Hike Waucoba Mountain and Wunupu Peak Inyo National Forest, CA

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Waucoba Mountain is a high-prominence summit on popular peakbagging lists and the high point of the Inyo Mountains, but with so much other good hiking in this range, it leaves much to be desired. Most folks approach Waucoba from the east, which is what I did, since an excellent dirt road leads right to its base. Others come from the west for a shorter hike and a much worse drive.

Really just a massive lump deep in the northern reaches of Death Valley National Park, this hike offers lots of solitude and a nice summit view, but little else. Just north of Waucoba Mountain is Wunupu Peak, a worthwhile add-on that was a bit more interesting.

A couple of dirt roads meander for a short time from where I parked, but quickly stop being useful, so I just aimed directly for the mountain. The hike began easily enough: a little rocky and with minor gullies, with lumpy Waucoba looming ahead like a big lumpy dummy lump.

I reached the northeastern base of the mountain, where the grade steepened drastically. A few brief boulder-hopping moments throughout the hike kept things mildly entertaining, but otherwise, it was a lightly forested trudge to the top. I’d love to say there was more to it, but honestly, I was over it. Even the view toward the High Sierra, impressive as that wall of mountains is, couldn’t convince me to linger for long.

Wunupu Peak was next. A mellow descent through a burn area led to a steeper drop into the saddle. I found angling a bit to the left helped me in the correct direction. While I could have done some bushwhacking past the burn area, I somehow avoided anything worth complaining about.

The ridgeline up to Wunupu offered light Class 2 scrambling and a treeless climb I enjoyed far more than Waucoba’s forested slog. The rocky ascent gave way to a grassy stroll to the top, where I looked back at Waucoba’s dull silhouette and then west to the jagged Sierra stretching on forever.

My descent choice from Wunupu Peak was steep and then steeper, the conclusion being a scree slope that I’m thrilled I had chosen to descend rather than ascend. You might be able to find a slightly lower-angle way down, but I imagine it’s all comparable. It was a nice walk through various gullies and lumps back to the car.

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

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Waucoba Mountain

11123 ft

3923 rise

Wunupu Peak

10358 ft

678 rise

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Waucoba Mountain and Wunupu Peak seen from the turn-off from the good road. I parked a few hundred feet along the road ahead.

Waucoba Mountain seen ahead, the ground a bit rocky and lumpy at times.

Lightly forested much of the hike.

Nearing the base of Waucoba Mountain's steep northeastern slope.

View back as I start up.

Short sections of boulder-hopping.

Wunupu Peak seen over there. Also, here you can see the steep angle of Waucoba Mountain's slope.

It's really not very interesting, this being the typical view on the way up.

Another shot back, Wunupu Peak seen far left.

Close-up looking down the slope.

Nearing the summit.

Waucoba Mountain summit, view of the eastern Sierra.

Close-up toward the Sierra.

Onward to Wunupu Peak, seen center.

Descending toward Wunupu Peak.

Through a burn area.

Wunupu Peak ahead.

I headed down to the saddle seen center. I was able to dodge almost all brush.

Base of Wunupu Peak.

View back toward the descent from Waucoba Mountain.

Some light Class 2 along the ridgeline.

Rocky sections on the way up Wunupu Peak.

And then a mostly flat walk through grasses to the high point.

Nearing Wunupu Peak's summit, view back toward Waucoba Mountain (left), the Sierra seen right.

View west toward the Sierra.

Close-up west toward the Sierra and Squaw Flat below.

Starting down from Wunupu Peak. Waucoba Mountain seen on the right.

Very steep descent.

Toward the bottom was even more. I was glad I didn't choose to ascend this way.

View back up at the steep scree descent.

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!