Off The Beaten Path
This peak guide is presented here for the convenience of our visitors.
Neither the Desert Peaks Sections or the Sierra Club guarantees the accuracy of this document. Use at Your Own Risk!
| No. 33 | Calico Peak (4,542') | California |
This guide is based on a Sage article by Bob Michael.
Topo Map:
Yermo 7½
Coordinates: Lat 34 59 43 Lon 116 50 15
Trip Stats: unknown
DRIVING
The route I used goes up Odessa Canyon, (one) mile east of Calico off the paved Ghost Town Road loop. Apprehensive about pockets of soft sand, I found a good place to park about 1/2 mile from the pavement; I could have gone another 1/2 mile before the road turns into extreme 4WD. The topo does show the "Doran Scenic Drive" up the canyon, but this road was destroyed by floods long ago; a few strips and patches of asphalt are all that's left. The roadbed is now a bouldery 4WD "route" only.
HIKING
Above the narrow, incised lower part of the canyon, it broadens out, and fairly good, traveled dirt roads come in from east and west. Just keep hiking on the main road in the drainage, and where it steepens for the final ascent of the peak, an iron gate bars casual traffic. The last stretch of the road is insanely steep.
NOTES
Here is another peak we've all been past umpteen zillion times, it's about time somebody climbed it and write about it. Not List-worthy, because of a road and electronic junk on the summit, but a fun hike through some bizarre, colorful geology, with a nice canyon.
PS. Restaurant recommendation: Idle Spurs Steak House, old Hiway 58, north Barstow. Nice people, fun atmosphere, excellent service, and some of the best down-home food anywhere. Absolutely the best restaurant between LA and Vegas.