Saline Valley

Snow Flake Mine Road R.I.P.

                                   Indian trails on the valley floor.                                                                              

As of 2011 only the northern entrance to Saline Valley was maintained.From the paved Death Valley Road out of Big Pine, the Saline Valley Rd goes south for 35 miles to the turnoff for the hot springs. A campsite is about 8 miles in from the Death Valley Rd at an old mining camp. Some more are at 11 nearly 13 miles near the divide at 7200 ft. At 19 miles is a gap with camps on both sides. At mile 25 campsites start to show up on a regular basis.

ANDREWS MOUNTAIN el 9400 and WAUCOBA MOUNTAIN el 11000 are the first things to do on the Death Valley Rd. Drive up to the sign for Papoose Flat about 11 miles up from highway 168. Turn right then go right again at the first fork. Keep going to road #423 at N37 05323, W118 05659 el 7900. Go left on a brushy jeep road to the ridge top at 8900 then it's 5 or 600 gain to the BM on Andrews.For Waucoba,keep right at road 423 and go up to a T on the crest at el 9000. Go left for several miles to road #404 at scenic Papoose Flat.Keep right on 404 to a closed road at N36 59393, W118 04649 el 9100. Hike the road for a couple miles to the crest then go left. The road drops 4 or 500 feet then takes a sharp left to get around a hill of mtn mahogany. Then it goes up on the final ridge and stops at el 10200+. The reg is on up the ridge at N37 01310, W118 00470. 6 hours,3000 gain. It took me an hour to ride a 125 in on the dirt road. The road is 99% easy 4wd with an occasional nasty spot. I came out the same way but the road does go on to 395.Roads are shown in the Delorme atlas. Papoose Flat has a good shady camp at N37 01119, W118 07588 el 8600. A large arch is in the middle of the flat. A short road goes to it off 404. Indians lived here until the 1930s,but it's a long hike to get a drink of water now. A good place to kill a hot weekend.




• MARBLE CANYON is at the bottom of the switchbacks. A short 4wd road goes upstream to a mine. Downstream is a mining town. A 4wd track goes downstream from the town for a mile then goes right up a fork into JACKASS FLAT. Mountain bikes would work here.






• SQUAW PEAK is the northernmost 10000 footer in the Inyos. Turn off the Saline road onto a 4wd road at N37 04346, W117 58713. Go left at the first fork then right at the second. The road tops out at a flat with good campsites. Get on a left fork at N37 04705, W118 00497 el 7600. I couldn't tell if this road was open so I walked it to the end then went up the ridge. The ridge goes parabolic for the first 400 feet then eases up. It's a pleasant hike up the wooded ridge. For the final steep slope before the peak, I angled to the right to get on easier broad slopes. The reg is at N37 03167, W118 01041 el 10350. 3 1/2 hours, 2800 gain. It's 2 hours to Squaw Peak and it would be another 2 hours at most to keep going to Waucoba but you have to cross a 700 foot deep saddle. Then go down to the Saline Rd for 6 hours total. This would be a lot better than going straight up to Waucoba from the base, but a shuttle would be needed.
• A short trail at N37 00172, W117 56572 on the Saline Rd goes to WAUCOBA SPRING. It only had a trickle.
• The 4wd LEAD CANYON ROAD is at mile 23 on the Saline Rd. It goes up to a fork. The right fork goes to a locked gate. The left fork goes south then up a canyon to mines including the Blue Monster Mine. This road ends at a tram cable that spans the canyon at 53832, 59020 el 5600. A very steep spot is right before the end of the road.
• The WEST SALINE RANGE can be reached from the Lead Canyon road jct mentioned above at mile 23.Two long black ridges can be seen to the east. The plan is to go up the second one. Hike down the pavement into Waucoba Wash. Aim for a gully at N36 53023, W117 52262 at the foot of the ridge. It's easier than it looks. Get on top then another short steep slope awaits. Angle up to the right to get on top then walk along the easy right side of the ridge as far as practical. There's only one saddle at 55017, 50510 to deal with. About a half mile before the saddle, get on a broad flat on the right side of the ridge then go to the wash that drains the saddle then up. I went about 5 miles up the ridge to Red Peak at 56714, 49778 el 5100. Then I went down to a flat on the left and on across to 56947, 50475. From here you can see a saddle at 56594, 51108 on the shorter western ridge. Go to the saddle then down the other side into the main wash. Hike down that till you're about a mile and a third from the start then cut across the grain. It's best to get past a mega wash coming in on the right before cutting across. 7 hours, nearly 3000 gain but rarely steep. A walk on the wild side with a lot of good pavement that only a desert rat could love. A shorter hike would be to go up the first ridge.
• The SPAGHETTI BOWL is right next to the Saline road at N36 54313, W117 54381. Several Indian trails converge here. One goes over the hill and another goes right of the hill.
• PAIUTE CANYON is next to the Saline road at N36 50927, W117 54521. For a loop, go up the canyon. A narrows is reached in an hour. Shortly after that you come to a small stream and thicket. It took me half an hour to weave thru the thicket then it got easy again with intermittent stream. The stream vanishes then you come to a main fork. Go up the right fork a short way to a draw on the right. The draw has a trail on the left side at 52462, 58559 but it's easier to walk the bed. The draw soon fizzles then the trail goes up to the right and climbs up to a broad bench. If you lose it just aim for another well marked trail at 52825, 58336. Go up to the rim on this trail and down to a flat. Go north across the flat and down a canyon with a road in it. The road goes past the Blue Monster Mine and other mines then the canyon opens up. The road goes left but go right following the wash downstream to a bottleneck then you hit the Saline road at 52145, 54255. If you don't have another car here it's a mile and a half walk back to the start. 5 hours, 2300 gain, not steep. Long pants are needed for the thicket. The Inyos are so vertical that it's hard to find a good hike that doesn't go parabolic. But this is one.
• The MYSTERY MINE road meets the Saline road at N36 49354, W117 54494. In 2011 jeeps could still get to the base of the mine. An eroded trail goes up to a catwalk where I went left around the corner into the canyon. The catwalk was stable in 2011. An ore car and winch are still there. About 15 feet before the ore car, the correct trail goes up on the right. We cut steps in the trail with a geologist rock pick. Don't go up the trail without a pick or hammer. It's maybe 400 feet of gain.
• The PAT KEYES CANYON road is at N36 47359, W117 53094. The canyon has a little problematic fall right at the mouth. Badwater Springs is just to the north. It has a little stream.
• The HOT SPRINGS turnoff is at mile 34 just south of the Pat Keyes road.
• MCELVOY CANYON is the next big canyon south of Pat Keyes. The smoothest 4wd road is at N36 46180, W117 52586 which is about a half mile south of the hot spring road. Another road in to the south is rubbly. It's a 20 minute hike up the canyon trail to the Weeping Wall. Another 20 minutes beyond that is a 30 foot fall blocking the way.There are slot canyons between Pat Keyes and Mcelvoy. Only SPIDER CANYON at 46196, 53723 is of interest. I went up a narrows on bedrock for 10 minutes and stopped at a 15 foot fall. I could climb up but would want a hand line to come back down this fall.
• The SNOW FLAKE MINE road is at N36 45266, W117 52178. It was annihilated by a flood in 2011. Just walking it was an ordeal. I saw lizards turning around. I got a 125 up to the 1600 foot level. Count on hiking from the valley floor. I hiked up to a trail at 43584, 52630 el 3150. This must be the trail to the Beveridge mining camp.
• The turn for the BEVERIDGE CABIN is at N36 43879, W117 50588. A 4wd road goes up to the mouth where falls block hikers. The cabin is well kept and open to the public.
• The HOT SPRINGS have some minor hikes around. Springs are in a badlands flat to the west. The one at N36 47184,W117 46038 is the main one. A lesser one is at 47282,45893. Burros have trashed the area. A trail goes up on the ridge west of the hot springs. Get on it at 48841, 46565 and go up to the rim of a smooth wash. The trail drops in but I stayed on the rim and went up on a spotty trail to a saddle at 51539, 46803. Then I went up on the easy peak on the left then dropped into the wash at 51007, 47206 and walked back down to the trail then out. 4 hours, 2000 gain, not steep.You can stay in the wash and walk out to the flats then go left to get back.
• DRY MOUNTAIN is the high point of the Last Chance Range. A hikers route goes up the west slope but it's steep and loose. A scenic loop is to go up Dry Canyon instead using a route that passes the falls. Drive north up from the hot springs and park at N36 53178, W117 41128 el 2800. Head for the mouth 52447, 39758 and use the bench on the left. After 15 minutes going up canyon, turn right at the first major fork and go up to 51804, 38094. Climb up on the right for about 300 feet to the ridge top and go up to where it tops out and cross a little saddle to a game trail at 51544, 37266. Follow that to a little narrows at 51487, 37126 and cross over and keep angling up across 2 more draws to where you drop into a wash at 51506, 36797. Go up the wash for 6/10 air mile to a low saddle on the left. Cross over and drop to a fork at 52380, 36256. Go up the fork into a narrows with 2 falls. Go left around the falls and walk back in at the top of the second one. More little falls await then some bigger ones that have to be passed on the left. Then the wash swings left and opens up so you can see the peak and pick your route. I went up a wash toward the SW saddle until I was forced up the main ridge. Go down toward the peak and you'll cross the main arm of Dry Canyon. To the left is a slot where the wash goes into a spectacular chasm that few have ever seen. The summit is at 54540, 35869. To get down the west, go down the SW ridge to the saddle at 54163, 36319 el 7450. Then go to the right down the canyon. When a big saddle on the left rim comes into view, go up it to get on the left rim. The hiker/sheep route goes down the rim. At 54794, 38189 the route veers left from the rim and stays on ridges. The following coordinates won't be needed if the cairns are still up. Go to 54786, 38386 then 54840, 38596 then a chute at 54883, 38732. Below the chute keep right then you'll enter minor gullies then drop into a huge gravel draw going to the right to the valley floor. About 7000 gain, 10 hours total. 5000 of the gain is easy. It took 6 hours to get to the summit and 2 1/2 hours to get to the valley floor then it's 3 miles back to the start. A second car or bike spotted 2 miles up from the start would save time. If the cairns on the descent are gone and my coords are wrong you can bet you'll be spending the night on the mountain. Hardcore backpackers could get into the valley below the peak but I wouldn't unless there was snow. Or set up base camp in the lower canyon near the major fork so you can check out the narrows in the main arm then do the peak on the second day.
• For SALINE PEAK, park about a dozen miles up from the hot springs on easy 4wd. Start up a ridge at N36 57208, W117 40660. Near the top go right around a bump at 57161, 42653 then on to the summit 57055, 43431. Return down the ridge that drops into the white canyon and get in a fork at 57694, 41507. It's smooth gravel from there. 3400 gain, 6 hrs.

