Nice to see the area again. Thanks for posting. I grew up at Weldon on a cattle ranch. (I live in NM now). In the spring we'd gather cattle on the desert side of Walker's Pass, and drive them up Lamont Pass (no road then, in the 50's. It was all straight up) to Rock House, or Chimney (trails only. No roads). Then on to Kennedy (I seem to recall it would take about 4-5 days to drive cattle from the desert to the gate at the north side of Kennedy where cattle would be counted through by us and the Forest Service). Then on to Mananche, or Fish Creek. In mid summer we'd pack in (there were no paved roads anywhere, including 9 mile), (and the road stopped at the river), and spend a few weeks gathering cattle at different places each day (Fish Creek, Troy, Jackass, Mananche, etc), to brand calves. Where we camped was Powel Meadow. The modern paved highway goes right through our old campsite. In the Fall, we'd go back up, gather cows, and take them back to the desert. It was wonderful without all the roads, which means all the people, RV's, dirt bikes, etc. Progress is good I guess, but it was nice when it was all pristine. If you are interested in the history of the area, look up Bobby Powers (author), Uncle Bobby wrote several very good, and informative books on the Kern Valley area, and all the ranching history up there.
Thanks for the info. In the summer, we visit just about all those places just about every weekend. No better place to get out of the desert when it's hot. Spectacular scenery up there. If you click on my name, believe I have some other videos of these areas.
I drove this road in January 2021 in my Subaru Imprezza hatchback. I went the opposite direction from you. I went from Kennedy Meadows Road to the 178. It's been a low snow year so ice was minimal. Next time I go there I want to take long valley loop road. I got about 3-5 inches of ground clearance and a terrible entry and departure angle so any car can make the drive.
I was on this trail last night at 1am.. wasnt sure where I'd end up but I knew it kept going up, I'll head up todo some photography, your video helps me know what to expect. Thanks a bunch!
Great Video, I enjoyed it. For the record, it is Chimney Creek Campground, not Chimney Peak Campground. I live very close to Nine Mile Canon Road so I usually enter the Chimney Peak area that way but I have taken the road off 178. I am very fortunate to live so close to the Sierras. I also enjoy exploring the Mojave Desert. They are bombing today at China Lake and it has rattled my windows several times today!
Thanks for posting this video. I enjoyed it. I never knew about this area until I took a college outdoor class, and the instructor suggested we camp at Lamont Peak Trail head as we couldn't make it to 395 to make camp. I don't know if that was permissible, but there is nobody back there, so we had the trail head area to ourselves, and the whole night not a single vehicle came down that road. Quiet for sure. I have driven along 178 many a time and wondered as I gazed on the Chimney Peak hills what is back there, so now I know. We only went as far as the Lamont Peak Trailhead, and curiosity was killing me as to what scenic views were ahead, if we continued along the Byway. But through the magic of your video, my curiosity is satisfied! Thanks for pointing out all the important features along the way! On subsequent trips in this region, I noticed that the U.S. Navy Superhornets like to practice around this area as I guess it has the terrain they like to fly over (I enjoyed watching them fly).
Yep, there exists several private property ranches bounding the Owens Peak Wilderness. That's one of them. These are generally family owned and passed from generation to generation.
I walked all around those boulders at 3:25 in your video. Didn't see any ancient pictographs. I did see markings (grafitti) that other people recently put there, but no ancient pictographs. You really have to dream hard, then maybe you can "see" a pictograph. But, it is a great dark sky spot for doing astronomy.
Ive been trying to find more information on this byway, but this video seems to be one of the best sources around! Do you know if this byway is accessible to a low clearance, 2-wheel drive vehicle? It looks like the road is mostly dirt, but it seems nicely maintained.
Yes it's accessible to most vehicles. The worst that you may encounter is some washboards. If you travel it, recommend going from south (178) to North (Kennedy Meadows Road) as seen in this video as it offers the most scenic views looking out from the driver's seat.
