Riverside Mountains High Point in Riverside Mountains Wilderness Area BLM, CA

Hike Riverside Mountains High Point Riverside Mountains Wilderness Area BLM, CA

Class 2 5.8 miles 2300 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Mar 11, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Riverside Mountains High Point GPX Track

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Follow a very old mining roadbed that in some parts has been reclaimed by nature. It leads up and over a hump, where a social trail leads past an interesting mining cave with a couple of artifacts to the saddle of Riverside Mountains High Point and the Riverside Mountains – Middle Peak. There's a peak farther south called "Riverside Benchmark", but it's not the high point. This route takes you to the high point, also knows as Riverside 2 Benchmark (??). A Class 2 route takes you from the saddle to the ridge leading to the summit. I decided to bag the Middle Peak as well to the south, which had some fun scrambling on solid rock, and gave better views of the Riverside Mountains than the high point.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Riverside Mountains High Point (Riverside 2 Benchmark)
2254 ft
1134 rise
2
Riverside Mountains-Middle Peak
2042 ft
402 rise

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Starting along a rocky mining road. Riverside Mountains High Point (Riverside 2 Benchmark) is the center back.
Starting along a rocky mining road. Riverside Mountains High Point (Riverside 2 Benchmark) is the center back.
A good parking spot for cars with nice tires. Head northwest on a mining road that deteriorates quickly.
A good parking spot for cars with nice tires. Head northwest on a mining road that deteriorates quickly.
Along the mining road, looking west up the canyon I'll be ascending. Riverside 2 Benchmark center.
Along the mining road, looking west up the canyon I'll be ascending. Riverside 2 Benchmark center.
Looking back down the way I came.
Looking back down the way I came.
The road takes you up to a hump before losing a bit of elevation and then starting up to the saddle visible on the left center. Riverside Mountains High Point is on the right center.
The road takes you up to a hump before losing a bit of elevation and then starting up to the saddle visible on the left center. Riverside Mountains High Point is on the right center.
Last ascent to the saddle between the High Point and Middle Peak.
Last ascent to the saddle between the High Point and Middle Peak.
Looking back from just below the saddle.
Looking back from just below the saddle.
A cave of some sort with old mining trinkets and lots of rusty cans.
A cave of some sort with old mining trinkets and lots of rusty cans.
From the saddle, headed north to Riverside Mountains High Point.
From the saddle, headed north to Riverside Mountains High Point.
On the way up Riverside Mountains High Point, looking back down to the saddle and Riverside Mountains - Middle Peak on the right.
On the way up Riverside Mountains High Point, looking back down to the saddle and Riverside Mountains - Middle Peak on the right.
Class 2 stuff on the way to the summit.
Class 2 stuff on the way to the summit.
Passing some old stuff on the ridgeline to the Riverside Mountains High Point summit.
Passing some old stuff on the ridgeline to the Riverside Mountains High Point summit.
Image 12 from gallery
Summit ahead.
Summit ahead.
Riverside Mountains High Point summit looking down toward the canyon I came up.
Riverside Mountains High Point summit looking down toward the canyon I came up.
Riverside Mountains High Point summit looking south toward Middle Peak and South Peak (way back there).
Riverside Mountains High Point summit looking south toward Middle Peak and South Peak (way back there).
On the way to Middle Peak.
On the way to Middle Peak.
Class 2 to Middle Peak summit.
Class 2 to Middle Peak summit.
Riverside Mountains - Middle Peak, looking north to High Point.
Riverside Mountains - Middle Peak, looking north to High Point.
Riverside Mountains - Middle Peak, looking south to southern high points.
Riverside Mountains - Middle Peak, looking south to southern high points.

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!