Soda Mountains Loop in Soda Mountains Wilderness BLM, CA

Hike Soda Mountains Loop Soda Mountains Wilderness BLM, CA

Class 2 10.8 miles 2700 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Feb 7, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Soda Mountains Loop GPX Track

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The Soda Mountains High Point was my first outing for a central Mojave trip to get a bunch of high-prominence peaks I've neglected. This small and amorphous range is located outside Baker CA and sort of blends in with its surrounding desert peaks. It seems many approach the high point from the northeast, but I was hoping to find a route starting closer to pavement and also allow me the ability to form a loop within the range. Originally I planned to go for a larger loop than what you see here, but I ended up just getting the two highest points since the remainder of my proposed loop looked quite boring and I was more excited to preserve time for an additional sunset hike. Plus those add-on peaks were possibly unranked anyway.

The route I pieced together seemed best done from the south, just north of I-15. Leave pavement and head northeast here (35.13550, -116.21282), taking this road that's barely suitable for Crossover vehicles due to a steep incline over a lump, though I didn't need to engage 4WD. Turn left here (35.14566, -116.20238) onto a sometimes rocky road. I parked and started west toward the major unnamed wash draining south from the peaks. A few miles of mostly flat and easy desert walking brought me to a major fork. My loop ascends the right fork of this wash and returns via the left fork. So far the miles of wash walking weren't particularly interesting, but it was nice to be in a remote area.

My first goal was to gain the south ridge of the Soda Mountains High Point. On the left I noted a gully that was low-angle relative to its surrounding slopes and headed up. There was some fun Class 2 scrambling, including a couple of short dryfalls, and soon I was up to the south ridge. Continuing north, the terrain was overall much more straightforward than I expected, only some short spurts of Class 2 boulder-hopping. The summit had cool views into the winding washes surrounding the high point, and I took a moment to inspect the other peaks on my loop, barely discernable bumps along the ridgeline. This was the point I decided I was content to omit them, though Peak 3461, located just to the west, was a worthy second peak and would facilitate a cohesive loop. I started down the west slope of the Soda Mountains High Point and followed it to the saddle separating the two peaks, a couple of short Class 2 sections along the way.

From the saddle I took the somewhat steep slope leading to Peak 3461, more Class 2. From its summit I was looking forward to some more views and decided to keep heading along the ridgeline, choosing to descend via a loose slope instead. It wasn't too bad, just a bit out of character compared to the rest of the hike which had been all using nice rounded ridgelines and easy drainages. In hindsight, a possibly better alternative from Peak 3461 might be to just return to the saddle and drop into the wash from there, despite the short backtrack. Regardless, using the slope I'd chosen, I was funneled into a minor drainage, and this drained into a slightly larger wash, etc.  There were some short Class 2 boulder obstacles sporadically throughout this descent until I was in the main wash again. Ultimately I was spit out into the left fork of the initial unnamed wash I hiked in on.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Soda Mountains High Point
3661 ft
1781 rise
2
Peak 3461
3461 ft
311 rise

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From my parking spot, starting up toward the wash on the left. The Soda Mountains High Point is up on the top right somewhere.
From my parking spot, starting up toward the wash on the left. The Soda Mountains High Point is up on the top right somewhere.
Entering the wide mouth of the unnamed wash.
Entering the wide mouth of the unnamed wash.
A major wash junction ahead, high point seen on the right. I kept right at the fork.
A major wash junction ahead, high point seen on the right. I kept right at the fork.
After ascending toward Soda Mountains High Point, I located this lower-angle gully on the left which I could use to gain the ridgeline.
After ascending toward Soda Mountains High Point, I located this lower-angle gully on the left which I could use to gain the ridgeline.
Class 2 up this drainage.
Class 2 up this drainage.
Some fun Class 2 dryfall obstacles.
Some fun Class 2 dryfall obstacles.
From the ridgeline, view back down the drainage into the major wash I came out of.
From the ridgeline, view back down the drainage into the major wash I came out of.
Ascending north toward the peak.
Ascending north toward the peak.
Some Class 2 along the way.
Some Class 2 along the way.
View back. I came up the wash (left) and then the gully (center).
View back. I came up the wash (left) and then the gully (center).
Pretty chill terrain along the south ridge.
Pretty chill terrain along the south ridge.
Minor Class 2 to the summit.
Minor Class 2 to the summit.
Soda Mountains High Point summit just ahead.
Soda Mountains High Point summit just ahead.
Close-up east toward the windy washes. you can also see I-15 in the center.
Close-up east toward the windy washes. you can also see I-15 in the center.
Onward from the high point toward Peak 3461, the small hump in the center. I descended using the slope on the far right.
Onward from the high point toward Peak 3461, the small hump in the center. I descended using the slope on the far right.
Some Class 2, but mostly it was a straightforward descent to the saddle (seen right). Peak 3461 top center.
Some Class 2, but mostly it was a straightforward descent to the saddle (seen right). Peak 3461 top center.
Some Class 2 up to Peak 3461.
Some Class 2 up to Peak 3461.
Peak 3461, view back toward Soda Mountains High Point (right).
Peak 3461, view back toward Soda Mountains High Point (right).
Close-up in the drainage system I'll be heading into shortly.
Close-up in the drainage system I'll be heading into shortly.
I continued along the ridgeline and descended this loose slope.
I continued along the ridgeline and descended this loose slope.
Upper minor fork, which drained into progressively wider washes.
Upper minor fork, which drained into progressively wider washes.
Another fork. Aside from some sporadic Class 2, it was sort of like this all the way back to the main wash.
Another fork. Aside from some sporadic Class 2, it was sort of like this all the way back to the main wash.

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!