Wheel Mountain
Description
WikipediaWheel Mountain is a 12,774-foot-elevation (3,894-meter) mountain summit located west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Fresno County of central California, United States. This mountain is situated on the Black Divide in northern Kings Canyon National Park, one mile northwest of Devils Crags, and two miles south-southeast of Mount McDuffie, which is the nearest higher neighbor. Wheel Mountain ranks as the 216th-highest summit in California, and the fifth-highest on Black Divide. Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 4,500 feet (1,400 meters) above Enchanted Gorge in approximately 1.5 mile, and the east aspect rises 4,500 feet above Le Conte Canyon in 2.5 miles. An approach to this remote peak is made possible via the John Muir Trail.
First ascent
Best months
Hiking score 0–100 · 10-yr climate averagesNeighbouring summits
| Name | Elevation | Bearing | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Woodworth | 3,724 m | SE 155° | 2.6 km |
| The Citadel | 3,575 m | NE 38° | 2.6 km |
| Rambaud Peak | 3,366 m | E 106° | 3.1 km |
| Mount McDuffie | 4,047 m | NW 337° | 3.3 km |
Climbing routes
nearest first| Route | Area | Grade | From summit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Kingdom | Citadel, The | 6c | 2.2 km |
| Edge of Time Arete | Citadel, The | 6b+ | 2.2 km |
| Quality Time | Citadel, The | 6a+ | 2.2 km |
| South Ridge | Columbine Peak | 1- | 9.1 km |
| Death Dihedral | Columbine Peak | 6b | 9.1 km |
| Keith-Lowery Route | Isosceles Peak | 5a | 9.4 km |
| West Face | Isosceles Peak | 5c | 9.4 km |
| Southwest Chute | Isosceles Peak | 1+ | 9.4 km |
| The Tangerine | Isosceles Peak | 6a | 9.4 km |
| Southwest Face | Isosceles Peak | 1+ | 9.4 km |
| Southwest Buttress | Isosceles Peak | 4c | 9.4 km |
| Northeast Face | Isosceles Peak | 1+ | 9.4 km |
| West Chute | Isosceles Peak | 5a | 9.4 km |
| West - East Summit Traverse | Isosceles Peak | 1+ | 9.4 km |
| It's a Trap!...ezoid | Trapezoid Peak | 6b | 9.8 km |
| Man on the Flying Trapezoid | Trapezoid Peak | 7a+ | 9.8 km |
| North Ridge | Trapezoid Peak | 1 | 9.8 km |
| North Slab | Trapezoid Peak | 4a | 9.8 km |
| Don't Be a Square | Trapezoid Peak | 6a | 9.8 km |
| Southeast Slope | Mt. Johnson | 1- | 9.9 km |
| Northwest Ridge | Mt. Johnson | 1- | 9.9 km |
| Traverse from Trapezoid Peak | Mt. Johnson | 1 | 9.9 km |