Saline Valley Petroglyphs

                                                  Mystery Mine

                                                    Marble Bath

Our Tools Built America?

                                    Guess where this was made.

Pahrump and Beatty area hikes

Charleston Peak

                                 

                                               

Agave pit on Nopah. Charred wood below.

                                     

• CHARLESTON PEAK can be climbed from the west in a loop of 5 or 6 miles. Use Basin Road at the traffic light near Home Depot in Pahrump. Go east about 10 miles or more on a graded road to where you dip into a big wash. Get on the 4wd road to Wallace Canyon at N36 16975, W115 49717 and go nearly 7 miles to the end at 17079, 43477 el 8050 where good campsites await in the pines. Hike up the canyon about one air mile to a major fork. Left goes shortly to WALLACE FALLS. But go up the right fork then it splits so keep far left at 16197, 43001. I climbed up the left slope here but the gully is easier and it goes on up to a saddle at 15917, 42763 el 9700. Keep left at main forks along the way. From the saddle, go up the ridge. Right away there are some minor crags. Stay on top just left of center to get thru. At about 10700 is a minor class 3 notch. A fat rope has been here for years but isn't needed. Go down the notch then along the right side of crags until you're 100 feet past the low point of the notch then angle back up. In another tenth mile is another problem crag. There are class 3 slabs on the right side. I left a cairn at the slab I went up.  Next it eases up all the way to the trail at 11500. Go up to the top then go north down the main ridge to a major saddle at treeline el 11300. The plan is to follow the major gully down from the saddle. From the saddle, drop down thru the trees along the right side of the major gully. Go down parallel to the gully keeping it in sight. At 16529, 42207 el 10100 go down closer to the gully to avoid crags. Walk down with the gully close on your left and crags on your right. The slope will guide you down to an avalanche zone where you can keep to the right in the trees then you'll get into a nice pine forest before you drop into the canyon you came up. 5 1/2 hours, 4000 gain.The terrain is easy but steep. This route will never be crowded. I've never seen hikers on the west side of the Spring Mtns. I encountered what must have been a marijuana farm at 16886, 42953. They left behind a mile of plastic water line. This is the best place around Vegas to spend a hot weekend. And only you and I know about it. Next time I may just drive around the barrier like everyone else. That would save over 10 minutes of walking. I don't want to be the only sap on foot.
  
