In the past, this route was considered the standard for Mt. Wilson but now the
Southwest Slopes Route is designated as the standard because it's easier and more stable.
From the Rock of Ages trailhead:
Follow the
Rock of Ages Approach to Rock of Ages saddle. On the saddle, Mt. Wilson comes into view to the south -
1 and
2. Leave the saddle and follow the trail south down to the upper end of Navajo Basin.
From the Navajo Basin trailhead:
Follow the
Navajo Basin Approach toward the upper end of Navajo Basin -
3. Near 12,200', the end of the basin and turn-off to Mt. Wilson is finally visible -
4.
Leave the trail and walk to the base of a shoulder that stretches up to Mt. Wilson's northeast ridge -
5,
6 and
7. Cross the stream and begin the hike south up onto the shoulder
. The hiking is relatively easy and there are some trail segments and cairns along the way -
8 and
9. At 13,100', reach the base of a wall
which has green, lichen-covered rock -
10 and
11. Look for cairns and climb the center of the green wall. A couple of Easy Class 3 moves will likely be required as you get closer to the top. Reach easier terrain just above 13,400'.
Now, the northeast ridge is above but don't climb to the ridge just yet. As seen in
12, continue up to 13,600' to bypass the garbage terrain off to your right. When the terrain flattens out a bit above 13,600', look for cairns and begin an ascending traverse southwest over rock ribs and gullies -
13. A bit of snow in the gullies can be quite helpful, if you brought crampons. Look for cairns and take your time as you keep an eye on the proper exit point ahead. If you climb too high, crossing the rock ribs becomes more difficult and will involve Class 3+ moves on loose boulders. It's helpful to study the maps and photos before crossing this area. Continue crossing the rock ribs and gullies while gaining some elevation along the way -
14 and
15. Near 14,100', reach your final gully and climb the upper portion to reach a notch in the northeast ridge -
16.
The remaining route involves some Class 3 scrambling and a several Class 4 moves on the summit ridge -
17 and
18. Continue right up to a smaller notch before turning left to follow the narrow summit ridge -
19. Just prior to the summit, you will reach the crux of the climb - a set of rocks which block easy passage -
20 and
21. Climbing to the left is the easiest way around the difficult section to the right requires an exposed Class 4 move which may be uncomfortable for some climbers. After passing the crux, scramble a short distance to the summit -
22,
23 and and
24.
GPX Track File
