Reconnoitering in the Great Basin & Eastern Sierra By 4x4

RECONNOITERING IN THE EASTERN SIERRA NEVADA & GREAT BASIN
BY 4-WHEEL-DRIVE
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4x4 Trails:
Wyman Creek to Crooked Creek
and the Summit of the White Mountains

Trail Length	Part 1: Wyman Canyon to Switchbacks – 4.6 miles Part 2: Switchbacks to 3-way junction @ base of Sage Hen Peak: 1.9 miles Part 3: Base of Sage Hen Peak to forks of Crooked Creek: 3.8 miles. Part 4: Forks of Crooked Creek to Crooked Creek Research Station: 2.8 miles. Part 5: Crooked Creek Research Station to White Mountain Road: 2.0 miles. TOTAL: 15 miles.
Trail Difficulty:	Part 1: Moderate Part 2: ?? Part 3: ?? Part 4: ?? Part 5: Easy – Maintained road.
Season:	Late Spring, Summer, Autumn
Elevations:	Start of trail @ Wyman Creek: 7,550'. Start of trail @ White Mountain Road: 10,427'
Cell phone Signal:	No – it might be possible to pick up a signal at the crest of the White Mountains traveling south on White Mountain Road.
Running Surface Water?:	Wyman Creek, Crooked Creek.
Trail Travel Density:	Very light. Likely higher during deer hunting season.
Nearest Supplies/Emergency Aid:	Big Pine and Bishop, California; Dyer, Nevada.

The White Mountains offer a wonderland of remote trails and secluded spots that have barely felt the steps of man, let alone his tires. Off of Wyman Canyon Road, in the middle of Royal Gorge, is a dim road heading north. The Inyo National Forest map shows this road to barely make it to Dead Horse Meadows, a bit more than a mile to the north; the topo maps show a maze of 4x4 roads that run hither and yon through this wonderland on the eastern slopes of the White Mountains. By connecting the dots, a trail is shown that runs from the lower reaches of Wyman Creek into the lower end of Crooked Creek, then accessing via a roundabout way the upper sections of Crooked Creek and the North Fork of the said creek; then reaches the summit of the White Mountains via the Crooked Creek Research Center.

Roger Mitchell, in his SUV Trails series of books says this road is impassable. Local wags tell me the same. I think it's time to take a little reconnoiter and find out for myself. Maybe it is impassible, maybe it's the best kept secret in the White Mountains.

As of this writing, I have not fully penetrated this country, but did get in far enough to become fascinated with its beauty. As I make it further along this route I'll update this page with photos and descriptions.

For the sake of breaking this route up in digestible bites, I've elected to create five sections to cover the entire route. At the end of each section will be a complete selection of maps and photos. I'll describe this route from Wyman Creek and north then west to the summit of the White Mountains.

Note: I used Google Earth to study the trail. In places, especially in the upper reaches, it appears that the trail nearly has been reclaimed by the land, a good indication that it is seldom, if ever used.

Note: November, 2008 – The proposed White Mountain Wilderness, backed by California Senator Barbara Boxer and others, appears that it will impact this road. The proposal is to include all lands of the White Mountains outside of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest boundaries and inside of Mono County into the proposed wilderness. An inspection of the wilderness proposal map, dated May 16, 2008, appears that the road described below is planned to be cherry stemmed into the wilderness in its entirety; or it will serve as the southern boundary of the wilderness area. The map, which is also found on Barbara Boxer's website is found HERE.

Part 1: Wyman Creek to Base of Switchbacks

Looking just east of due south from a bald knoll near the end of Part 1. The view takes in Eureka Valley, the Last Chance Range and the Steele Pass country beyond.

This route breaks off in what is shown on the topo maps as Royal Gorge along Wyman Creek. The turnoff is found at a point 7.1 miles from its starting point on CA168 in Deep Springs Valley (for a complete description of the Wyman Creek route, see my White Mountain Crossing page).

The route gives a first appearance of not being too promising, as it passes through a dense curtain of willows, then starts climbing a rocky and rutted path; but it is not as bad as it first appears. The route makes a sharp turn out of the gulch it had been following, angling up the face of the canyon's wall through a dense forest of piñon pine.

The route is a bit soft along a steep hillside a bit more than a half mile in from Wyman Creek and at one point is a bit narrow, but posed no problem with my Toyota Tacoma. Full size trucks, especially those of the Ford Super Duty and Hummer H2 size range, might require spotting and care to negotiate this spot. Numerous piñon trees show signs of cutting of limbs to allow passage. As the first summit is reached, within a mile and a quarter, several obvious campsites are found along the road.

At a point about 1.65 mile in, a nice view of Dead Horse Meadows and the country northward is found.

At 2.0 miles, Crooked Creek is reached and forded. You are now in Dead Horse Meadows. A few roads run west and east to access Crooked Creek at various points – all abruptly stop after a short distance. A nice campsite can be seen along the creek at the lower reaches of the meadow as you are coming down the mountainside. A few yards above the creek crossing to your left, nearly out of sight behind a piñon pine, is a substantial stone ruin with a what was once a cozy fireplace.

Continue due north through Dead Horse Meadow. Large spires of granite poke out of the forest everywhere you look. The road will start to climb and drop through a series of gulches.

At about 2.8 miles is a steep climb with some bedrock poking through the surface of the route.

At 3.5 miles, a road will come in from the left (west) as you reach a minor hilltop. Turn here. The route ahead will continue on another mile or so then peter out. You are a few feet inside Mono County.