• BARE MOUNTAIN is the highest peak in the range of the same name at Beatty. From the stop sign in Beatty, go a mile and a quarter toward Vegas then turn left on a good road. Go nearly 5 miles then take a right fork toward a tower. In a third mile go left at a fork. Go another mile and a half,passing a spring, then go right up a valley for a mile and park at N36 51623, W116 40325 el 4700. Hike south up the valley to a saddle at 50909, 40690 el 5600. Now go left up the ridge to the peak at 50578, 40475. 2 1/2 hours, 1500 gain. The last mile and a half of road might stop some 2wds.
• MCFARLAND PEAK el 10745 - a dramatic loop can be done using the divide trail.  Take Basin Road east from Home Depot in Pahrump. It soon becomes graded dirt. Keep going east and turn left on rd #601 at N36 17163, W115 49617. Go about 2 and 3/4 miles on easy 4wd to rd #566 reading 19248, 49464. Turn right and go a mile to a main fork. Keep left on the Buck Spring road for nearly 3 miles and park 500 feet from a wash which is at 20429, 46354 el 7300. Go up that wash for .17 mile to a minor gully on the right. Go up that to the top of the rim then go left down to the ducked route at 20300, 46138 and into the creekbed of what I call Rosebud Canyon. Stay close to the left bank and go up the creekbed to 20375, 45528 where you go right to the main creekbed near the mouth at 20338, 45405. Now it's a smooth gravel creekbed under the big trees. About a half mile up from the mouth is a main fork. Keep right and follow the main canyon as it curves left and then the divide trail crosses at 20936, 44219 el 8500. But there's no need to go that far. Instead, go left at 20893, 44348 then keep going another tenth mile and hit the trail. Now the trail shortly goes to Wood Spring el 9000. It had a fast drip in May but dry in October. Leave the trail at a switchback reading 21271, 44570 el 9400 and walk south then east on very easy ground to get on the crest at the south face of Bonanza Peak. Now walk up the center of the crest until a bright crag is in the way. Go left around it to a game trail and go down a little and it levels off. Stay at about that 9700 level to get into a major saddle. It reads 21168, 43952 but it's obvious. This saddle can be reached by coming directly up from the trail, just steeper. Keep going south on the crest and stay on center. There are a couple of minor class 3 drops and some steep bedrock, but don't wander off center until 20772, 43624 el 10100. At this point, cut over to the right and walk along the right side of center at the base of cliffs. It's obvious how to walk on up and eventually merge into the main gully then stroll up to the summit at 20473, 43545.  There are 3 descent routes. Return the same way, return to the major saddle and drop to the trail, or use the steep SW gully that Vegas hikers come up. To get at it, walk to the top of it at 20520, 43688 el 10500. Start down on soft dirt. Soon a minor drop gets in the way. Cairns mark a bypass on the left, or go down to the drop and climb down a tree on the left. It's class 3. Keep going down to one more class 3 spot with exposure. Scoot down that and go straight down to the new trail, or use a shortcut trail that hits it at 20239, 43787 el 9500. Walk the trail back into Rosebud Canyon. I stayed on the trail to 20583, 44293 el 8700 then got off it and went down an easy ridge. In about a fifth mile I moved right to stay on high ground and soon hit bottom and then walked the canyon back out. I tried more direct routes down into the canyon, including the south rim, but they are too steep and rocky.  8 hours, 3500 gain, and very little is steep. Take a 30 foot hand line if using the SW gully on the descent. I never use a line, but might start using one and a hook too. Posted 2016.                  
• BONANZA PEAK el 10400 makes for a good loop in the pines. The plan is to go up the canyon ( which I call Rosebud Canyon) between McFarland and Bonanza and hit the divide trail then follow that to the summit, then come down the west ridge.  Take Basin Road east from Home Depot in Pahrump. It soon becomes graded dirt. Keep going east and turn left on rd #601 at N36 17163, W115 49617. Go about 2 and 3/4 miles on easy 4wd to rd #566 reading 19248, 49464. Turn right and go a mile to a main fork. Keep left on the Buck Spring road for nearly 3 miles and park 500 feet from a wash which is at 20429, 46354 el 7300. Go up that wash for .17 mile to a minor gully on the right. Go up that to the top of the rim then go left down to the ducked route at 20300, 46138 and into the creekbed of Rosebud Canyon. Stay close to the left bank and go up the creekbed to 20375, 45528 where you go right to the main creekbed near the mouth at 20338, 45405. Now it's a smooth gravel creekbed under the big trees. About a half mile up from the mouth is a main fork. Keep right and follow the main canyon as it curves left and then the divide trail crosses at 20936, 44219 el 8500.  But there's no need to go that far. Instead, go left at 20893, 44348 then keep going another tenth mile and hit the trail.  Now the trail shortly goes to Wood Spring el 9000. It had a fast drip in May.  The trail is easy to follow all the way to a hiker spur trail at 21710, 44899 el 10200. Go right less than a fifth mile to the summit reading 21572, 44841. From the summit head west down the steep slope on soft soil under the big trees. I hit the trail again and walked a segment. Start down the ridge below the trail at 21544, 45068. Soon comes a minor cliff. Go down along the right then  aim for 21493, 45429 el 9300 where a defined ridge forms. Walk that down staying close to center aiming for the end of  the Buck Spring road at 21334, 46172 el 8000. Now it's a mile back to the start. 5 and a half hours, 3100 gain. Rosebud Canyon is the prettiest I've seen in the range. I should have thought of this hike sooner. I'll never hike from the east side again. Posted 2016.

• SHADOW MTN el 5000 has a miner trail part way up the north ridge. Turn off the State Line road at N36 19611, W116 15800 on to a  track. The steep embankment stops all but cycles. Jeeps can get around. Go nearly 2 miles up this track and park at a washout. Hike up an easy, rocky ridge at18298, 15972 to a saddle at 17709, 15702 el 3100. Go left and pick up a miners trail at 17338, 15413. Stay on that as it passes bumps. It goes around the last bump on its right at 16809, 14967 and fizzles at 3900 ft. Go up the remaining slopes to the top reading 15813, 15490. I set up some ducks. 5 hrs, 2600 gain. The State Line rd leaves Pahrump as Bell Vista Rd. 2WD ALTERNATE: a mine road is right next to the State Line road at N36 18960, W116 13727 but a sharp ditch is in the way and parking is tricky. Good parking is a bit over a half mile to the west. I rode the mine road for half a mile on my cycle to a wash. It's not worth riding any further. From that point or the good parking spot on the highway, walk to a rocky wash at 18399, 14554. Go up that for a mile and a half to the miner trail on a low ridge at 17509, 15294. It's best to get on the right bank a half mile before the trail. The trail starts out faint and goes up the ridge and soon it switches up a steeper slope and joins the other route. It took me an hour to get to that point, but 2wds will have an extra half mile of easy hiking each way. The miners must have walked to the trail because it's too rocky to drive to it.  Posted 2015.
•   CHANCE BENCHMARK el 4862 is at the south end of the Last Chance Range and is the best hike around Pahrump. Take Bell Vista Rd to Corbin at N36 15827, W116 05686. Go north on Corbin to a T then left to Cabo. Go right and park at the end of Cabo. 4wds can get 3/4 mile closer. At the T, you'll see a weird house on a hill in front of you. Use a road along the east side of their fence. In a mile and a quarter you'll be within a half mile of the ascent gully which is at 17588,05937. Go up the gully to the ridgetop and go up the ridge until you hit cliffs you can't climb at el 3900. Then go left on a skimpy game trail along the base of the cliffs. Aim for a wide gully at 18192, 05462 el 4100. Go up the gully to get back on the ridgetop. As the gully opens up, it's easier to go right to a viewpoint on a neck then on up the ridge to the summit at 18495, 05485. Stay on the center of the ridge for this last part. There is a gully to go up at el 4600 then some minor class 3 but easy to deal with. For a loop back, go north on the easy crest for .55 air mile to a minor saddle. Then go left down a ridge for a quarter mile to the descent point at 19107, 05538 el 4500. At the descent point, drop left down a gully. Soon you reach a cliff band. Move right just a little to get in an easy chute then it's clear sailing into the black canyon below that drains back to the flats. The hardest obstacle in this canyon is a 10 foot class 3 fall. Or as an alternate, from the bottom of the cliff follow an obvious sheep trail to the west rim of the canyon and on to the Giesler guzzler at 18960, 06047 el 4050. Then walk left of center down the rim on trails. The trails will fade but just stay on the rim all the way down to the wash then walk the flats back. 4 hours, 2000 gain. Some class 3 but not dangerous for the experienced. Near the descent point one year I came down on 9 reclining sheep. It was a Mexican standoff until I finally moved and they took off. I saw one sheep there in 2018.
• LAST CHANCE RANGE TRAVERSE - this route goes up the  crest from the south end and over Chance BM then on to the high peak 4985 then down the east canyon. A few easy class 3 spots is as tricky as it gets. Take highway 160 to mp NY 17.5 and turn on Leslie St. Go about 2 miles to Mountain View then go north a bit over a mile to a T. Go right a  few feet then turn left and park on what the BLM map shows as public land. Then go back to Leslie and turn right and go 3 miles to a gas station. Turn right there on Bell Vista and go 2.5 miles to Corbin.  Go north on Corbin to a T then left to Cabo. Go right and park at the end of Cabo el 2700. Walk the flats to the ascent gully which is at N36 17588, W116 05937 el 2900. Go up the gully to the ridgetop and go up the ridge until you hit cliffs you can't climb at el 3900. Then go left on a skimpy game trail along the base of the cliffs. Aim for a wide gully at 18192, 05462 el 4100. Go up the gully to get back on the ridgetop. As the gully opens up, it's easier to go right to a viewpoint on a neck then on up the ridge to the summit at 18495, 05485. Stay on the center of the ridge for this last part. There is a gully to go up at el 4600 then some minor class 3 but easy to deal with. Keep going using sheep trails on the crest and it will drop below el 4400. The Giesler guzzler is in view on a west ridge. Then at 19498 04968 el 4350, drop off the crest and directly down to the west to a shelf el 4100 next to the N on the topo. A sheep trail runs on that shelf on top of a bright layer. Walk it to the south gully of peak 4985 and go up that to 20039, 05015 el 4700. Then go directly up a short way and it levels off then it's a short stroll to the peak where sheep were patiently waiting for me. The descent route is posted on peakbagger.com as a GPS track. They saved me the trouble of scouting it. Retrace from the peak a few feet then drop to 20118, 05003 el 4850 where you're looking down a gully. Go down it until a fall near the bottom then angle to the right and walk on down to a major saddle. Then go east down the canyon to the flats. Be on the lookout for a right bend in the canyon near el 3600 where it enters a rough narrows. It's easier to walk the right bank around that. 6 hours with about 3000 gain. Using a bike for the shuttle would be 10 easy miles but there's no bike lane. I started hiking at 16639, 05992 and ended at 19357, 02981. Posted 2018.
• PAHRUMP PEAK el 5700 is west of town. Take 372 to 178 then go to a dirt road just east of mp 53.50. Park at the closed road sign el 2400. "Closed" means I walk and everybody else just keeps on driving. It's 2 miles up the road to the canyon mouth. Start up canyon on the right at first then look for miner trail remnants to use. Don't miss the one at N36 05618, W116 09420. It goes along the left bank for 400 feet then crosses to the right. Go up to a main fork at 05825,08900 el 4100. Keep to the right fork and go up to 05874, 08594 el 4700 where you go up the slope on the right to get to a saddle on the ridgetop at 05825, 08521 el 5000. Go up the ridge staying left of crags then an obvious hiker route takes you up a chute back up to the ridgetop at roughly 05823, 08525 el 5400. The remaining 300 feet has some minor crags on the way to the reg at 05948, 08395. 5 hours,3300 gain. A good stick helps. On the way down,a shortcut trail can be used at the main fork. It's hard to find on the way up.


