Onyx Peak

After hiking to Nicolls Peak we drove across Kelso Valley to climb Onyx Peak (5244’). The hike is 5 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 2500 feet. We located the dirt road leading up, and crossed the gully to the closest access to the peak. After some serious elevation gain, some rock scrambling, and several false peaks we were able to reach the summit. The views of Lake Isabella, the Kern River Preserve, the Kern Plateau, Weldon, Onyx, Nicolls Peak, Southfork, Heald Peak, and the Kelso Valley are amazing from this peak, and were especially interesting on this day as we had just visited a similar vista from the other side of Kelso valley on Nicolls Peak. Click here to see pictures of Onyx Peak