Hi, I glad i found your video because I am planning a visit over there it will be for deer hunting I been reading maps but having this video helps. Thank you.
The only reason I found them was based on an old internet web page that some local historian had put up about them. That page is also long since gone. Also, if you walk the faint use trail north from that boulder, you'll come upon another set of boulders that contain additional pictographs. But they're even more faint than the first. VERY hard to see.
Thanks for the video. I love exploring seldom traveled roads and byways. My husband and I (from Bakersfield) are seriously considering buying some property in Kennedy Meadows and we usually get there by 178 to 395 to 9 mile canyon. We also enjoy Sherman pass if we're in no hurry because it's beautiful and it's nice to enjoy the high elevation temperature. We have never taken this route because we're usually in my Honda accord and my husband thinks it would be to rough. After watching this video I think it would probably be ok. But... is this a faster route than our usual approach?
I have a Subaru that's built very low to the ground. I'm thinking about taking this way as a alternate route to the Kennedy Meadow area. I know it's a dirt road, but is it well maintained? Will my car be okay over the course of the 11 miles?
They were located on the south eastern side of the main boulder. It was just a series of extremely faint vertical red lines side-by-side like this > IIIIIIIIII But again, extremely faint.
There is a campground managed by BLM (Chimney Peak Campground). But unfortunately, most of the land along this route on either side of the road is designated Wilderness areas (Domelands, Owens Peak, and Chimney Peak wilderness areas). As such, no off road side by side allowed.
Nice to see the area again. Thanks for posting. I grew up at Weldon on a cattle ranch. (I live in NM now). In the spring we'd gather cattle on the desert side of Walker's Pass, and drive them up Lamont Pass (no road then, in the 50's. It was all straight up) to Rock House, or Chimney (trails only. No roads). Then on to Kennedy (I seem to recall it would take about 4-5 days to drive cattle from the desert to the gate at the north side of Kennedy where cattle would be counted through by us and the Forest Service). Then on to Mananche, or Fish Creek. In mid summer we'd pack in (there were no paved roads anywhere, including 9 mile), (and the road stopped at the river), and spend a few weeks gathering cattle at different places each day (Fish Creek, Troy, Jackass, Mananche, etc), to brand calves. Where we camped was Powel Meadow. The modern paved highway goes right through our old campsite. In the Fall, we'd go back up, gather cows, and take them back to the desert. It was wonderful without all the roads, which means all the people, RV's, dirt bikes, etc. Progress is good I guess, but it was nice when it was all pristine. If you are interested in the history of the area, look up Bobby Powers (author), Uncle Bobby wrote several very good, and informative books on the Kern Valley area, and all the ranching history up there.
Thanks for the info. In the summer, we visit just about all those places just about every weekend. No better place to get out of the desert when it's hot. Spectacular scenery up there. If you click on my name, believe I have some other videos of these areas.
I drove this road in January 2021 in my Subaru Imprezza hatchback. I went the opposite direction from you. I went from Kennedy Meadows Road to the 178. It's been a low snow year so ice was minimal. Next time I go there I want to take long valley loop road. I got about 3-5 inches of ground clearance and a terrible entry and departure angle so any car can make the drive.
I was on this trail last night at 1am.. wasnt sure where I'd end up but I knew it kept going up, I'll head up todo some photography, your video helps me know what to expect. Thanks a bunch!
Excellent video, thank you! Enjoyed all the information you shared
Great Video, I enjoyed it. For the record, it is Chimney Creek Campground, not Chimney Peak Campground.
I live very close to Nine Mile Canon Road so I usually enter the Chimney Peak area that way but I have taken the road off 178.
I am very fortunate to live so close to the Sierras. I also enjoy exploring the Mojave Desert.
They are bombing today at China Lake and it has rattled my windows several times today!
Tom Thumb unfortunately, most of the trees in the last segment of the video are gone now due to fire :(
Great survey. Thanks!