• HIGH PEAK el 4000+ is the high point of some jagged hills west of Pahrump. Take Bell Vista Rd to an ATV track at N36 16250, W116 07164. Jeeps will fit on the track. Go south for a mile and park within a third mile of a canyon mouth which is at 15499, 07680 el 2950. Go up canyon a short way to a fall and pass it on the right. Next you come to a fork at 15349, 07714. Go up the right arm to a fall and pass it on the right. Keep going up the canyon to a saddle on the main ridge at 15289, 08131 el 3800. Now go left up the ridge to a notch at 15109, 08132 el 4000 where you can see the summit 400 feet away. A complete horse skeleton was on this last stretch. No reg. 2 hours, 1200 gain. 2 wds will have a 3 hour hike. Posted 2014.
• EMIGRANT BM el 5800+ is a major peak on the crest south of Nopah Peak. The east ridge is a good route but steep in places. Drive the Tecopa highway to a cattleguard at N35 57033, W116 00013. Follow an easy 4wd road west for 2 miles to the end el 3200. Walk the flats for a half mile to a wide gully at 57302, 02352. Go up the gully to the saddle el 4250. Half way up the gully is a smooth rib on the left side of the creekbed that works. When it fizzles just stay on the left bank. From the saddle, it's an obvious route to the reg. There are no hidden saddles to deal with. At about 57513, 03032 el 5000 I started angling up to the left to lessen the grade and avoid scree. I stayed left of center on sheep routes all the way to the reg at 57644, 03564. 5 hours, 2600 gain. The reg had no entries since placement 14 years earlier, but there was no pencil. This mountain has a million sheep beds. I didn't see any sheep. They may have gone into town for a cold beer. This place is parched. Posted 2014.
• THIMBLE PEAK el 6381 is accessed via the Titus Canyon road. Leave Beatty on Nv 374 heading for Death Valley then turn just AFTER the sign for Titus Canyon. Go about 13 miles on a decent dirt road to Red Pass el 5300. This is the second pass. There is a hiker trail heading south up the ridge. It's easy to follow but there's a 300 foot deep saddle in the way. Go across the saddle then up to the summit. One 5 foot high class 3 step is the only obstacle. No reg in 2013. Under 3 hours, 1700 gain. All but the drivers would have the option of returning down the drainage heading north from the deep saddle, eventually hitting the road much lower. In April 2013 the Titus Canyon road was firm enough for mtn bikes, but that can change. I would start pedaling at the park entrance el 3600 about 2 miles in from 374. It's 11 miles and nearly all uphill to Red Pass with a little over 2000 gain then 15 miles of coasting to the highway on the floor.
• GRAPEVINE PEAK el 8738 is the highest in the Grapevine Mountains at Death Valley. Take Nv 374 from Beatty for 4 miles then turn at the sign for Rhyolite. Go 3/4 mile then left on another paved road. Follow that for 2 and a half miles to a main fork, which is right after a sharp right bend. You should be reading N36 53706, W116 51943. Go left for 8 and a half miles to a fork, staying on the main road which is decent high clearance 2wd. The fork is the Strozzi Canyon road at N36 58851, W116 55880. Go left for 2.7 miles and you'll see a road on the right climbing at a backward angle onto a bench. The Phinney Canyon road is on top of the bench. Follow that for nearly 9 miles to the best campsites in a pj forest at N36 57275, W117 06541 el 6600+. In another third mile is the short bad spot in the road el 6900. Rigs without lockers will have a tough time getting up. Then it's another 3/4 mile to the main saddle el 7500 with good camping. Hike the ridge from the saddle toward the peak. There are several bumps on the ridge, and you have to go nearly over the top of most. But one can be completely passed. At a saddle at N36 57668, W117 07590 just drop down a little on the left side to get on easier terrain and walk that level until you're a third mile past the saddle where you then get into the next saddle which is 100 feet higher. There is spotty trail along the way. It's easier to find on the way back. Then stay close to the ridgetop all the way to the last saddle at N36 57808, W117 08321 el 7900. From there it's an easy ridge to the summit. 4 hours, 1600 gain, pj forest all the way. There is parking room near a mine just before the bad spot. That adds 700 of gain and nearly a mile one way if starting there. Some high clearance 2wds might make it to the bad spot, but it's over 20 miles to get help. No water. Posted 2013.
• STEWART BM el 5200 is the high point of the Resting Spring Range. Drive to mp 58.5 on Ca 178 and look for a pullout to park. Hike to a valley at N36 08806, W116 10245 and go up that to a gully at 09098, 10972. Walk NW along the gully thru a low saddle then drop a little to the main canyon. Go up canyon a quarter mile to some tricky little falls. It's easy to bypass them on the left and then you'll be in a minor wash running parallel to the main wash. Stay in the minor wash and it will connect to the main wash. Keep going up the main wash to 09705, 11660 where you have to go up the left slope to pass bigger falls. Aim for a saddle at 09696, 11716 where you drop back in the main wash. Go on up to 09754, 11912 el 3800 where you start up the ridge on the left. A hiker trail goes up the steep ridge to the BM at 09975, 12482. 5 hours, 2600 gain.
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Northwest Nevada

                                               Lower High Rock Canyon.

            The cabin at upper High Rock Canyon was built by Tennessee Ernie Ford.

