Anza-Borrego Central: Whale Peak

On the way back from Whale Peak

It hardly seems like you're in a desert at all when you climb through a pinyon-juniper woodland to Whale Peak. Only when you get to the top and look around do you realize you are indeed in the middle of a desert.

For peak-baggers, the challenge is in finding the peak, not the climb itself. Whale Peak sits atop a saw-toothed ridge or sierra at an altitude 5,349 feet. It hardly can be said to stand apart from other peaks on the ridge, so finding it can be difficult. It's a good idea to carry the U.S. Geological Survey topo map for Whale Peak. If you have a GPS, enter the peak's coordinates before you leave home. Plan it as a day hike (or half-day hike) of moderate difficulty, suitable for novice climbers and youngsters.