Anza-Borrego Desert: Whale Peak North

Rating *****
length 4.4 mile (trail head) or 10 mile - 4 hour, add 1 hour 30 minutes from the point we started (Round trip).The way up takes about 1/2 hour longer than the return trip. Moderate.
Elevation 3900 - 5350 feet
Access On Hwy 2 close to mile 21, high clearance 4x4 recommended.

This is the other way to climb Whale Peak. This is the shortest one, if you are lucky enough to make it to the trail head, that is. In 2015 the road has improved a lot.
Head East at the sign Pinyon mountain valley. Follow this dirt road in a high clearance 4x4 to the trail head, or as far as you can make it.
We made it up to the mark Parking, this is a short rocky stretch, too much for our 4x4 car because of the clearance.

At the trail head, go into the gorge/canyon and hike up a rocky trail. If you can call it a trail that is, there have been other people and there are cairns.
Be careful the cairns only indicate that someone else made it this far, it is not necessarily the easiest way. At point B we took the more direct route up (south, a bit to the left).
The other way to the right (west) is easier but hard to find without knowing exactly where to go, but with a gps it should be easy to find.
Up to point C you made the steepest climb. Head further cross country (expect large rocks and boulders, some huge) and aim for point D.
At point D we hit the trail and a good one leading up to the peak (east) This goes really quick all of a sudden.

Follow this trail to point E. At this point the actual short but steep climb to the flat top starts.
Look around to make sure you get back the same way you came. The view is stunning as you can probably see most of the park on a clear day.
The way back is a good trail up to point I, after this point the trail goes down (rocky and steeper) there are some cairns, but there are many ways leading down.
At point J there is a flat sandy valley. Take the wash east and keep left in the wash that gets more narrow.
At point K the wash goes downhill more steeply, by keeping a bit left we found our way to point B relatively easy.
How to get here:
On Hwy 2 after mile 21 and directly after the Anza Borrego Park sign (from the direction of Borrego Springs) head left on a dirt road. Turn right into Pinyon Mountain Valley.
High clearance recommended, sometimes a 4x4 may be needed. Before 2014 at point parking the road was blocked by boulders. In 2015 the road seems to be a lot better, so you should be able to drive further.

 Disclaimer: Read this first before you start your hike. Contact: info/at/borregohiking/./com (leave out the /)
Hiking the Borrego Springs Area (Anza-Borrego Desert SP, Cuyamaca Rancho SP, Imperial Sand Dunes (Algodones Dunes), Jacumba, Laguna Mountain, Warner Springs) California, Hike with gps, gpx and kml (Google Earth).
© 2013-2024 Borregohiking.com.