ADAM PEAK el 8600 is the high point of the Osgood Mountains. An OHV track goes up the east side to el 6900, jeeps might get to 6600. Take Nv 789 north from Golconda for 15 miles to the end of pavement. A gravel road reading N41 04537, W117 16549 goes NW from here for 2 miles to a big mine. Veer north from there on an easy 4wd road to Felix Canyon. Turn left there reading 07824, 16534 and go on to another fork at 08194, 17423 el 6100. It's easy 4wd to here. Both roads go to the ridgetop. Left is for OHVs only, but right is wider and 4wds might get to the ridgetop at el 6600. Don't drive it if you can't back down it. I rode the left fork to the ridgetop at el 6900. From there, I hiked up the ridge and went thru a break in cliffs at 08729, 17999 el 7300. Then I kept going up the center of the ridge to el 7800 then angled to the right to waypoint 08563, 18300 to pass a bump. I leveled off here to get to the saddle behind the bump. The rest of the route is visible here. Some minor crags are easily passed on the right. The reg is at 09644, 18330. 4 hours, 1800 gain. This is a top notch ridge walk. No cattle, no horses, scant brush. The crest looks pristine. The grassy OHV track continues into upper Granite Creek losing 300 feet. OHVs can get as high as 7300, then the brushy remainder of the road can be walked as high as 7800 on the slope of the peak. This makes for a shorter hike, just more brush. The big mine makes a good camp. They left machinery behind. Posted 2014.       