Taking the road to the west, the route will immediately re-enter Inyo County, then re-enter Mono County. At 4.25 miles you will top a bald knob and the view is outstanding southward. The scene takes in Dead Horse Meadows and beyond into Eureka Valley and the Steele Pass country in Death Valley National Park. The Silver Peak Range in Nevada can be seen to the northeast.

The route will drop down a slippery slope made up of decomposed granite for another tenth of a mile, then turn up a fairly steep slope another 725 feet to a junction. The elevation at this junction is 8,382 feet.

Continuing straight will take you to the banks of Crooked Creek and it dead ends there. A left turn will take one to a nice looking campsite on the banks of the creek.

The main route turns up a small mountain, the map showing multiple switchbacks. The switchbacks form Part 2 of this route.

At the time of this writing, I have only made it to the base of these switchbacks on the trail.

Click on any image below to open full size. Photos below show the route that I've traveled thus far from the south (Wyman Creek) to north where I stopped at the base of the switchbacks.

Note: This portion of the route will be the least impacted by the proposed White Mountain Wilderness Bill currently awaiting passage by Congress. The vast majority of the route, with exception for very little of the route inside Mono County, appears to be either cherry stemmed into the wilderness area or will serve as the southern boundary of it. A copy of the map is found HERE.

Map 1: Southern portion of Part 1 of the Wyman to Crooked Creek route.	Map 2: Northern portion of Part 1 of the Wyman to Crooked Creek route.	My Tacoma and that belonging to my buddy Graham C. in the background. Taken about two tenths of a mile in from Wyman Creek.	Typical of the trail's surface in the first mile.
	The relatively narrow spot about a half mile in. The road is a bit soft at this point and is slowly eroding away.		Nearing the summit between Wyman Creek and Dead Horse Meadow. The view is south toward Wyman.
On the northern slope of the summit between Wyman Creek and Dead Horse Meadow. The Tacomas of Graham C. (in rear) and mine stop at a spot with a bit of a view.	View north over Dead Horse Meadow.	View south up the slope from Dead Horse Meadow.	Dropping into Dead Horse Meadow.
The crossing of Crooked Creek at the base of the slope dropping into Dead Horse Meadow.	Graham C. crossing Crooked Creek gives a glimpse at its shallow depth.	Just above the crossing of Crooked Creek is this hidden stone ruin. Someone once lived here in a very remote spot, but had all that was necessary for life.	Graham C. is fascinated by the nice fireplace that was in this stone hovel on the banks of Crooked Creek.
Crossing Dead Horse Meadow. Stone monoliths dot the countryside from this point and farther north.	Graham C. following me through Dead Horse Meadow.	Following Graham C. on the way out, southbound through Dead Horse Meadow.	Graham dropping down one of the steeper small gulches that dot the path north of Dead Horse Meadow.
Next two photos: Graham C. climbs the roughest portion of Part 1. It's not too bad, but steeper than it looks in the photos. A few rounded boulders poke from the road's surface in spots.		At the top of the drop down the worst spot on the way back south.	Dropping down another gulch on the way northward. Topping this particular gulch, you see hood and sky and a quick jump out to take a look at what you are getting into is in order to make sure you're not going to kiss the nose of a bigger truck than yours!
Heading south into the same gulch.	There are many monoliths along the way.	Along the way and nearing the Mono County line and the point where the route makes a sharp left.	Graham C. at the top of the hill going the other direction on the way back out to Wyman Creek.
Looking south after the route turns west. You are barely inside Mono County and the view is into Inyo County.	Southbound on the road to Dead Horse Meadow, just south of the route's turn west.	A view of the bouldery landscape typical of this part of the countryside.	Along the route as it approaches the switchbacks.
Typical of the route north of Dead Horse Meadow.	Near the end of Part 1 of this route is this beautiful view south into Eureka Valley and Steele Pass country. At this point one is standing only 51 feet inside Mono County.	Same location, just panned a bit to the west. Dead Horse Meadow can be seen behind the monolith lit by the sun just left of center.	Top of knoll and the view southeast.
Top of knoll and viewing east.	At the end of Part 1 are a few nice campsites along the banks of Crooked Creek, along the base of the hillside in the background.	Looking at the face of the mountain you can just see the switchbacks that form Part 2 of this route.	My Tacoma is parked at the beginning of Part 2, where the route begins switchbacking up the face of the mountain before accessing Crooked Creek farther up the mountainside.
Following Graham back south toward Wyman Creek. This section, at the base of the switchbacks, is very loose and steeper than it looks.	Graham C. climbing up to the summit of the bald knoll with the great views.	The Silver Peak Range in Nevada from the bald knoll near the end of Part 1.	On the way back south to Wyman Creek.
A 180° panorama from the summit of the bald knoll near the northern end of Part 1, from due east to due west.

Remaining Trail

Steven G. found this page and it piqued his curiosity enough that he took his mildly modified Toyota FJ Cruiser over the entire route and made it! Thanks to Steven G. for proving this trail to be one of the best kept secret trails in the White Mountains! And thanks to him also for allowing me to link to his report on this page. His photo essay of his tackling the route is found at HERE. Since I have moved to north-central Nevada, it's doubtful I'll get back to this trail anytime in the future.

Maps: USGS 7.5” Topographic

Crooked Creek, California
Station Peak, California
Blanco Mountain, California

Page Revised: 01/24/2009