Haystack Mountain - 1.25.2017
This hike starts across Hwy 74 from the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.
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There is a large parking lot for the Art Smith Trailhead.
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From the parking lot I will head back toward town on flat terrain.
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Crossing the flats... I can see switchbacks heading up the foothills... Haystack Mountain is the big one on the horizon on the left.
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Starting up the switchbacks.
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Gaining elevation on the Art Smith Trail... looking down on the town of Palm Desert... and across Cochella Valley to the Little San Bernardino Mountains where Joshua Tree National Park is located.
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After hiking a little more than a mile I reached the junction with the Hopalong Cassidy Trail... I will continue on the Art Smith Trail.
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Continuing on the Art Smith Trail... part of Haystack Mountain is visible on the far right.
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Palm trees along the Art Smith Trail.
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More palm trees... with Haystack Mountain at the top of the photo.
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Getting closer to Haystack Mountain as I continue hiking on the Art Smith Trail.
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High enough now to see the snow covered San Bernardino Mountains to the north.
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After hiking the Art Smith Trail for ~3.5 miles, it is time to leave the trail and head cross-country for Haystack Mountain.
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Cross-country now... heading for the the easiest looking rib in the right-center of the photo.
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Pretty easy Class 2 hiking as I head up the rib.
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Continuing up the rib... high enough now to see the Salton Sea beyond the foothills.
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Looking across Cochella Valley to the Little San Bernardino Mountains.
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Continuing up the rib... the terrain gets a bit more difficult as I gain elevation.
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Looking down on my route as I reach the huge plateau just north of the Haystack summit.
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I've reached the plateau... only a short walk to the summit.
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On the Haystack summit (3808')... looking across the plateau to the snow covered San Jacinto Mountains on the left... with the snow covered San Bernardino Mountains further to the north.
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A closeup of the San Jacinto Mountains.
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On the Haystack summit... looking south down Cochella Valley to the Salton Sea.
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On the summit and looking across Cochella Valley to the Little San Bernardino Mountains... home of Joshua Tree National Park.
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A closer look at the Salton Sea from the summit of Haystack Mountain... time to head down... as I will trace my steps (more or less) back to the Art Smith Trail and then back to the car... 10.1 miles roundtrip, gaining 3094 feet of elevation.
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