• CATNIP MOUNTAIN el 7294 is the high point of Sheldon NWR. That's saying a lot because the refuge is nearly a thousand square miles. Use Nv 34A to get to West Rock Spring camp at N41 53931, W119 21942. Drive thru camp on easy 4wd and keep right at a meadow in about half a mile. Go on up to the summit ridge and the road goes west of the summit and starts to drop over the south side. But then there's a fork that takes you back along the summit ridge north of the summit to a horse trail at 51048, 23079. It's a quarter mile stroll to the Cat BM at 50938, 23355. The road soon fizzles east of the horse trail. A mtn bike would help on this road. The Catnip BM is on the east end of the mountain and is about 20 feet lower. Leave Nv 34A at 53531, 18283 on a 4wd road and keep left at the next fork. The rest is obvious to the BM at 51628, 20912. No reg at either BM. Nv 34A goes on to the west entrance. Right where the road starts to drop off the plateau is a smooth 4wd road on the south side that goes for nearly 2 miles up to the look out on Bald Mountain el nearly 7200.
• DONNELLY PEAK el 8500, aka Division Peak, is the high point of the Calico Mountains. An easy 4wd road goes to el 7300. Take county road 34 north from Gerlach for 40 miles or so to BLM road 2053 at N41 08431, W119 22231. Go half a mile to a 4 way then go right toward the peak. The only tricky fork is near the peak. You'll see a left fork going to a spring at the base of the peak. But stay right on the main road and it goes up a canyon SW of the peak. At 6750 the road comes to a spring el 6750 with cold water coming out of a pipe. Here the road switches back left and goes onto the plateau where one last fork awaits. The right fork is steep and goes to el 7350 with a tiny turnaround. The left fork goes to el 7250 with a large camp area. From either one, hike up the easy slope to the lip of a bowl at 05566, 16030 el 7750. Now it's easy to move right onto an easy ridge to the BM at 05854, 15738. If there was a reg in the mess of rocks, I couldn't find it. 2 hours, 1300 gain. This hike is shamefully easy. Consider taking an anvil to make it a challenge. Road 2053 goes on south back to 34, but it's too rubbly to be of any use. Posted 2013. SOUTH DONNELLY el 7700 is harder. Take county 34 from Gerlach for 28 miles to BLM rd 2053 reading N40 58713, W119 20507. It's an easy, narrow 4wd road for 6 miles to Cane Spring (keep right at a fork a mile and a half in ). Near the spring, look for a very rocky track on a bench at N41 01681, W119 16391 el 4850. Hike the road or drive if it isn't posted closed. In over a mile the track angles off in the wrong direction, so leave it and head across the bench to the mouth of a canyon at N41 02693, W119 14663 el 5800. Go up the canyon a third mile to a main fork. The ridge between the forks is what you climb to get on the main ridge then go right to the summit at N41 02006, W119 13564. A block before the summit has a trail around the right side. No reg that I could find. 6 hours, 3000 gain, less if driving the rocky track. Posted 2013.
• DOUBLE H MOUNTAINS have a 10 mile 4wd road to the high point. From Orovada, go west on the paved Kings River Rd. At mp 9.3, turn at the sign for Pesticide Dump Rd. Stay on the main road, keeping right at any tricky forks. The road goes up the north rim of Moonshine Canyon. About 7 and a half miles in from pavement is a fork at a gate reading N41 38011, W118 02004 el 6100. Take the right fork thru the gate and go 2 miles to the main high rim of the range. A faint track goes left for half a mile to where google earth says the high point is at about 39077, 03684. I found nothing but a good view. This is a good cycle ride, 4wds will be slowed by some ruts. I should have gone back to the gate then south along the rim. That looks good on the map. Posted 2014.
• DRY MOUNTAIN el 6500 has a 4wd road up the NW slope to the north base el 6000. Use graded road 48 running along the south side of the Black Rock Desert. Turn south on a 4wd road at N40 44593, W119 10187. Go about 3 miles to the first fork then go right and follow that road all the way. The road is mostly packed sand. The only issue is one short steep hill where the road climbs out of the wash. I was surprised my 125 went up it without digging in. The peak is covered with game trails. One useful trail is at 40120, 05261. It goes up the west side to the 6200 level then you just go straight up the steep slope. The Western BM is at 39985, 05225. The reg says this is the Pahsupp Range but I can't find that on maps. 1 hour, 600 gain. Posted 2014.
• DUFFER PEAK el 9400 is the high point of the Pine Forest Range. There is route from Blue Lakes late in the season when water is low. Turn off Nv 140 at the sign for Blue Lakes at mp HU 51.3. It's 18 miles to Onion Valley Reservoir. The first 16 miles is easy 4wd then comes a mile of harder road. At the reservoir, turn left at the sign for Blue Lakes and go a mile and a half to the TH el 7800. There are campsites here and a restroom. Hike the main trail to a faint trail at N41 40914, W118 43027 and use that to get to a smaller lake. Walk the right side of the lake to a pond then go up a wide path thru the trees at 40855, 43164. The path seems to fizzle but you can get thru on the right. Now walk thru clearings to a veiwpoint on a rim at 40779, 43251 el 8100. Now you can see the target saddle across the basin at 40515, 43583 el 8300. The obvious route is to walk level to the left on the rim but soon there is a dip full of aspen. You can get thru by going down to the left then go up the other side to the right and hit cow trails that go to the saddle. It's easy from the saddle across Outlaw Meadow to a cow trail at 40145, 43774 that goes thru aspen to Hidden Meadow at the base of the peak. Now go left up the canyon. Another cow trail is on the left side at 40001, 43675. It's easy up the canyon. A meadow is at the 8600 level where I saw the only springs, but they are risky. Keep going up canyon until it tops out at Bare Pass el 9000. Now the peak is up above you. Go up the steep slope to the reg at 39460,43921. The final chute is a few feet to the right of the reg. 5 hours, nearly 2000 gain but only the last 400 feet is steep. There is almost no brush on this route, just some trees to weave thru. I tried the standard west route but ran into a brush wasteland and got discouraged. Blue Lakes is definitely the prettier route. The first shady camp on the drive in is at mile 13. The reservoir has a shady free campground. There is another 4wd road in from the west. Turn off Nv 140 at a sign for Knott Creek at mp HU 75.6. Go south about 10 miles on graded road to a sign for Blue Lakes. Go left past a restroom on a good road for 5 miles to another sign. Go left again on 4wd for 4 miles to the reservoir then go left to the Blue Lakes road at the north end. Posted July 2014.
• FOX MOUNTAIN el 8200 is in the north end of the Granite Range. An easy 4wd goes 12 miles to the top starting at mp WA 106.5 on Nv 447. Posted 2013.
• GRANITE PEAK el 8970 and Granite BM are right out of Gerlach. Take paved County Rd 34 for 21.7 miles to a 4wd road on the left. This is a mile after the pavement ends reading N40 53300, W119 20620. Follow a fence for 2.5 miles on the 4wd road to a fork at a hill. Both go, but right is smoother. It goes over the hill and joins the left fork. Stay on the main road to a creekside camp area with aspens at 51472, 27263 el 6300. Numerous forks here go to campsites, but stay right on the main road and it makes a U turn and starts up over a ridge then drops into a valley. Stay on the main road to a fork at 51598, 28329 el 6600. There is a good dry aspen camp here. Go left at the fork and the road goes onto the crest and effectively ends where the road is blocked by a tractor and locked gate at 49485, 25526 el 7600. But right before that is a fork at 50291, 25693 el 7650. Go right at that fork to the end at el 8200 right at the base of the peak with the Granite BM. It's a simple hike to the BM at 48854, 25838. The map shows the BM is lower than Granite Peak to the south. There is an old man made trail skirting around the right side of the BM peak. It starts right at the same place you park for the BM hike. It goes along at the 8200 level to a low rock wall. I lost it here, but picked it up again as it was dropping 100 feet to a drainage at 48780, 26306. It goes up the drainage to a saddle at 48444, 25993 el 8450. Then it goes level a short way to another saddle where you can see the peak. Here you have to drop down 400 feet into the meadow at the foot of Granite Peak then pick your own route up to the tower at 47374, 25836. 4 hours, 2000 gain. Take long pants and tick spray. There are some cairns on the trail but more are needed. The road on the crest is mostly smooth, but some steep spots may require a locker. I went north to Crutcher Canyon then down that to the power line road, but coming down canyon had a lot of rubbly sections. You have to go south on the power line road to get around a ranch. It might be feasible to go on north on the crest to Fox Mountain. It has a good road down to Nv 447. The Granite Range is more useful for 4wd/OHV touring than hiking. Posted 2013. It's worth it to look at the tractor someone sacrificed to block the road.
• HAYS CANYON PEAK el 7900 has a 2wd/4wd road to the top. It's 19+ miles. Go west from Eagleville on county road 38. It's a good road for nearly 13 miles to the crest el 7100. Turn south along the crest and stay on the main road. The first 4 miles are easy 4wd then the road splits at N41 16428, W119 54450 el 7300 and very shortly "unsplits". The right fork is smoother. Soon after that is a fork to the right heading toward the peak. Take that fork and after a short rocky section the road smooths out for the last 2 miles. The reg is at 16400, 56057. Serious 4 wheelers will have no trouble. Good aspen campsites are near the split in the road. Mtn bikes would work starting at the mouth of Hays Canyon, but it's steep to the crest. Some 2wds might make it to the crest then ride from there. I found an expensive gadget on the summit. If it's yours, send a note and I'll get it back to you. Posted 2013.
• HIGH ROCK CANYON is the route of the historic Applegate Trail. The north entranc e has the only decent camps. Go out on the graded Nevada 8A about 35 miles east of Cedarville. Turn at the sign for Stevens Camp at N41N 36071, W119 35612. Follow this wide graded road for 12 miles to the camp. There is a well kept public cabin, restroom and a creek. From there the road is 4wd although there are only half a dozen 4wd spots in the canyon and they are not difficult. Expect to get some Nevada pinstriping. The canyon is treeless and there were only 2 water crossings in October, but one was knee deep when I was there in June 2013. Post Office Cave is in the lower end at 20144, 20611. Some inscriptions are right before it. It's about 20 miles from Stevens to the mouth. From there, you can loop back on the west rim. Turn right at the mouth and go 2 miles then right again and start climbing. Keep right at the first fork at springs. Go left at the second fork and proceed to a third fork at 18307, 30018. Go right here then on to Nevada 34. Go right on 34 for just over 2 miles then right. Now just keep right at each main fork and it takes you back to the canyon just below Stevens Camp.This loop is a good way to tour the volcanic tablelands. Many springs dot the area but all are trashed by wild horses. Mountain bikes would work in the canyon. The upper canyon has some rubbly spots but mostly it's smooth and firm. There is no need to take a bike more than about 15 miles down canyon to where it opens up at 19525, 19959. The FLY CANYON POTHOLES are about 3 and a half miles below the mouth of High Rock Canyon. The main road exits the mouth then curves over into Fly Canyon. The road begins to veer away from the canyon at a cattleguard. Park there and walk the rim for a fifth mile to a break in the cliffs at 19261, 15599. Go down there to the first pothole then if you get past some brush there are more. There is another exit at the last pothole about a fifth mile downstream from where you got in. Short, easy hike.  Posted 2013.
• JUNIPER PEAK el 7200 is the high point of the Truckee Range. A 4wd road goes up the north ridge to el 5500. Take Nv 447 to mp WA 15.6 at Nixon. Turn at the sign for Hollywood Rd and go east 1.1 miles then go left for a few feet to a cattleguard. Now there are 3 forks. Take the middle one that goes up a hill. Stay on the main road as it turns south then goes east thru a gap. At about 6 and a half miles in from pavement you come to 3 forks reading N39 48340, W119 15743. Take the middle one for a mile and a half to power lines. Go right for a third mile then left for 2 and a half miles and park on the north ridge reading 49420, 12721 el 5500. Hike up the wide gentle ridge for a half mile to the first of 2 minor bumps. Keep to the left to avoid the highest part. Then cross the saddle and over the left side of the next bump. Now the ridge gets steep and looks like pure rocks. But it's not so bad. The rocks are stable and usually have paths thru them. At el 7000 is a level spot and the last little bump is in front of you. And it's the ugliest rocky mess of them all. Walk level to the left and stay low below the big rocks for a fifth mile and you'll walk right onto the summit plateau behind the bump. The County BM and reg are at 47730, 10996. 4 hours, 2000 gain. This is a tedious hike because of all the rocks but they aren't loose. The road in was being graded that day, but the last 2 and a half miles will always be 4wd but not difficult. Posted 2014.
• KING LEAR PEAK el 8924 is a prominent peak in the Jackson Mountains. Use the graded Bottle Creek Rd running the length of the range on the east side. Just west of mp HU 25 on Nv 140 is a sign for the road. It's paved the first 4 or 5 miles. When the pavement ends keep going south about 22 miles to the sign for Trout Creek Rd reading N41 08746, W118 25170. Now go west on that good road for 3.8 miles to a 4wd road on the left reading 11602, 27322. Go half a mile on that to a fork. Both roads end near the ridge of ascent at Big Cedar Creek. The right fork is more used but has serious ruts. The left fork gets closer and more than 100 feet higher. I went left. If you go left, ignore any right forks along the way. Near the end of the road is a minor gully with a broken down bridge. The road seems to end but actually goes up the hill and down the other side then gets too brushy even for cycles. It's about el 5700 where you park. Hike up the ridge at 11747, 31748. It's easy going until some crags are in the way at el 7300. Go around below the crags on the right side then come back up when it's safe. The ridge levels off around el 7600 and you can look up to your left and see two high crags and the rest of the route. The left one is Lear. The steep wide gully between the crags is the way up. Keep going on the ridge as it circles left toward the gully. At the last minor saddle on the ridge is where you cut over to the gully. It's a quarter mile on brushy cow/game trails. This is the only place where long pants are needed. Aim for a spring on bedrock in the gully at 12359, 32995 el 7900. The spring looked risky but I filled up anyway. I put some Kool-aid in and shook real hard to kill the bugs. From the spring, it's a brush free creekbed and sheep trails up to the high saddle el 8600 next to the peak. Now look at the summit block and you see there is only one way to go. Up to the right on a ledge then it makes a U turn back up to the left and tops out 100 feet from the reg. The reg is at 12147, 33282. A couple of spots on the summit block are easy class 3. 6 hours, 3300 gain. The nameless high point of the range is nearby and easy. Take the Trout Creek Rd to the crest then turn north on a good road that goes to a mine area with a million forks. Go to 2 metal buildings at N41 18465, W118 25608 el 7300. Now look south at the nearest fork only a few feet away. Go up that fork on easy 4wd. The last turnaround before a very steep section is at 18814, 25437 el 7850. The road beyond there looked like 4wds still go up it, but they must have good traction. The road ends at el 8500. The peak is half a mile away, but there is crag in the way. There is a convenient trail at 18849, 24683 el 8600 that goes left around the crag then it's a stroll to the summit at 18475, 24530. No reg. A 2 hour hike or less. A little stream is just north of the 2 metal buildings and would make a good camp. The second fork south of the 2 metal buildings goes to a shaft el 7900 with rails. That road soon ends at el 8100. Posted 2014.
 
