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tommy750 Posts: 1094
4/17/2025
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Most probably wouldn't consider June Wash an attractive choice for a day hike, but climb to its "headwaters" and you might return with a different perspective. June Wash actually ends just east of the summit of Whale Pk and from what Google Maps labels as the Diablo Pk trailhead, it's a good 15 mile 4K g/l trip checking a lot of the standard desert hike boxes.
 IMG_0100 by tomteske, on Flickr
For the past couple of years I've been wanting to explore the flats east of Whale and was able to hike up Bisnaga Alta to one of them ( https://www.anzaborrego.net/anzaborrego/Forum/topic1681-bisnaga-alta-to-near-whale-peak.aspx ). Last November and last month I took a couple more hikes to the area. The blue dot is the flat I visited in 2023 and the red dots are from last month. You can see June actually starts just east of one of them.
 June Wash by tomteske, on Flickr
You do have to climb up a rather braided wash to get close to Whale and are finally met with this, a sandstone wall pushed up against the granite of the Vallecito Mts.
 IMG_0115 (1) by tomteske, on Flickr
 IMG_0127 by tomteske, on Flickr
Here's a geological map showing the contact and faulting with the orange dot marking June wash.
 June Geology by tomteske, on Flickr
There's maybe a dozen 10 ft dry falls ahead but all are easy to climb.
 IMG_0128 by tomteske, on Flickr
Things get a little more interesting with this 70-80 footer.
 IMG_0134 by tomteske, on Flickr
The lower half is not bad but the remaining part is fairly slick and as a solo old guy hiker, I decided to not risk it and try a potential bypass to the left of the photo.
 IMG_0136 by tomteske, on Flickr
Fortunately, the steep bypass was doable and actually scattered with pottery sherds so I knew I was on the "preferred route." At the top was a large rock shelter with rock walls, pottery and milling.
 IMG_0159 by tomteske, on Flickr
 IMG_0157 (1) by tomteske, on Flickr
 IMG_0147 by tomteske, on Flickr
Further up the wash were rock circles with pottery sherds and more milling. I still had a mile or so and 1K elevation gain to get to the first flat and it was getting late so I turned around stopping at the Whale Peak guzzler on the way down.
 IMG_0205 by tomteske, on Flickr
These bees need a lifeguard.
 IMG_0211 by tomteske, on Flickr
Finally returned last month and made it up using another ridge.
 IMG_1742 by tomteske, on Flickr
Nice pot drop about 2/3 of the way up.
 IMG_1750 by tomteske, on Flickr
Finally made it to the first flat and found a total of one pottery sherd. The second flat had nothing cultural but nice views all the way to San Jacinto.
 IMG_1758 by tomteske, on Flickr
 IMG_1760 by tomteske, on Flickr
The ridge route back had one annoying bouldery descent I wasn't expecting but the rest was the typical.
Found this guy scattered down the drainage below the guzzler which descends 400 ft before rudely cliffing out literally twenty feet from the wash. Fortunately found a workaround to the left.
 IMG_1766 by tomteske, on Flickr
This little curious guy followed me for a bit down the wash. Hard to see looking straight at it but at a distance the eyeshine was amazing. Enjoy!
 IMG_1768 by tomteske, on Flickr
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Brian Posts: 256
4/18/2025
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I once hiked up as far as the dry fall that you mentioned that's beneath the guzzler. It sounds like the cool stuff is further up and I should have kept going, but I remember that even going that far was a good leg workout. I remember I parked near S2 for that trip, so it must have been before I had the Subaru, which would make it 9+ years ago.
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dtoujours Posts: 40
4/19/2025
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That giant dry waterfall looks intense, I'm glad you found a better route! Is that a kit fox you saw? Great photos!
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tommy750 Posts: 1094
4/19/2025
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Brian wrote:
I once hiked up as far as the dry fall that you mentioned that's beneath the guzzler. It sounds like the cool stuff is further up and I should have kept going, but I remember that even going that far was a good leg workout. I remember I parked near S2 for that trip, so it must have been before I had the Subaru, which would make it 9+ years ago.
You added a few miles starting at S2. Definitely a good workout!
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tommy750 Posts: 1094
4/19/2025
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dtoujours wrote:
That giant dry waterfall looks intense, I'm glad you found a better route! Is that a kit fox you saw? Great photos!
I walked back down the wash from the bypass a ways to see what I missed and there was another 15 ft or so dry fall on top of the big one so I was happy for the bypass. Doubt you would have had any problems with either. Yes, I was thinking that was a desert kit fox.
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rockhopper Posts: 684
4/20/2025
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That place looks awesome. Thanks for sharing and the photos. I need to check that out. Those dry waterfalls look inviting. The pot drop looks undisturbed. Great find.
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tommy750 Posts: 1094
4/21/2025
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rockhopper wrote:
That place looks awesome. Thanks for sharing and the photos. I need to check that out. Those dry waterfalls look inviting. The pot drop looks undisturbed. Great find.
Definitely worth a trip out there IMHO.
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Rocko1 Posts: 626
4/22/2025
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Now that's a trip! I always wanted to hit Whale form this side. This has inspired me to do it next season.
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tommy750 Posts: 1094
4/23/2025
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Rocko1 wrote:
Now that's a trip! I always wanted to hit Whale form this side. This has inspired me to do it next season.
Agree. There seems like ten routes up Whale and they all look pretty interesting.
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tekewin Posts: 388
5/13/2025
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Nice trip! That dry fall was unexpected. What a cool formation. Thanks for sharing.
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ziphius Posts: 912
5/23/2025
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Great trip Tom, the 'old way' was the best route. I've looked longingly at those flats east of Whale Peak during a camp summit, gotta get out there. Best, Jim
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tommy750 Posts: 1094
5/26/2025
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ziphius wrote:
Great trip Tom, the 'old way' was the best route. I've looked longingly at those flats east of Whale Peak during a camp summit, gotta get out there. Best, Jim
Hi Ziphius, glad to hear you're still getting out. Take care! Tom
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Rocko1 Posts: 626
6/3/2025
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ziphius wrote:
Great trip Tom, the 'old way' was the best route. I've looked longingly at those flats east of Whale Peak during a camp summit, gotta get out there. Best, Jim
Same. Every time I am up there I say 'someday'...
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Brian Posts: 256
6/3/2025
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Rocko1 wrote:
Same. Every time I am up there I say 'someday'...
I think the "easy" way to do a backpacking trip to those flats would be to drive to Hapaha flat and start from the guzzler. I haven't been able to make it to Hapaha by car for a few years now due to a rock obstacle blocking the road, but I recently saw a Facebook post from someone who made it there in a Forrester. Made me wonder if the obstacle has recently been cleared.
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tommy750 Posts: 1094
6/4/2025
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Brian wrote:
Rocko1 wrote:
Same. Every time I am up there I say 'someday'...
I think the "easy" way to do a backpacking trip to those flats would be to drive to Hapaha flat and start from the guzzler. I haven't been able to make it to Hapaha by car for a few years now due to a rock obstacle blocking the road, but I recently saw a Facebook post from someone who made it there in a Forrester. Made me wonder if the obstacle has recently been cleared.
Yeah, there's always that one place. I last drove through there in 2/2024 and noticed someone had removed a couple large boulders on the north side of the track that were an issue (to a pickup at least) the previous month but not sure how things are now. Used to be easy after a dozer went through there sometime around 2013 as I recall. Is Pinyon Mt Rd up to Pinyon Mt and then hike to Whale an option these days? Havent been up that road for years.
 The Spot by tomteske, on Flickr
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