Epix Drive 2000
Jerica Shilt
The Red Mountain hike, although "normal" on paper, really packs a punch. Red Mountain, a volcanic cone rising over 2000 feet above the surrounding Mojave Desert, has steep slopes, harsh terrain, and a challenging trail. And with great effort comes great payoff: the summit offers sweeping views and an interesting history.
First of all, don't just type in "red mountain" and go. There are 96 named "red mountains" in the USA, and 18 in California. And it gets even trickier because the area where you will park is on a dirt BLM (Bureau of Land Management) road. Getting to the trailhead can be a challenge, use these initial coordinates, which are right off of historic Rt 395 in Red Mountain, CA:
35.367173, -117.619459
Once you get to that spot, you're going to follow the dirt roads to a small parking area where you can start hiking. I've included the track to the parking area in the map below, and you can also use these coordinates:
35.36555, -117.60978
The road to the parking area is sand with some washboarding, but doable in a sedan if you go slow over the bumpy parts. Otherwise you can park at the initial coordinates off of 395 and walk in. There is another trailhead listed in earlier Sierra Club guides, but I found the road very challenging in anything non-4x4.
This is a rugged hike in the middle of the Mojave Desert. The landscape is harsh and unforgiving, the terrain is rugged. Bring a full hiking kit including your essentials, sun protection, and at least 2L of water. Trekking poles are a must on the extremely steep slopes.
Check out the complete list here. ( Updated July 2024)Red Mountain Trail MapsThe trails on this hike are a mixed bag. In the beginning, you'll be on old mining roads, now used by OHVs. When you leave the roads, the trail is faint, non-official, and sometimes bifurcates. I highly recommend bringing the GPX track loaded onto your GPS unit or phone to cross-check where you are. The track below (and in the GPX) is one that I hiked. There are other trails that will split and rejoin, so if you find something solid and it's going in the right direction, stick with it over the GPX file.
Use This Map:
View in CalTopo PDF Map GPX FileHow Will You Navigate?Using the Apple Watch for HikingGarmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For HikersHow To Read a Topographic MapGarmin GPSMAP 67i ReviewElevation ProfileOn paper this hike doesn't look too bad. But the harsh conditions, steep slopes, and faint trails make it tougher than it looks. Expect a slower pace than a trail with comparable stats.3D MapThe first part of the hike gets you up to the ridge on the old volcanic peak. Then you follow the ridge over a false peak, down, and then up to the Red Mountain summit.Hike BriefNormally I'm not a fan of scrawled initials in the wild, but this one, from October 22, 1908, is an exception. It was put there by Frank Lee Hess, who surveyed California in the early 1900s looking for mineral deposits. There is also graffiti from USMC visitors in 1907.
- The drive in through the town of Red Mountain is, let's say, "interesting." The area used to be an old wild west mining town, with three separate discovery booms, the last of which was silver in 1919. In the early 1900s this boomtown was much different, filled with miners, serving booze during prohibition, offering a 9-hold golf course for big wigs, and sporting a large community of prostitutes. Its reputation got so bad that locals changed the name from "Osdick" to "Red Mountain" in 1929 to try and leave the earlier chapter behind. The silver mine was one of the most productive in the country. Unfortunately a lasting legacy is arsenic contamination (used to process minerals). Arsenic levels are thousands of times higher here than they should be, making the water unsafe and leading to numerous other health issues for locals.
- Red Mountain is a cone in the Big Pine volcanic field, active from 1.2 million years ago, up until about 17,000 years ago. The volcanic field is too old to be still considered a threat, but there are earthquakes in the area. If you want to visit a neat volcanic area, check out Fossil Falls a bit to the north on 395.
- There used to be a structure at the summit. There's a concrete base, metal framing, and some yellow gas tanks. I've looked everywhere for info on what was here. If you happen to know about it, please contact me.
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And follow me on YouTube, Instagram, and my monthly newsletter.Head to the intersection where the hike starts (from the parking area) and make the left.There are many OHV roads crisscrossing each other. We're going to stay on RM 108 until we get up to the saddle. When in doubt, look for these signs.After the turn, keep left on RM 108.And start gently climbing, again, staying on RM 108.You'll see some trails leading off to the left. Stay straight on RM 108.Now the trail gets steeper as we climb towards the saddle ahead.If in doubt, there are regular RM 108 signs along the route to the saddle.Off to the left is a big red dome, which we will be next to when we gain the saddle.We've got another steep and rocky section of climbing.Almost there.Avoid the road that goes off to the right and keep heading up toward the saddle.One last steep climb and we'll be at the saddle. You can see the steepness of the trail ahead.At about 1.25 miles you'll reach a saddle with views to the east. Go straight.And then make the quick right turn and continue uphill.Just before the dirt road, there's a single track that you can also take up the hill. I've marked it in the GPX file and map. I generally take it, but it can be very hard to spot. The road is steep but easy to find.
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.
The Beeks Place hike takes you to the ruins of an old cabin compound built at a scenic spot high in the Santa Ana Mountains. From Beeks Place, you can see from San Gorgonio to Mt Baldy to Catalina. The hike is challenging, taking you 2000 feet up fire roads through the mountains, and along the way, you get epic views, hidden pastures, and even a Native American settlement. While Beeks Place might not be a big-name peak bagging experience, it is a nice long mountain hike that you can do all year.
Beeks Place is just off Main Divide Road, the rugged dirt road that traverses the Santa Ana Mountains, and you can actually drive up there in a 4x4. But what fun would that be? We'll hike to it instead. The most popular hiking route to Beeks Place is up Black Star Canyon Road, and that's the route covered in this guide.
This is a long hike in the mountains, so prepare accordingly. I don't recommend doing this hike when it's hot out. There's almost no shade once you leave the canyon, and the temperatures can be brutal in Cleveland NF. Either way, bring 3L of water, snacks, and sun protection.
Check out the complete list here. ( Updated July 2024)Beeks Place Hike Trail MapsThis hike follows fire roads up to Beeks Place. In general they are wide, graded gradually, and easy to follow. Despite the fact that the hike is on fire roads and not single-track, it's still scenic and fun. Just watch out for mountain bikers who often fly downhill here; there's a local challenge to ride to Beeks Place and back in an hour or less.
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