 
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• KUMIVA PEAK el 8237 is the highest in the Selenite Range. Go south from Gerlach on 447 to a good dirt road at mp WA 59. Real men can park in about 3 miles and go right up the steep west ridge. But there's a wuss route. Drive in from 447 for about 4.2 miles to a short road on the right. Park at N40 25946, W119 15912 el 6100 then walk to the end of the road. Get on a trail on the right side and go up the draw to an open area. Aim for another trail at 25676, 15566 and angle up on that to a draw where you can go up to a saddle at 25515, 15636. From the saddle, go right around a bump to another saddle. Next, the ridge begins to climb so angle up to the right to get to a draw at 24978, 15465. Go up the easy draw and it will curve to the right and put you on the rim of the next draw with the peak in front of you. Follow a cow trail into the draw and then it goes up along the left side of the creekbed. When the trail crosses to the right just start climbing toward the north ridge. The north ridge has the least brush. The summit is at 24367, 15790 with a BM named Cowel. 3 1/2 hours, 2300 gain. Long pants are needed because of so much light brush. Posted 2013.LUXOR PEAK el 7420 is nearby and has a 4wd road to the 7000 level. Keep going on the main dirt road for a half mile to where it tops out at a 4 way reading N40 26287, W119 15771 el 6300. The crest road goes left, but there are a couple of downhill bad spots then a spring within the first mile. After that the road comes to a T at a gate in a canyon. Go left then the rest is obvious. There is another bad spot at a spring el 6400 near Luxor, but you can hike from there. Then on the drive out, just take the first left to get back down. For an easier road, stay on the main dirt road past the crest road then down a mile and a half to a gate at the bottom. Go thru then left on a good road running north for a mile and a half to a road cutting back to a ranch. Right here is a steep 4wd road reading 28179, 15112 running up the mountain. It joins the crest road where you go right and soon there is another fork where you stay left to bypass a bad spot. Shortly after that is the el 6400 spring with the bad spot that might stop some. The road goes on to top out on the ridge a quarter mile east of the peak. The reg and Gypsum BM are at 29363, 17010. There is some light brush but it thins out on the west side of the ridge. All the roads here are mostly packed sand. The crest road goes by scenic granite crags. I rode in on it then came back on the low road. Posted 2014.
• PAH-RUM PEAK el 7600 is the high point of the Fox Range. Take Nv 447 to a sign for Empire Farms at mp PE 60.4. Go west toward the farms on a partly paved road for 6.5 miles. Look to your left and you'll see a dirt road that has been running next to the pavement. It starts to veer away from the pavement and that's where you want to get on it and go 2 miles toward the peak to a private gate. The good road ends here. Go left on easy 4wd and follow the fence for 1.1 miles to a 4 way. Go left for 1.2 miles to Rattlesnake Canyon. The reading here is N40 24146, W119 28677 el 4200. Go up that for nearly 3 miles to a main fork. Straight ahead in less than a mile is private land where the steep route starts. For the wuss route, go left at the main fork. The road shortly goes over a saddle then in another fifth mile is a fork. The right fork is the main road, but washed out. Use the left fork to bypass. Once back on the main road, go another .8 mile to the next fork which is Trail Canyon. Go up that brushy road for a third mile to the end at a tiny turnaround reading 22634, 32288 el 5200. Hike up canyon on cow trails. The first place to climb up is "jeep ridge" on the right at 22675, 33014 el 5500. I followed jeep tracks down this on the return, but I wanted something easier for the ascent. So I stayed in the canyon to a risky pipe spring at 22568, 33440 el 5800. Here there is a good trail going left. Soon it splinters into many cow trails, but keep going up and west to get on the ridgetop at 22343, 33616 el 6300. Now just walk horse trails up the gentle south rim of Trail Canyon all the way to a road on the main crest el 6700. The road goes most of the way to the reg at 23428, 34515. I came back down the north rim of Trail Canyon on the jeep tracks. I didn't see how it got around the sharp gullies near the start. It must have come up the road from the reservation, but wanted a shortcut back down. It was a wild, rocky ride crashing thru 5 foot high sagebrush. The road up Wild Horse Canyon on the west side is private. It was a 3 and a half hour hike, 2400 gain, rarely steep. There are trails of a sort most of the way up. If you hike/bike from the washout el 4900, it will add a bit over a mile each way. Mtn bikes would work on these roads. Posted 2014.

