Wilderness Area, CA

Class 2 12.7 miles 6100 gain 8-11 hrs Loop May 17, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Owens Peak is a striking mountain, rising up from the green/brown hills surrounding it, and I immediately wanted to hike it as soon as I got to the area. However, I wanted to plan a route that would bag a couple of the nearby peaks to Owens Peak: Jenkins Mountain and Morris Peak. I had a detour to the summit of North Jenkins as well, but more about that mishap later.

I parked my car well before the Owens Peak Trailhead, assuming I'd be descending a ridgeline to complete my loop and didn't see the point in driving farther than necessary. I walked along the road to the official trailhead. The Owens Peak Trail follows an old dirt road for a time before narrowing into a nice trail that gets progressively more steep. I checked out some pictographs along the way, a great little detour recommended by Adam Walker. The Owens Peak Trail gets a bit convoluted as it gets higher up. Keeping to the drainage meant I was scrambling up a large black talus field, which was fun and I recommend it if you prefer scrambling to steep hiking. However, the social trail just right of the talus field eventually curves to the right and heads up a granite slab, facilitating access to Owens Peak's south ridge. I luckily didn't miss the turn-off, despite the fun I was having on the talus. I continued up the ridge to Owens Peak, where I was granted three minutes of views before the fog rolled in and wouldn't let up. Happy I got at least a little sunlight, I worked down Owens' southwest ridge, where cairns marked most of the route, but it's pretty straightforward Class 2 the whole way down. The fog was kind of a nice touch.

At the saddle of Mount Jenkins and Owens Peak, I met up with the Pacific Crest Trail. I briefly debated heading up along the ridgeline rather than following the trail, but I couldn't see what was up there due to fog and the rare instance of a trail existing to make a route easier sort of made my mind up for me. Along the PCT, I passed a person who saw me the day before on the PCT as I made my way to Scodie Mountain and they were very confused, so I clarified how I ended up in front of them again.

A few miles of trail hiking gave me FOMO about the potential for fun along the ridge, so I noted North Jenkins and decided to link it with Mount Jenkins. I ascended a spur ridge to get to North Jenkins (Class 2+), where I got some pretty great views of Owens Peak before attempting the ridgeline. I was only a few hundred feet from Mount Jenkins before I got shut down by cliffs. Now I understood why most people seem to not do the traverse, despite how pretty it could potentially be. Maybe more research would have cleared this up for me. Note: I did not include the traverse or its Class 4/5 stats in my trip report, nor on the map. Take about 600 feet of vertical gain off my stats if you skip North Jenkins.

Back on the PCT, I headed to Mount Jenkins via the standard east ridge, where a Class 2+ move led to the summit block. I still had plenty of time to go to Morris Peak, despite my ridgeline mishap. The PCT led me to the saddle of Mount Jenkins and Morris Peak, where a social trail led steeply to Morris Peak's summit. From here, I backtracked a bit and took a ridgeline heading east back down to my car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Owens Peak
8453 ft
2173 rise
2
North Jenkins
7900 ft
n/a rise
3
Mount Jenkins
7921 ft
921 rise
4
Morris Peak
7215 ft
695 rise

