Stateline Wilderness Loop in Stateline Wilderness Area, CA

Hike Stateline Wilderness Loop Stateline Wilderness Area, CA

Class 3 8.3 miles 3100 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Feb 6, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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This route gets the three ranked peaks within the Stateline Wilderness Area, a small stretch of land outside of Primm, California. I was mostly interested in the wilderness high point because I heard it had a cool scramble toward the top, but ultimately I turned this outing into a much longer ridgeline traverse with lots of cool Class 3 moves and overall reasonable terrain, considering the general nature of the limestone in this area.

To reach my start point, I drove to the back of Whiskey Pete's Casino here (35.6106, -115.39434) and through the open gate. I followed the relatively easy to navigate minor road system to Stateline Road here (35.61855, -115.40872) and then took this for a couple of miles. The road requires high clearance and good tires. I bottomed out a ton along the gravel road, but it was moreso just the bottom of my 8'' clearance knocking rocks out of the way. I wasn't thrilled with the drive, and parked where I did because I was sick of wincing at the banging underneath, plus it gave me an excuse to head up to Peak 4425, which was initially not part of my itinerary.

From my parking spot, my first concern when seeing Peak 4425 was its east face riddled in serious cliff bands, so I thought maybe the major drainage on the northeast side of the peak could work well. I could always climb out of it if I got cliffed out. Additionally, I noted the peak's northwestern ridge had significant-looking pinnacles. I knew tackling this peak could result in a failure, but it was early enough in the day and I was feeling antsy. I headed southwest toward the major drainage, a sandy wash with minimal rock-hopping as it quickly narrowed into a short slot. Past here I followed the main drainage as it climbed west to the summit. There were a few forks, and I kept right at each, hoping they'd lead me to the peak. Along the way there were plenty of Class 2 and Class 3 short dryfalls, more fun than dangerous. Toward the top the drainage was a chockstone with a Class 3 move that led above it to more tame Class 2 where I used a combination of a gully and a rib to reach the summit ridge. I was surprised the route went so well based on how gnarly the peak looked from below.

Happy to reach the summit of Peak 4425, I noticed there was no summit cairn or register, nor were there any ascents notable online. A first ascent, maybe? I peered out at the northwestern ridge, a series of potentially route-killing limestone pinnacles. Stateline Widlerness High Point also poked out in the distance. Fortunately, the ridgeline did go quite nicely, and without exceeding Class 3. I'll note the imagery on maps seems incorrect here, the pinnacles not registering and making it look like a mellow sloping ridgeline, which was definitely not the case. I started down from Peak 4425 and stuck just left of the pinnacles initially, concerned staying high would result in more difficult climbing than I wanted. There was a bit of up and down to avoid ribs and gullies, but overall the movement was fun and the route-finding mostly straightforward. Once I was confident I had cleared the pinnacles, I headed north up Class 2/3 in order to regain the ridge crest. From here the ridge went more reasonably for a short time, but the final dip to the saddle seemed steep. I dropped to the left again and descended some loose Class 2 to reach the saddle below.

The route from the saddle to the base of Stateline Wilderness High Point was largely uneventful. There were a few little rock outcrops that an animal trail wrapped around on their west side, and some short Class 2/3 obstacles farther up. The final bit to the summit required a Class 2/3 chute.

Next up was Peak 4586 to the north. Bob Burd had done this section years ago, so I knew it went at Class 3+ in advance. You could likely avoid all the hardest stuff by dropping to the west and staying below the ridge crest cliffs and side-hilling on less fun terrain. The first few hundred feet of the traverse are the most complex, as they are still part of the meandering northern summit ridge of the Stateline Wilderness High Point. I never felt unsafe because of ample great holds. A notch shortly after starting off the summit hit me first, a good tester to see if you're feeling the traverse. Past here there are 3-4 big drops requiring some Class 3 scrambling on fun blocky limestone ledges. There was one Class 3+ downclimb through a 30-foot chute along the crest to finally get down from the peak's northern ridge crest. It was a little unnerving from above, but I didn't experience an issue. You might be able to find a slightly less scary alternative.

