Red Mountain

Overview

This Red Mountain is one of those big old rounded scarp peaks on the east edge of the Sierra just southwest of Tom's Place between Mammoth Lakes and Bishop.
This is a walk-up scramble dayhike with outstanding views of the Rock Creek Sierra, the colorful Nevahbe Ridge and an east side view all the way north to Mt. Dana and beyond.
The north slope is class 1-2 from Little Round Valley, the east slope is class 2 from the Rock Creek Road and the south ridge is class 1-2 from the Hilton Lakes Trail.
The summit is a large rolling one covered with iron oxide red rock.

Getting There

From the junction of Hwy 120 and Hwy 395 go south 43 miles to Tom's Place.
From Bishop take Hwy 395 north 23.5 miles from the junction with Hwy. 6 to Tom's Place.

North slope: 4,400' gain, 7 miles round trip.
Turn south and go a half block at Tom's Place. Go right, past the resort/saloon approximately 2 miles to the Aspen Springs area in Little Round Valley and find a good place to tackle the beast.

East slope: 3,400' gain, 3 miles round trip.
From the Tom's Place junction go south 3.5 miles on the Rock Creek Road to 8,300'. Park by the road and take the steep east slope.
This route is a big grunt through all kinds of shit. I ran into a nice little aspen grove growing in a steep scree/talus field on the way down.

South slope: 2,100' gain, 10 miles round trip.
Take the Rock Creek Road south at Tom's Place 8 miles across from the Pine Grove Campground and corral. Take the switchback trail .7 up to the junction with the Hilton Lakes Trail and go right 2 miles up to the saddle before Hilton Lakes. Break trail to the north and hike cross county over a few small rollers 3 miles to the peak.

Red Tape

No permits are required for dayhiking this peak. For camping etc. check out RED TAPE on the John Muir Wilderness page.

Camping

These campgrounds are all in succession further up Rock Creek Road.

Lower Rock Creek, 7,300', .3 miles
Aspen,8,300' at 3.7 miles
Iris Meadow, 8,400' at 4 miles
Palisade, 8,500' at 5.8 miles
East Fork, 8,970' at 5.9 miles then go left .7 miles
Pine Grove, 9,300' at 7.4 miles
There are sveral campgrounds around Rock Creek Lake at 9,700' at 8.6 miles
Mesquito Flat at 10,000' at 10.5 miles

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Images

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