Warren Peak hike

From the trailhead at the northern tip of the campground, follow signs towards Panorama Loop, Warren Peak, and the West Loop. You will hike and start to lose elevation, passing by a large water reservoir and joining up with a service road. After hiking along the service road for less than a hundred yards you will turn right towards signs for the West Loop.

As you continue along the trail you will continue to lose a small amount of elevation and shortly enter a wash, essentially a dried up creek-bed that flows during the flash floods which occur irregularly in the region. It is typically the most efficient way to cross this type of terrain. The only downside is that you will be hiking in – typically – loose sand, which is not only somewhat challenging to walk in, but also gets in your shoes.

The wash will continue for a ways and start to steadily gain elevation. The grade is low, so this light climbing will feel very easy. Soon you will reach a junction that does not have the usual metal sign listing all possible destinations. Instead there will be a wooden post indicating PL (for Panorama Loop) and WP (for Warren Peak), with arrows pointing the respective ways. Turn right to continue in the direction of the WP arrow. From here the trail will steepen.

A short ways after the first fork you will reach a second, where the Panorama Loop rejoins the main trail. Continue right here again towards WP. Soon the rocky peak will come into view, and the grade of the trail will steepen. You will exit the wash and veer right, gaining the ridge. After a few steeper sections you will contour around the right side of the peak, then switchback to the summit. This last part of the climb, which is quite steep and in direct sunlight, can be extremely challenging.