Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point

January 19th, 2024 at 11:24 AMJoshua Tree National Park, CA

Info

Distance

9.7 mi

Elevation gain

3,200 ft

Route type

Out & back

Duration

4 hr

Crux

Class 2

Quality

5/10

Ecoregion

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Trip report

From from the Cottonwood Visitor Center, I drove 4.7 miles down Pinkman Canyon Road before parking at a small pullout. My route was a double out-and-back, first hitting Monument Mountain to the north followed by Cottonwood Mountains High Point to the south. Both legs consist of a short approach through the desert to any spur ridge of choice. Once on the main ridge, it's a mellow, undulating walk to the summit.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — From Pinkman Canyon Road, heading north toward Monument Mountain.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Starting up a southern spur of Monument Mountain.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — View back toward Cottonwood Mountains.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Gaining the Monument Mountain's main ridge. A faint use-trail appears.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Looking back.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — A steep section ahead.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Some low Class 2.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — A long, flat stretch of ridgeline.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Monument Mountain visible right of center.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Approaching a saddle to the east of Monument Mountain.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Class 2 on Monument Mountain's eastern slope.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Monument Mountain summit. View west.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Closeup of the terrain to the west. San Jacinto Peak is visible in the distance, left.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — View southeast. Eagle Mountain is on the left.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — View northeast toward Pinto Mountain.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Retracing my steps toward Pinkman Canyon Road.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Crossing the Pinkman Canyon Road, headed south toward Cottonwood Mountains High Point.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Meandering through the open desert. A bit more vegetated here than on the north side of the road.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Picking out a northern spur of Cottonwood Mountains High Point.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Starting up the spur.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Nearing the main ridge.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — On top of the main ridge, heading toward a false summit, visible right of center.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — False summit on the left.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — View back toward Monument Mountain.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — On top of the false summit, Cottonwood Mountains High Point comes into view on the right. The route contours the prominence on the left toward the saddle, center.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — From the saddle, remaining ridgeline to Cottonwood Mountains High Point.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Cottonwood Mountains High Point summit. View southwest.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — View north toward Monument Mountain.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — View east. Eagle Mountain is on the left.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Register dating back to 1978.

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Some older signatures on loose paper from 1963!

Trip report photo for Monument Mountain and Cottonwood Mountains High Point — Backtracking to the car, enjoying the late afternoon light.