Aside from short Class 2/3 moves along the ridgeline past here, the route was more tame. At the end of the ridge there's a minor bump that I avoided on its east side using an animal trail that wrapped around on a nice ledge. A final drop led to a saddle before Peak 4586, then Class 2 led up this ridgeline to the summit. I kind of wasn't done hiking, but Peak 4586 was the last seignificant bump in the area so I decided to call it an early day and dropped south off the summit along the nice ridgeline. Below I could see the outline of a very old road, which is what I decided to aim for. The ridgeline curved east and then I dropped off and headed south on a Class 2/2+ spur ridge, a little loose. I made my way down the slope and got into a major wash, which led to the old dirt road. The old dirt road continued to the road I drove in on, which I hiked on back to my car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 4425
4425 ft
324 rise
2
Stateline Wilderness High Point
4928 ft
975 rise
3
Peak 4586
4586 ft
485 rise

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From where I parked, a view of my three peaks in the Stateline Widlerness. The high point visible center. View up is Peak 4425 on the left.
From where I parked, a view of my three peaks in the Stateline Widlerness. The high point visible center. View up is Peak 4425 on the left.
Approaching the major drainage on Peak 4425's northwestern side.
Approaching the major drainage on Peak 4425's northwestern side.
Within the drainage, pretty reasonable wash walking at first.
Within the drainage, pretty reasonable wash walking at first.
A short Class 2/3 section of narrows.
A short Class 2/3 section of narrows.
Farther up within the drainage. I stuck to the main fork.
Farther up within the drainage. I stuck to the main fork.
View back at my progress. My car is somewhere in the center flat desert.
View back at my progress. My car is somewhere in the center flat desert.
A fork, I kept right.
A fork, I kept right.
A Class 3 obstacle.
A Class 3 obstacle.
View back past all the significant obstacles when the drainage became more tame.
View back past all the significant obstacles when the drainage became more tame.
A minor gully and rock rib combo brought me to the summit on Class 2 terrain.
A minor gully and rock rib combo brought me to the summit on Class 2 terrain.
Another shot back just before the summit. I came from the drainage in the center.
Another shot back just before the summit. I came from the drainage in the center.
Peak 4425 summit ahead.
Peak 4425 summit ahead.
Peak 4425 summit, view toward Clark Mountain and the massive solar fields seen along I-15.
Peak 4425 summit, view toward Clark Mountain and the massive solar fields seen along I-15.
Peak 4425 summit, view north at the substantial pinnacles along the ridgeline. Stateline Wilderness High Point visible center, my next peak.
Peak 4425 summit, view north at the substantial pinnacles along the ridgeline. Stateline Wilderness High Point visible center, my next peak.
I stuck to the crest initially, but then kept left around the pinnacle seen ahead.
I stuck to the crest initially, but then kept left around the pinnacle seen ahead.
View back toward Peak 4425.
View back toward Peak 4425.
Left around the pinnacle-filled ridge. There were still some nice Class 2/3 obstacles to overcome.
Left around the pinnacle-filled ridge. There were still some nice Class 2/3 obstacles to overcome.
I scrambled back to the crest and saw that the rest of the ridge looked more tame. My next peak visible on the left. However, to reach the saddle center left of this photo, the ridgeline had some scary-looking rock outcroppings, so I stayed left of them when it came time.
I scrambled back to the crest and saw that the rest of the ridge looked more tame. My next peak visible on the left. However, to reach the saddle center left of this photo, the ridgeline had some scary-looking rock outcroppings, so I stayed left of them when it came time.
View back at the traverse, Peak 4425 visible on the left.
View back at the traverse, Peak 4425 visible on the left.
View back toward the traverse from Peak 4425, the summit hidden behind somewhere. As you can see the ridgeline has a set of cliffs. I avoided these by coming down the Class 2 slope left of center in this photo.
View back toward the traverse from Peak 4425, the summit hidden behind somewhere. As you can see the ridgeline has a set of cliffs. I avoided these by coming down the Class 2 slope left of center in this photo.
Continuing along the ridgeline.