Thanks for posting this video. I enjoyed it. I never knew about this area until I took a college outdoor class, and the instructor suggested we camp at Lamont Peak Trail head as we couldn't make it to 395 to make camp. I don't know if that was permissible, but there is nobody back there, so we had the trail head area to ourselves, and the whole night not a single vehicle came down that road. Quiet for sure. I have driven along 178 many a time and wondered as I gazed on the Chimney Peak hills what is back there, so now I know. We only went as far as the Lamont Peak Trailhead, and curiosity was killing me as to what scenic views were ahead, if we continued along the Byway. But through the magic of your video, my curiosity is satisfied! Thanks for pointing out all the important features along the way! On subsequent trips in this region, I noticed that the U.S. Navy Superhornets like to practice around this area as I guess it has the terrain they like to fly over (I enjoyed watching them fly).
So grateful for your efforts. Hope you are well and happy. Any reports on road conditions these many years later ? Thanks
Thanks. Great video. I drive by the entrance off 178 a lot and always wondered what the trip would look like.
This was well done, and a good intro for someone who will be travelling the Canebrake road for the first time. Thanks!
Yep, there exists several private property ranches bounding the Owens Peak Wilderness. That's one of them. These are generally family owned and passed from generation to generation.
Chimney Peak Campground burnt down a few years back.
I walked all around those boulders at 3:25 in your video. Didn't see any ancient pictographs. I did see markings (grafitti) that other people recently put there, but no ancient pictographs. You really have to dream hard, then maybe you can "see" a pictograph. But, it is a great dark sky spot for doing astronomy.
Ive been trying to find more information on this byway, but this video seems to be one of the best sources around! Do you know if this byway is accessible to a low clearance, 2-wheel drive vehicle? It looks like the road is mostly dirt, but it seems nicely maintained.
Yes it's accessible to most vehicles. The worst that you may encounter is some washboards. If you travel it, recommend going from south (178) to North (Kennedy Meadows Road) as seen in this video as it offers the most scenic views looking out from the driver's seat.
Most?
hi there, im planning to go visit that area, i have a 20 feet long rv travel trailer connected to my f350, will i be ok there?
just did this drive yesterday..very cool area!! i noticed a house back there right before the campground..i was wondering if anyone lived there
Hi,
I glad i found your video because I am planning a visit over there it will be for deer hunting
I been reading maps but having this video helps.
Thank you.
The only reason I found them was based on an old internet web page that some local historian had put up about them. That page is also long since gone. Also, if you walk the faint use trail north from that boulder, you'll come upon another set of boulders that contain additional pictographs. But they're even more faint than the first. VERY hard to see.
and based on the view of the big boulder at 3:25, the IIIII pictographs are located at the bottom left corner of that boulder, very near the ground.
Thanks for the video. I love exploring seldom traveled roads and byways. My husband and I (from Bakersfield) are seriously considering buying some property in Kennedy Meadows and we usually get there by 178 to 395 to 9 mile canyon. We also enjoy Sherman pass if we're in no hurry because it's beautiful and it's nice to enjoy the high elevation temperature. We have never taken this route because we're usually in my Honda accord and my husband thinks it would be to rough. After watching this video I think it would probably be ok. But... is this a faster route than our usual approach?
I have a Subaru that's built very low to the ground. I'm thinking about taking this way as a alternate route to the Kennedy Meadow area. I know it's a dirt road, but is it well maintained? Will my car be okay over the course of the 11 miles?
They were located on the south eastern side of the main boulder. It was just a series of extremely faint vertical red lines side-by-side like this > IIIIIIIIII But again, extremely faint.
Is ther any spots to park rv's & do some side by side riding?
There is a campground managed by BLM (Chimney Peak Campground). But unfortunately, most of the land along this route on either side of the road is designated Wilderness areas (Domelands, Owens Peak, and Chimney Peak wilderness areas). As such, no off road side by side allowed.