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Location: Kern County, about 10 miles northwest of Inyokern, 150 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Auto Club: Kern County

Forest Service: Sequoia National Forest

USGS Topo: Owens Peak 7½, Walker Pass 7½

HPS: Route(s), waypoints and explanation of usage

Nearby Peaks: Mount Jenkins, Owens Peak, Five Fingers

Distance: 9 miles round trip on trail and cross-country

Gain: 2000'

Time: 4-5 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, moderate

Navigation: Easy

Route: Trail mostly with easy cross-country

Original: Al Campbell and Paul A. Lipsohn, November 1972

DRIVING ROUTE 1

• Take SR 14 to Mojave.
• Continue north on SR 14 to the intersection with SR 178 (Freeman Junction).
• Go west on SR 178 to Walker Pass. Park here. Unlimited parking space.

HIKING ROUTE 1

• From Walker Pass (5246'), hike north on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) about 4 miles to a saddle (6600') southwest of the summit (UTM 100496).
• Leave the trail and follow a prominent use trail which goes diagonally up towards the ridge and hits the ridge just east of the peak.
• Turn left and go up to the summit.

Distance: 4 miles round trip cross-country

Gain: 2400'

Time: 3-4 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, moderate

Navigation: Moderate

Leader Rating: "I", normal conditions

Route: All cross-country, steep most of the way

Original: Al Campbell and Paul A. Lipsohn, November 1972

DRIVING ROUTE 2

• Take SR 14 to Mojave.
• Continue north on SR 14 to the intersection with SR 178 (Freeman Junction).
• Continue north on SR 14 for 5.3 miles to Indian Wells Canyon Road (dirt) on the left. This is 0.4 mile north of the Homestead Cafe. Turn left. Note your odometer and go as follows:
• At 2.6 miles, Powers Well on the left. Keep straight.
• At 2.7 miles, fork. Go right.
• At 3.8 and 3.9 miles, forks. Keep left.
• At 5.2 miles, fork. Go right.
• At 5.8 miles, fork. Keep left. This is the turnoff for Owens Peak.
• Drive about 0.5 mile to an abandoned mine (gold and tungsten). Park here. Do not block the road.

HIKING ROUTE 2

• From the parking area (4840'), hike up the road past the cable.
• Keep left at the first fork and right at the second fork.
• Continue past the end of the road into the canyon ahead.
• Continue up to the saddle at 6500'.
• Turn left, leave the trail, and go up the ridge (south) to the summit.

PEAK COMBINATIONS

Morris Peak is commonly done with Mount Jenkins by a long trail walk along the PCT. It is also done with Mount Jenkins by a much shorter route using Route 2 of Morris Peak to access the PCT or by having a short car shuttle and combining Morris Peak's Route 2 with Mount Jenkins Route 3.

CAMPING

About a mile past Walker Pass is the entrance on the left for Walker Pass Campground. There are restrooms and water during summer months. There are walk-in primitive sites. There are no fees or reservations at this time.

Powers Well is on the driving route for Route 2. It has no water or facilities. It is very close to the starting point for Five Fingers.

NOTE

Morris Peak, Mount Jenkins, Owens Peak, Five Fingers (Aquilla) are all in the Owens Peak Wilderness. At the date of this revision, no permit is required.

History of Summit Signature

Climbing Archives

Please report any corrections or changes to the Mountain Records Chair.