I am passing through and me and my daughter will be staying at the campground for a couple days. I have been once years and years ago so my memory of the place is a little foggy. Any cool things to do in this area? Local desert peaks, cool trails? I figured this would be the place to ask, thanks for any info you can send my way, I appreciate it..

There's light hiking and photography at the State park so be sure to bring a good camera. I visited nearby Randsburg. There's HPS peaks in the area, link to them and their peaks guide at my website. I have old pix at PTP>Peaks Archives>Various Past Peaks...>Mitchell Pt Nov 1986

10000Pks, what does "HPS" mean, and thanks for your response...

Obvious at my website.

HUNDRED PEAKS SECTION

Ok I found it on your website, thanks again 1000Pks...

I'm not sure if Pete is suggesting Mitchell Point and the other Providence Mts (which are not too close by, perhaps 200 miles to TH). If you go to the Providence Mts, be prepared for some very rough terrain and lots of very sharp plants.

There are a bunch of desert peaks NE of the campground area, described in "Desert Summits."

The HPS peaks that are nearby include Red Mountain, Black Mountain #6, Chuckwalla and Cross Mountain (a little to the south). If you drive north on 14, Indian Wells Canyon is not far with Morris, Jenkins, Owens, Russel, Backus, Five Fingers peaks. Besides peak bagging there are many OHV trails all around that area. The desert visitor center at Jawbone Canyon is very nice in my opinion.

SoCalHiker, I might check out some of the first peaks you listed. In getting to Red Mountain, Black Mountain #6 or Chuckwalla require any off road travel to gain access? I will be driving a Ford Focus? Thanks for the reply..

MoapaPk wrote:I'm not sure if Pete is suggesting Mitchell Point and the other Providence Mts (which are not too close by, perhaps 200 miles to TH). If you go to the Providence Mts, be prepared for some very rough terrain and lots of very sharp plants.

There are a bunch of desert peaks NE of the campground area, described in "Desert Summits."

While we easily drove to do those DPS peaks, the next day, I was not outright suggesting those given the travel frame apparently said. Just what we used to do then. The roads make the desert very accessible, and for me, I can be in Northern CA one hour, and Vegas (for example) that night, or vice versa.

Desert Summits by Andy Zdon is a very helpful guide, although maybe a bit vague. The HPS guide has all the necessary info, free on their website. They do a good job at updating as well. Although storms can do severe road damage in a flash, and you can find yourself trapped if you do not pay attention to the weather. We did Cross and Chuckwalla with a passenger car. Most of those are fine w/exceptions.

avalanch wrote:SoCalHiker, I might check out some of the first peaks you listed. In getting to Red Mountain, Black Mountain #6 or Chuckwalla require any off road travel to gain access? I will be driving a Ford Focus? Thanks for the reply..

Well, we used a high clearance vehicle for all those hikes. The access road to Black Mountain (Mesquite Canyon) was definitely the worst. Chuckwalla and Red Mountain can probably be done with a regular passenger car. You may not get as close as with a high clearance.

btw... this is where we started to hike Red Mountain...

and this how far we drove in to hike Black Mountain...