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59411 Hits
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83.69% Score
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17 Votes
Page Type:
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Mountain/Rock |
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Lat/Lon:
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35.52500°N / 115.588°W |
Activities:
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Mountaineering |
Season:
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Fall |
Elevation:
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7930 ft / 2417 m |
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Overview
Clark Mountain is the highest point in the Mojave National Preserve. This large and impressive mountain dominates the landscape near Mountain Pass for miles around. Although few people pay much attention to Clark Mountain itself, many are familiar with the long haul up Interstate 15 to Mountain Pass. The steep and sometimes treacherous grades of the highway as it crosses the mountain's southern flanks are usually enough to capture anyone's attention. Clark Mountain is located in the Mesquite Mountains BLM Wilderness Area.
Although it is close to a major highway, Clark Mountain has virtually no tourist attractions. There are no campgrounds or trails on Clark Mountain. There is one small picnic area at the southern base of the mountain, but reaching it can be a challenge. The roads leading to it are rough and confusing, but that may change in the future if the mountain starts receiving more visitors. With an elevation of 7,930', Clark Mountain ranks way down on the California elevation list. But the new field of Prominence has made Clark Mountain an important mountain. With a prominence of 4,254', Clark Mountain is big enough to make an impressive appearance on the crowded California Prominence Map.
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Getting There
The driving route to the trailhead is not straightforward, and a high clearance vehicle is necessary. The Road and Peak Guide by the Desert Peaks Section of the Sierra Club has some detailed directions, as do some other guide books, but we found the guidebooks inaccurate, and the roads around here confusing. It took us more than one attempt before we found the right road in. Your goal is to get to this picnic area at 1,850 meters at the base of Clark Mountain. Since there is only one road that leads to the picnic area, once you find it, just drive on it until the road ends.
The following information was taken from the DPS Guide, and the posted comments: Exit I-15 at Bailey Road in Mountain Pass. Drive north a short distance, then turn left onto the paved Clark Mountain Road. Drive west 1.1 miles until the pavement ends at a cattle guard. Continue west 0.4 miles on an excellent dirt road to a 4-way junction. Turn right (keeping the mine tailings pile on your right) and go 0.6 miles to a second junction. Go straight ahead here. Do not turn left onto the power line road like we did. Instead, drive east on the good road as it passes by the tailings pile, heads down a small hill, then heads up a sandy wash. Follow the wash for about 1.3 miles until reaching the open hillsides above an electrical substation. The road then switchbacks left and right. One mile past the right switchback, bear left at a fork and drive 0.6 miles to road's end at a picnic area. The road continues on past the picnic area another half mile or so to 1,950 meters. This is an alternate starting point.
A good map of the correct access route can be found here.
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Mountain Conditions
Contact the Mojave National Preserve HQ in Barstow at 760-252-6100, or the BLM Field Office in Needles at 760-326-7000 for the latest information.
Topo Maps: Clark Mtn; Mescal Range.
Camping
There are no developed campgrounds near Clark Mountain. However, primitive camping is allowed in the area.
External Links
- Clark Mt. 5/15/05
- Geology of the Mojave National Preserve
- Mojave National Preserve Information
- Mojave National Preserve
- Mesquite Mountains Wilderness
- Clark Mountain Picture
- California Prominence Map
1 Routes
cp0915 - May 12, 2005 10:54 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentI'd have to agree with you, Scotty. I think that's the same approach I took, though I still couldn't get my Corolla beyond the wash without beating it up.
Judging by your photos, I see you made a recent trip down this way.
ScottyS - May 12, 2005 1:18 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentAh, yes. During an extra day in the LV area, I sampled a collection of old piñon pine as part of a long-term Great Basin climate reconstruction project. I've been targeting Clark Mt as a collection site for a while, just hadn't gotten the time to do it.
ScottyS - May 11, 2005 9:58 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentThere is a variation of the road leading to the picnic area that is much faster and easier to travel for light cars than the pole-line road. It uses the same directions for getting off the highway and going towards the tailings, but goes straight at the second junction instead of left. The key to this road is to follow the way that appears to have the most use. Stay close to the tailings, drive down a small hill, and follow the road as it goes up a sandy wash. The wash twists and turns for ~1.3mi until reaching the open hillsides above substation. (see posted map for exact route) Here it joins with the described route.
This route is totally drivable in a low-clearance car until the switchback through the wash. Actually, I drove a recent-model Pontiac Sunfire all the way to the picnic area without grinding the muffler, but unless you really know what you're doing I can't recommend this. A two-wheel-drive pickup would be fine, as long as speed is maintained through the sandy sections.
cp0915 - May 12, 2005 10:54 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentI'd have to agree with you, Scotty. I think that's the same approach I took, though I still couldn't get my Corolla beyond the wash without beating it up.
Judging by your photos, I see you made a recent trip down this way.
ScottyS - May 12, 2005 1:18 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentAh, yes. During an extra day in the LV area, I sampled a collection of old piñon pine as part of a long-term Great Basin climate reconstruction project. I've been targeting Clark Mt as a collection site for a while, just hadn't gotten the time to do it.
Matthew Holliman - Nov 29, 2005 2:08 am - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentI only had the DPS guide with me when I did this, but I ended up doing what it sounds like Scotty did as well. There are many roads and junctions not mentioned in the guide. Here's an updated description and GPS waypoints. All distances are given relative to the previous road junction:
Here are waypoints that can be imported into TOPO! or Excel:
mthornt - Dec 31, 2013 8:45 am - Hasn't voted
Cool HikingI hiked this mountain in July and it was a lot of fun. The terrain was relatively easy with a lot of loose stone toward to the top. It was quite possible that I was the only person on the mountain during the hike. The place was absolutely desolate and peaceful. I took a two wheeled drive Dodge Journey rental on the back roads to the base. The crossover has a pretty high wheelbase; however, there were a few times I got pretty nervous about going off the side of the trail (road). There were many potholes and washouts along the way and some being as deep as two feet. I would definitely do again if I was in the area.
gimpilator - Jan 21, 2016 2:10 pm - Hasn't voted
Naming HistoryClark Mountain took it's name from the nearby Clarke Mining District which was formed in 1869. It was named for William H. Clarke who was a saloon keeper in the town of Visalia. See page 135 of Death Valley and the Amargosa by Richard Lingenfelter
HeyItsBen - Dec 14, 2016 9:21 pm - Hasn't voted
Signs point the wayAs of November 2016, there are easy to follow signs that point the way to the picnic area - white signs saying "right of way access" get you through the mine to an unlocked gate. After the gate there are posts marked "Clark Mountain Road." As far as the route, I think people who mention difficult climbing or 5th class aren't finding the correct notch in the wall. It was a couple of class 3 moves and mostly 2nd to get through the break in the wall (my non-rock-climber buddy downclimbed it with little difficulty).
akirmse - Oct 14, 2018 6:23 am - Hasn't voted
Class 2 routeThere is an easy class 2 route along the ridge from the south, starting at the standard picnic area. See http://peakbagger.com/climber/ascent.aspx?aid=1055564.