Like you, we approached from the east, which is probably the best way.
Indeed there is access from Cold Springs, but it is a longer trek on dirt road. We had a guy check it out on his motorcycle before we went. He says the route noted on your site may be better now, but still recommended another way.
This way was Goldstone Road, about 10 miles up Red Rock Road from the Red Rock Road exit off of Highway 395.
Goldstone Road is a well graded dirt for the first couple miles or so. It then gets into single track. The road is washed out a bit, but very suitable for 4WD. The problem for us on March 10, 2012 was the fact that some recent snow and apparently little-to-no road maintenance left plenty of divots in the road, and a mud crossing. Still, it wasn’t too bad driving the final 3 miles or so to the actual trailhead with 4WD. Passenger cars; low clearance or 2WD would really struggle. Argosy Road is another way, but if you take a left after the road turns from wide to single track, it leads south to the same place you get to Single-Track on Goldstone Road. So Goldstone is better than Argosy. If you continue on Argosy it gets really hilly, and very difficult even for 4WD.
gret_nelson2 - Dec 1, 2013 11:27 pm - Hasn't voted
Peterson from Red Rock Rd.
A group of us hiked this mountain today, December 1, 2013, & we checked the mileage pretty close & found it to be pretty accurate. There is a gas station (Shell) after you take the Red Rock exit & from that station I checked the mileage & got 13.6 so 14 as you actually exit 395 is right on. The left turn from the Red Rock Rd. is a dirt road & at about 0.7 of a mile there is a fork that isn't mentioned. Stay left at this fork. It may be a new ATV or Jeep route. The actual mileage from the turn off from Red Rock Rd. to the Peterson Mountain trailhead is approximately 3.4 to 3.5 miles total. Follow the turns in Dennis's directions to the TH. BTW, take a GPS with you as we had a little trouble figuring out which peak top was Peterson & could have been wondering around if it weren't for my Garmin pointing the way to keep us on the right track. There is a trail that is part jeep, part cattle trail & part hiker trail, but it is not grown over & it can take you toward Peterson. Again, a high clearance vehicle would be best, because there are some areas that have big rocks & ruts that would make it difficult for most vehicles, even something like a Toyota RAV4. There is a register under some rocks at the top. It would help if the next person going to the top would take a small spiral notebook & pen or pencil to add to what is there.
Hope this adds to the trip report & helps others who are looking to summit Peterson.
Happy hiking.
gret_nelson2 - Apr 6, 2015 12:44 am - Hasn't voted
This is my Garmin Track with a few photos. We found that the driving directions were a little confusing due to so many roads in the area. The first intersection is at about .5 mile & we stayed left there. At 1.1 miles right; at 2.3 left; 2.7 right. By the time you get to about 3 miles, the trailhead should be visible-green gate & two signs. On the way out from the TH we went a different route-stayed left & the road was better. You will pass cattle watering pond & at first the road has grass in it, but it doesn't get as bad as the other way. However, we meandered around following the road the best we could by keeping an eye on the highway in the distance. We came out at a different location. This turn for next time is about 1.1 miles further than the first turn or about 15 miles from the Red Rock 395 exit. It was a great day to summit Peterson Yesterday.
hgrapid - Mar 12, 2012 3:38 pm - Hasn't voted
Trailhead accessDennis,
Like you, we approached from the east, which is probably the best way.
Indeed there is access from Cold Springs, but it is a longer trek on dirt road. We had a guy check it out on his motorcycle before we went. He says the route noted on your site may be better now, but still recommended another way.
This way was Goldstone Road, about 10 miles up Red Rock Road from the Red Rock Road exit off of Highway 395.
Goldstone Road is a well graded dirt for the first couple miles or so. It then gets into single track. The road is washed out a bit, but very suitable for 4WD. The problem for us on March 10, 2012 was the fact that some recent snow and apparently little-to-no road maintenance left plenty of divots in the road, and a mud crossing. Still, it wasn’t too bad driving the final 3 miles or so to the actual trailhead with 4WD. Passenger cars; low clearance or 2WD would really struggle. Argosy Road is another way, but if you take a left after the road turns from wide to single track, it leads south to the same place you get to Single-Track on Goldstone Road. So Goldstone is better than Argosy. If you continue on Argosy it gets really hilly, and very difficult even for 4WD.
gret_nelson2 - Dec 1, 2013 11:27 pm - Hasn't voted
Peterson from Red Rock Rd.A group of us hiked this mountain today, December 1, 2013, & we checked the mileage pretty close & found it to be pretty accurate. There is a gas station (Shell) after you take the Red Rock exit & from that station I checked the mileage & got 13.6 so 14 as you actually exit 395 is right on. The left turn from the Red Rock Rd. is a dirt road & at about 0.7 of a mile there is a fork that isn't mentioned. Stay left at this fork. It may be a new ATV or Jeep route. The actual mileage from the turn off from Red Rock Rd. to the Peterson Mountain trailhead is approximately 3.4 to 3.5 miles total. Follow the turns in Dennis's directions to the TH. BTW, take a GPS with you as we had a little trouble figuring out which peak top was Peterson & could have been wondering around if it weren't for my Garmin pointing the way to keep us on the right track. There is a trail that is part jeep, part cattle trail & part hiker trail, but it is not grown over & it can take you toward Peterson. Again, a high clearance vehicle would be best, because there are some areas that have big rocks & ruts that would make it difficult for most vehicles, even something like a Toyota RAV4. There is a register under some rocks at the top. It would help if the next person going to the top would take a small spiral notebook & pen or pencil to add to what is there.
Hope this adds to the trip report & helps others who are looking to summit Peterson.
Happy hiking.
gret_nelson2 - Apr 6, 2015 12:44 am - Hasn't voted
Peterson Mountain 2015http://adventures.garmin.com/en-US/by/scratchin/peterson-mountain-2015/#.VSIHpRPF9NE
This is my Garmin Track with a few photos. We found that the driving directions were a little confusing due to so many roads in the area. The first intersection is at about .5 mile & we stayed left there. At 1.1 miles right; at 2.3 left; 2.7 right. By the time you get to about 3 miles, the trailhead should be visible-green gate & two signs. On the way out from the TH we went a different route-stayed left & the road was better. You will pass cattle watering pond & at first the road has grass in it, but it doesn't get as bad as the other way. However, we meandered around following the road the best we could by keeping an eye on the highway in the distance. We came out at a different location. This turn for next time is about 1.1 miles further than the first turn or about 15 miles from the Red Rock 395 exit. It was a great day to summit Peterson Yesterday.