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Starting from the Owens Peak Trailhead heading north.
Starting from the Owens Peak Trailhead heading north.
Looking back along the Owens Peak Trail, Five Fingers Mountain visible in the center.
Looking back along the Owens Peak Trail, Five Fingers Mountain visible in the center.
The Owens Peak Trail continues on an old dirt road for a while before turning into a trail.
The Owens Peak Trail continues on an old dirt road for a while before turning into a trail.
Image 3 from gallery
Quick detour to some pictographs within a small cave.
Quick detour to some pictographs within a small cave.
Close-up of the pcitographs.
Close-up of the pcitographs.
Heading up the steep Owens Peak Trail.
Heading up the steep Owens Peak Trail.
Image 7 from gallery
Eventually the Owens Peak Trail either heads up on talus, or along a social trail to the right.
Eventually the Owens Peak Trail either heads up on talus, or along a social trail to the right.
I took the talus option when possible, preferring scrambling over a steep trail.
I took the talus option when possible, preferring scrambling over a steep trail.
Looking back while on the talus field.
Looking back while on the talus field.
Eventually I needed to get to the social trail since it curves northwest and heads onto these granite slabs. I almost missed the turn off. Keep a lookout for a good place to leave the talus, if you decide to take the boulder-hopping route over the trail.
Eventually I needed to get to the social trail since it curves northwest and heads onto these granite slabs. I almost missed the turn off. Keep a lookout for a good place to leave the talus, if you decide to take the boulder-hopping route over the trail.
Looking back as I work up the south ridge of Owens Peak.
Looking back as I work up the south ridge of Owens Peak.
Steep trail to the summit of Owens Peak.
Steep trail to the summit of Owens Peak.
Owens Peak summit, looking south toward the way I came. Mount Jenkins visible center.
Owens Peak summit, looking south toward the way I came. Mount Jenkins visible center.
Owens Peak, view north into the Sierras.
Owens Peak, view north into the Sierras.
Headed down the southwest ridge from Owens Peak as fog rolled in.
Headed down the southwest ridge from Owens Peak as fog rolled in.
Along the Class 2 ridge down.
Along the Class 2 ridge down.
I didn't take many pictures along the ridge because I couldn't see anything, but this section was the most bouldery-looking.
I didn't take many pictures along the ridge because I couldn't see anything, but this section was the most bouldery-looking.
Toward the bottom of the ridge, there are some cliffs that need to be navigated around, but nothing is harder than Class 2.
Toward the bottom of the ridge, there are some cliffs that need to be navigated around, but nothing is harder than Class 2.
Approaching the saddle at the base of Owens Peak and Jenkins Mountain. This view is looking south toward the northern side of Jenkins Mountain. I briefly debated heading up, but the fog prevented me from seeing potential obstacles higher up. Also, the PCT is right there, so I opted to take the trail instead of an unknown ridgeline scramble.
Approaching the saddle at the base of Owens Peak and Jenkins Mountain. This view is looking south toward the northern side of Jenkins Mountain. I briefly debated heading up, but the fog prevented me from seeing potential obstacles higher up. Also, the PCT is right there, so I opted to take the trail instead of an unknown ridgeline scramble.
Along the PCT, headed south.
Along the PCT, headed south.
Pretty views along the PCT.
Pretty views along the PCT.
Image 23 from gallery
Looking back toward Owens Peak as the fog began to finally clear.
Looking back toward Owens Peak as the fog began to finally clear.
Close-up of the ridge I came down from Owens Peak.
Close-up of the ridge I came down from Owens Peak.
Continuing along the PCT as it weaves along the base of Jenkins Mountain.
Continuing along the PCT as it weaves along the base of Jenkins Mountain.
Another view of Owens before I started up my chosen ridge spur to North Jenkins.
Another view of Owens before I started up my chosen ridge spur to North Jenkins.
Class 2+ to North Jenkins.
Class 2+ to North Jenkins.
Along the ridge on my way to North Jenkins, looking back toward Owens.
Along the ridge on my way to North Jenkins, looking back toward Owens.
Just a quick hint at where I gave up along the Class 4/5 ridgeline from North Jenkins to Jenkins Mountain. I didn't include more photos of this ridge, nor the stats or map, since I failed the traverse. It got very serious.
Just a quick hint at where I gave up along the Class 4/5 ridgeline from North Jenkins to Jenkins Mountain. I didn't include more photos of this ridge, nor the stats or map, since I failed the traverse. It got very serious.
Back on the PCT, looking toward Owens (right), before heading up to Jenkins Mountain.
Back on the PCT, looking toward Owens (right), before heading up to Jenkins Mountain.
Social trail leads off the PCT (visible on the right) up to Jenkins Mountain.
Social trail leads off the PCT (visible on the right) up to Jenkins Mountain.
Along Jenkins Mountain's east ridge, the peak somewhere up there.
Along Jenkins Mountain's east ridge, the peak somewhere up there.
Steep Class 2 up Jenkins Mountain.
Steep Class 2 up Jenkins Mountain.
Class 2+ couple of moves to the summit. This one move might be easy Class 3, but kinda not really.
Class 2+ couple of moves to the summit. This one move might be easy Class 3, but kinda not really.
Class 2, believe it or not.
Class 2, believe it or not.
Jenkins Mountain summit, looking down the way I came. The east ridge I came up is visible on the right.
Jenkins Mountain summit, looking down the way I came. The east ridge I came up is visible on the right.
Jenkins Mountain, view north toward North Jenkins (and the sketchy traverse I had attempted), Owens Peak in the center distance.
Jenkins Mountain, view north toward North Jenkins (and the sketchy traverse I had attempted), Owens Peak in the center distance.
Jenkins Mountain, view south.
Jenkins Mountain, view south.
Jenkins Mountain, view west toward Scodie Mountain.
Jenkins Mountain, view west toward Scodie Mountain.
Back on the PCT headed to Morris Peak.
Back on the PCT headed to Morris Peak.
Morris Peak becomes visible.
Morris Peak becomes visible.
Continuing along the PCT toward Morris Peak.
Continuing along the PCT toward Morris Peak.
At the saddle just north of Morris Peak before I found a social trail leading up.
At the saddle just north of Morris Peak before I found a social trail leading up.
Along the social trail to Morris Peak.
Along the social trail to Morris Peak.
Along the steep social trail to Morris Peak, looking back toward Jenkins Mountain (top left).
Along the steep social trail to Morris Peak, looking back toward Jenkins Mountain (top left).
More steep hiking to the summit.
More steep hiking to the summit.
Short Class 2 section to gain the summit.
Short Class 2 section to gain the summit.
Morris Peak summit, view north toward Jenkins Mountain.
Morris Peak summit, view north toward Jenkins Mountain.
Morris Peak, view south.
Morris Peak, view south.
After coming down from Morris Peak, I followed the PCT back to the ridge I chose to descend. This is the view along the ridge. There were a couple of Class 2 sections, but it was mostly just a walk down. The sunset was pretty.
After coming down from Morris Peak, I followed the PCT back to the ridge I chose to descend. This is the view along the ridge. There were a couple of Class 2 sections, but it was mostly just a walk down. The sunset was pretty.
Almost to the bottom of my chosen descent ridge, my car visible in the center.
Almost to the bottom of my chosen descent ridge, my car visible in the center.

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