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Aug 29, 2024 — The Sweetwater Mountains, historically significant for 19th-century silver mining, are now known for their striking high-elevation desert landscape. The range's highest peak, Mount Patterson, is a prominent summit near the California-Nevada border, visible from great distances across both the Sierra and the Great Basin Desert. It's a bit of a bummer that a trail system hasn't been developed in this beautiful area, though the focus is likely better placed on the alpine wonderland of the adjacent Sierra Mountains, leaving the Sweetwater Mountains to desert peakbagging enthusiasts. Accessible mostly via ATV roads, the summit can be reached from the east via the old mining site of Belfort, or from the west via Lobdell Lake, which is the way I chose.
Leave CA-395 here (38.35326, -119.42471) and take the wonderfully graded Burcham Flat Road. Turn right here (38.40594, -119.41955) onto Lobdell Lake Road, which is also in great shape until a left here (38.43832, -119.36242). Crossover SUVs are required past Lobdell Lake, but parking there will only add about a mile each way. I parked at a trailhead marking the start of an ATV road, next to a sign with some information about Mount Patterson's alpine vegetation, labeling it "Mars with flowers". With a serious vehicle you could drive to the summit.
I started walking along the ATV trail, which wiggled up the slopes for a bit before leveling out in a grove of trees. The trail dips down into a creek before ascending along the north slope of a major gully. It switchbacks as the views of white lumps on the adjacent ridge appear, stunning displays of the Sweetwater Mountains' aesthetic. At the top of the gully the trail heads toward the final steep summit push though a sweeping tundra featuring the alpine flowers the sign earlier had mentioned.
There are a bunch of old mining / ATV trails leading in various directions, but there is a clear primary one, which abruptly gains steepness as it leads directly up the western slope of Mount Patterson. On my way back later I watched from below as a few ATVs sped up this loose slope, a display of speed that belitted the efforts my measly legs, though I was happy to get the exercise and didn't mind road walking in this unique landscape.
I loved the colorful surrounding hills viewed from Mount Patterson's summit, and I couldn't help myself but to continue along the ATV trail over to Wheeler Peak. This is a minor summit that also has some excellent views and was a good way to extend my hike a bit. The last quarter mile is off trail, but there's no scrambling required. There was even a social trail up the scree toward the top.
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