4 RIVERSIDE COUNTY RANGES GUIDE NO. 4.5

EAGLE MOUNTAIN #1 5350 FEET CLASS 1

MILEAGE: 178 miles of paved road

DRIVE/ROUTE A: From Indio, CA drive E approxim

ately 23 miles on Interstate 10 to the signed Mecca-

Twentynine Palms exit. At the offramp stop sign, turn left (N) on the signed Cottonwood Springs Road,

reaching the Joshua Tree National Park entrance station at Cottonwood Springs in 7.0 miles. A park entrance

fee must be paid here before continuing further into the Park (See SIDELINES 1 below). Continue N from

the entrance station on the Pinto Basin road for 2.4 miles to a dirt road turnoff on the right. This dirt road ends

in about 50 feet at a concrete barrier and some fence poles. Parking is very limited on this short dirt road; two

or three cars at the most. All others will have to park along the shoulder of the paved Pinto Basin Road.

CLIMB/ROUTE A: See Map 1. From the end of the dirt road locate a grouping of large, rounded boulders at

the base of the m

ountain at a bearing of 130°. Hike this bearing for about 3 miles across the desert flats to the

boulders, which are located at the mouth of a large canyon. Hike up this canyon to about the 4200 foot

elevation level, bearing right into a gully which is followed to a notch at 5040 feet elevation (UTM 157348).

From this notch the peak can be seen at a bearing of 115°. Hiking along that bearing (ESE), drop about 150

feet in 0.3 miles to where you'll gain the summit ridge and follow it to the top.

ROUND TRIP STATS/ROUTE A: 2400 feet elevation gain, 9 miles, 6 hours

DRIVE/ROUTE B: Follow DRIVE/ROUTE A directions to the Joshua Tree National Park entrance station at

Cottonwood Springs. Turn right here on the signed, paved road to the Cottonwood Springs

campground.

Driving 0.7 miles to the signed turnoff for the campground, turn left, entering the fee campsite area. It is

assumed in this writeup that you will be staying at one of the established sites since day use parking is not

available in this area. If you need day use parking only, it's probably best to park at the Cottonwood Springs

entrance station. Camping fees and regulations are discussed in SIDELINES below.

CLIMB/ROUTE B: See Map 2. The hike starts at the far end of cam

pground loop B at site #17. Walk cross

country at an 82° bearing through the low gap in the foreground hills, then on to the mouth of a large canyon

at the base of the mountain. Hike up this canyon to about the 4200 foot level and bear right into a gully which

is followed to a notch at 5040 feet elevation (UTM 157348). Follow ROUTE A from here to the top.

ROUND TRIP STATS/ROUTE B: 2400 feet elevation gain, 9 miles, 6 hours

DRIVE/ROUTE C: Follow DRIVE/ROUTE A directions to the Joshua Tree National Park entrance station at

Cottonwood Springs. Turn right here on the signed, paved road to the Cottonwood

EAGLE MOUNTAIN #1 (CONTINUED)

4 RIVERSIDE COUNTY RANGES GUIDE NO. 4.5

Springs campground. Drive 0.7 miles to the signed turnoff for the campground but, instead of turning left

here, continue straight for another 0.5 miles to the road's end at a large paved parking lot.

CLIMB/ROUTE C: See Map 2. At the E end of the parking lot find the trailhead to Mastodon

Peak

and Lost

Palms Oasis. Hike 1.0 miles SE on the trail to a location about 200 yards past the trail sign for Mastodon

Peak. Leaving the trail here, hike NE up a large wash for about 1.0 mile, then E to the base of the mountain.

Continuing E, ascend a gully to the ridgeline approximately 0.25 miles NE of point 4678. Follow the ridge N

then NE, staying mainly on its right side to the vicinity of the notch at 5040 feet elevation (UTM 157348).

Follow ROUTE A from here to the top.

ROUND TRIP STATS/ROUTE C: 2400 feet elevation gain, 10 miles, 6+ hours

SIDELINES

1. Joshua Tree National Park has an entry fee. Fees are collected at the three

ain entry points into the Park;

at the Twentynine Palms Visitors Center, an entrance station kiosk near Joshua Tree and at the Cottonwood

Springs entrance station. The entry permit is good for 7 days from the date of issue. Be aware that

unregistered vehicles (those without the permit affixed to the inside front windshield) are subject to citation

and/or towing.

2. Cottonwood Springs is a convenient place to camp when doing Eagle Mountain #1. The campground is

divided into two loops (A and B) with a total

of 60 sites and a group cam

pground with 3 sites. The loop A

and B sites are available for a modest fee. These sites are limited to six persons and two vehicles maximum

per site and are only available on a first come/first serve basis. The group sites are also available and are

limited to 12 people per site with a total of 35 available parking spaces for all three sites. Reservations for

group sites can be made by phone through Ticketron. All sites have fire rings, picnic tables and restroom

facilities with flush toilets and running water.

3. The Park has regulations which require that you register at a designated backcountry board before entering

the backcountry. The Park Service indicates that this is for your protection as well as a means of accruing

statistics for park administration. A complete list of backcountry regulations is available from the Main

Visitors Center, any of the entry stations or at the backcountry board where you must register before

beginning your hike.

Revised 3/10/18