Overview
Waucoba Mountain is in the Inyo Mountain Range and has a broad flat summit where you have wonderful views of the Sierra Nevada to the west and the Saline Mountain Range to the east.
The Inyo Range is part of the Inyo Mountains Wilderness. The mountains in this wilderness area rise from an elevation of 1,000 feet in the dry, hot Saline Valley on the east and rise to over 11,000 feet in less than 6.5 miles. Waucoba Mountain, at 11,123 feet, is the highest point in the wilderness. Several other mountains reach above 11,000 feet, including Keynot Peak and Mount Inyo. Most of the mountains consist of sedimentary rock like limestone, with occasional granitic outcrops. These mountains are steep, with spectacular cliffs and rock exposures, and deep, nearly inaccessible canyons. However, once you gain the crest of the range, the terrain is relatively gentle and rolling.
Lower elevations are cloaked in creosote bush, shadscale, and big sagebrush, whereas the higher elevations have limited forest cover of juniper, pinyon pine, and limber pine. Even some of the rare bristlecone pines grow along the mountain crest.
Getting There
From US 395 in Big Pine, California turn east on State Route 168 (paved). At 2.2 miles bear right on Waucoba-Saline Valley Road (paved) and go 13 mies to Saline Valley Road (good dirt). Turn south (right) onto Saline Valley Road and travel for 12.5 miles until you reach the high point of the road at just above 7,200 feet (North Pass). You can park along the road or take turn right on the 4WD road and travel as far as you can. (I only made it 0.3 miles down the road before I parked at 7,400 feet elevation).
Red Tape
Permits or parking passes are not required. This area of the Inyo Wilderness is managed by the United States Forest Service - Inyo National Forest.
The area might not be accessable in the winter due to weather related road closures.
When To Climb
The best time of year to climb Waucoba Mountain is from May to October. Snow in the winter makes the climb more difficult.
Camping
Camping in the Inyos is all in primitive sites. There are some really nice places to camp just off Saline Valley Road where you park for the hike to Waucoba Mountain. Minimum impact camping methods apply.
There are no fees. Bring in all the water you will need. Food, lodging, and gas are available in any of the Owens Valley towns from Lone Pine to Big Pine. Get everything you need before heading into the wilderness.
Mountain Conditions
Check with the Ranger Station in Bishop for current conditons in the Inyo National Forest:
White Mountain Ranger Station
760-873-2500
760-873-2501 TDD
798 North Main Street
Bishop, CA 93514
Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30
Open all year
Monday-Friday in winter
Inyo National Forest Link
Information on the Saline Valley Road
Length - 85 miles
The Saline Valley Road runs from State Highway 190 on the south to the Death Valley-Big Pine Road on the north, skirting the base of the Inyo Mountains lengthwise through the Valley. The Saline Valley Road provides access to the Hot Springs, Hunter Canyon, the old Salt Works and Tramway, and the lush Salt Lake Marshlands. This can also be one of the worse washboard roads in the Death Valley National Park. The road is fairly well-travelled, but still very remote. I only ran into a couple of vehicles when I drove the length of the road. During winter months, the North and South Passes may be impassable due to snow and ice, generally from spring through fall and during low-snow winters the road is open and in good graded condition.
Road conditions can be found on Death Valley National Park's Morning Report:
Death Valley Morning Report
Death Valley National Park Page
External LinksImages
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Calif. Desert Peaks