Continuing along the ridgeline.
Class 2 most of the way up to Stateline Wilderness High Point.
Class 2 most of the way up to Stateline Wilderness High Point.
View back at my progress from Peak 4425.
View back at my progress from Peak 4425.
Class 3 toward the top of Stateline Wilderness High Point on ledge-y, fun limestone.
Class 3 toward the top of Stateline Wilderness High Point on ledge-y, fun limestone.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
Stateline Wilderness High Point ahead. I took the gully seen center in this photo to reach the summit.
Stateline Wilderness High Point ahead. I took the gully seen center in this photo to reach the summit.
Class 2/3 gully.
Class 2/3 gully.
Stateline Wilderness High Point summit!
Stateline Wilderness High Point summit!
Stateline Wilderness High Point summit, view north. You can see the meandering summit ridge ahead. This is where the crux of the route will be. Possibly avoidable by dropping around the cliffs on the left.
Stateline Wilderness High Point summit, view north. You can see the meandering summit ridge ahead. This is where the crux of the route will be. Possibly avoidable by dropping around the cliffs on the left.
Along the ridgeline.
Along the ridgeline.
Class 3 move into a notch.
Class 3 move into a notch.
View back at the notch toward the Class 3 down-climb. It looks more serious than it was.
View back at the notch toward the Class 3 down-climb. It looks more serious than it was.
After a couple more Class 2/3 moves, I reached the end of the summit ridge. First a Class 3 section.
After a couple more Class 2/3 moves, I reached the end of the summit ridge. First a Class 3 section.
Looking back at the Class 3 section.
Looking back at the Class 3 section.
Then a Class 3+ downclimb. There might be a less scary-looking option on the left, but I didn't look too hard. This seemed reasonable enough for me.
Then a Class 3+ downclimb. There might be a less scary-looking option on the left, but I didn't look too hard. This seemed reasonable enough for me.
View back up at the Class 3+ downclimb.
View back up at the Class 3+ downclimb.
View back at the impressive, fun scramble from the north side of Stateline Wilderness High Point's summit ridge.
View back at the impressive, fun scramble from the north side of Stateline Wilderness High Point's summit ridge.
Along the ridgeline, some Class 2 and 3 here and there.
Along the ridgeline, some Class 2 and 3 here and there.
A shot back toward Stateline Wilderness High Point, much farther along the ridge.
A shot back toward Stateline Wilderness High Point, much farther along the ridge.
Peak 4586 visible (though sun-washed) on the right. First is a small obstacle seen on the left. I avoided it by taking an animal trail that wrapped around its east side.
Peak 4586 visible (though sun-washed) on the right. First is a small obstacle seen on the left. I avoided it by taking an animal trail that wrapped around its east side.
View back toward Stateline Wilderness High Point as I take an animal trail along a ledge around the obstacle.
View back toward Stateline Wilderness High Point as I take an animal trail along a ledge around the obstacle.
Final Class 2/3 bit to the saddle shared with Peak 4586.
Final Class 2/3 bit to the saddle shared with Peak 4586.
View back toward the descent to the saddle.
View back toward the descent to the saddle.
Class 2 up to Peak 4586.
Class 2 up to Peak 4586.
Peak 4586 summit, view toward the traverse from Stateline Wilderness High Point, the peak seen on the left.
Peak 4586 summit, view toward the traverse from Stateline Wilderness High Point, the peak seen on the left.
Peak 4586 summit, view north.
Peak 4586 summit, view north.
Heading south off Peak 4586. My car is somewhere in the desert on the left. Primm, CA is visible out there too.
Heading south off Peak 4586. My car is somewhere in the desert on the left. Primm, CA is visible out there too.
A spur ridge that I chose to take, leading down Class 2/3 to the wash seen below.
A spur ridge that I chose to take, leading down Class 2/3 to the wash seen below.
I followed the wash and picked up this old road, seen on the left.
I followed the wash and picked up this old road, seen on the left.
Along the old road, view back toward Peak 4586. The ridge I came down is seen center. This old road led to the road I drove in on.
Along the old road, view back toward Peak 4586. The ridge I came down is seen center. This old road led to the road I drove in on.

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