• The PETERSEN MOUNTAIN NATURAL AREA is north of Reno on 395. To climb the high point, take 395 north for 10 miles from the jct of 395 and California 70. Turn east on the paved Red Rock Road and go 10 miles to a dirt road at N39 48424, W119 55898. Go west on the dirt road and keep right at a fork in a fifth mile. Keep right again about a mile and a half in from the pavement then head for the TH at 46186, 57009 el 6000. Most 2wds could make this in 2011. The trail goes to the spring just up the slope then fades in the weeds. Go left around the spring then pick up the trail again in the gully behind the spring. Go up to a dam at 6700 then go a little further up the gully and look for the barely detectable jeep road. Make sure to be on it at 46305, 57831 el 7000. Follow it on up past a spring then it levels off in a shallow valley. The faint road follows valleys with young aspen and takes you near the summit at 47760, 58567 el 7800+. 3 hours, 2000 gain. Take long pants due to tall weeds. The Red Rock Road runs along the eastern base of the mountain. The southern end can be accessed close to Reno off 395. This would be a lot shorter drive for those coming from the south. At the northern end of Red Rock Road you can turn on Rodeo Drive and go up a steep jeep road to nearly 6000. The BLM has designated a road here that is for foot and horse travel only but it's overgrown.
• POODLE MOUNTAIN el 6800 is the high point of the Buffalo Hills. A 4wd road with rocky, rubbly sections is the only headache. Go to mp WA 98.2 on NV 447 and turn west. Stay on the main road then keep right at a fork about a half mile in from 447. The only other tricky fork is at N40 51690, W119 39232. Keep right here and follow the main road into the large valley containing the peak. An obvious fork heads along the west side of the peak. I parked a mile away from the peak and had an hour and a half long hike and 1000 gain, not steep. The reg is at 48605, 38900. It was placed 9 years earlier and hadn't been signed since. No wonder, considering the road conditions. This peak is best suited to OHVs. Posted 2013.
• SELENITE PEAK el 7100 overlooks Gerlach. Go south from town on 447 to the Jungo Rd at mp WA 71.9. Follow this good road east for 13 miles to BLM rd 2084 reading N40 44256, W119 10701. Go south for 6 miles to an easy, narrow 4wd road at 39382, 10683. Go toward the peak for 4 and a half miles to a metal tank el 5300, keeping left at forks. The road goes another quarter mile past the tank to a trail, but turnaround is tight. Hike the trail toward the spring which is at the highest vegetation. The water is coming over a rock ledge. Keep going up canyon and look for a cow trail going left at 36994, 15307. If you lose it, it's easy to spot ahead at 36771, 15298 el 6250. The trail goes along below the rocks to a minor saddle el 6450. Then it drops 50 feet into the head of a canyon. The least steep route is to head up the canyon to the saddle north of the peak, then go up to the reg at 36354, 15971. 3 hours, 1800 gain. The Trego hot spring is near the RR tracks at 46308, 07017. The pool is 100 yards long. There is no shade and the train blows the horn. OLD RAZORBACK MOUNTAIN el 5600 is next to the spring and makes a good evening hike. Posted 2013.
• SONOMA PEAK el 9400 has a jeep road running along the crest from the north. The road starts at a good free campground with shade trees. Several peaks can be done using the campground as a base. From the main drag in Winnemucca, turn south on Hanson St or Highland St. Both end at Water Canyon Rd then you follow that a few miles to the campground. At the upper end where the graded road ends, 4wd roads climb the left slope. Take the far left one and run the crest to a fork at N40 52986, W117 37331 el 8700. Go left here and it gets you close to the peak. It's a one hour hike and less than 1000 gain to the reg at N40 51635, W117 36426. This road is for hardcore 4 wheelers only because of steep grades. I'll never ride a 2 wheeler on it again. One of the locals told me he drives his Toyota 4runner on the road, no locker or equivalent. WINNEMUCCA MOUNTAIN el 6730 has a paved road to the top. Go north from town on US 95 for 3.7 miles past I-80 then turn left at a sign for the landfill. It's 6 and a half miles to the towers. BLUE MOUNTAIN el 7300+ stands alone. Take US 95 under I-80 and go north a quarter mile to the semi paved Jungo Rd. It's 17 miles west to the P and J Ranch where most hikers get access. A wuss route for OHVs starts one mile before that. Turn off the Jungo Rd at power lines reading N40 56518, W118 01505. Go 2 miles along the lines then go left at a fork. Keep going to another fork at N40 59946, W118 02640. Keep right here then stay left at any tricky forks after that and park at O'donell Spring at the end of the road reading N40 59542, W118 04309 el 5900. It's an easy ridge up to the reg at N40 59224, W118 04983. 2 hours, 1400 gain. I rode in on a dualsport cycle. 4wds will have to use the standard route. The owner of the P and J Ranch said it's OK to drive across his land as of 2014 in case you have to go in that way. It's the right fork right after the ranch building that gets you closest to the ridge I went up. BLOODY RUN PEAK el 7900 is north of town. Take US 95 for about 11 miles north of I-80 to a sign for Sand Pass Rd. Go west on that for half a mile then turn right on a gravel road and go north 2 miles to an easy 4wd road on the left. Go west to a fork at N41 10315, W117 43172. Go left into Pauite Canyon. Some hikers park at the 5200 level where the road climbs the right slope, but I went on to the end of the road on the rim of a basin el 5800. From there several routes are visible. I went up along the right side of the basin to a saddle just north of the peak, but there was a lot of tall grass. The route I would do next time is up the NE ridge as follows: walk level from the end of the road along the right side of the basin and eventually cut over to the left using a break in a brush line at N41 10645, W117 45291 el 6000. Now keep going a short way to the obvious mine road then cross it and go up the ridge staying left of the main rocks. The ridge goes parabolic, but if you get bogged down in rocks, you can move to the right side below the rocks which is how I came down. Aim for a minor saddle at N41 10343, W117 45796 el 7350 then go on up to the reg at N41 10291, W117 46018. 4 hours, 2200 gain. A memorial to Cody T Louk 1984-2006 was on top. He may have been a disabled young man and hunter. Posted 2014.
• TOHAKUM PEAK el 8182 is the high point of the Lake Range on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation. Take Nv 447 to major power lines at mp WA 53 about 20 miles south of Gerlach. The highway follows the county line so some mileposts are PE and others WA. Follow the powerlines west over the range on easy, bumpy 4wd road. At 3.8 miles from pavement you come to a 4 way. Go south for 1.3 miles to a fork. Keep right and stay on the main road going south along the east side of the valley. The road will take you into the wide San Emidio Canyon then shortly you come to the reservation boundary where a sign says to get a permit. Now it's another 7 and a half miles to the end of the road at the saddle el 6800 west of the peak. The only issue with the road is it's trying to overgrow for the last 5 miles. Climbing straight up the ridge from the saddle is too brushy. But there is a draw to the left of the ridge and the left side of it is OK. From the parking area at the saddle, follow a faint track NE a short way until it fades out at a foundation. Then head for a clearing at N40 11021, W119 27623 el 7000 which puts you on the left side of the draw. Go up and soon you can move left onto a ridge. Go up that ridge then angle right of a crag on the crest and enter a broad saddle el 7900 about a fifth mile north of the summit. If you get on the crest more than a fifth mile north of the summit you'll have to deal with that nasty crag. The reg is at 10770, 27323. 2 and a half hours, 1400 gain. There is enough light brush to justify wearing long pants. There are ranch ruins about 2 miles inside the res boundary with shade trees. The creekbed there had stagnant looking water in June. The power line road over the range is too steep for mtn bikes, but the remaining 15 miles is not steep and is firm. Cars might get into the valley using the paved Empire Farms Rd at mp PE 60.5 on 447. I didn't check this route. Posted 2013. Floods that hit shortly after I was there may have changed road conditions. The highway was closed.

Warner Mountains, Ca

• EAGLE PEAK el 9892 is the highest in the Warners. From Eagleville, go south 3 or 4 miles to the sign for FR 64. Take this graded road for 13 miles to the Patterson camp. The Summit TH billboard el 7100+ is in the cg behind the guard station. In a fifth mile from the TH is a fork at N41 12081, W120 11295. Keep right and go about 5 miles to 16024, 11182. Leave the trail here and aim for 16246, 11224 to get on the ridgetop then go on up 1500 feet to the summit at 17009, 12045. 7 hours,nearly 3000 gain, about a 14 mile round trip. Most of the 1500 ft that the trail gains is hardly noticeable. Trails come in from the east and west that look shorter on the map. But it's an illusion because those trails are infested with switchbacks. The map shows good roads that can be used to come in from 395.
• BALD MOUNTAIN is the highest peak in the Warners north of 299 for many miles. From the jct of 299 and 395, go north on 395 for 6 miles to Co 118. Go 10 miles on 118 to FR 44N30 at N41 38735, W120 17562. Then go 4 miles on 44N30 to a crude road at 36727, 15216. Go right on this road and keep left at a fork and on to the end within half a mile of the peak. Go up thru trees to the top at 36591, 16204 el 8270. It's a short hike with 700 gain. All roads are very good except the last half mile. FR 44N30 would make a good bike ride.
• WARREN PEAK el 9710 is the no. 2 peak in the range and the most scenic hike. From the stop sign in Cedarville, go south a mile and a half to FR 31. A 4wd route starts another 2 miles south at Co 27 and goes up Granger Creek. 2wds should go about 6 miles on 31 to a fork and keep right (the left fork goes too but it's not as good) and go on to the TH at the Pepperdine camp at N41 27044, W120 14611 el 6800. Follow the Summit Trail south along the crest for about 6 miles to Patterson Lake. Stay on the trail as it climbs left of the lake then cut over to a saddle el 9400 on the east ridge of Warren. Go up on some talus then circle left around behind the summit block to get to the BM at 22717, 13186. I went back along the escarpment over the lake to where a cow trail goes thru a break at 23674, 13797. Go thru the break then move right to the ridge center then down to the trail. 6 hours, 3000+ gain. The trail has a few minor dips. Just going to PATTERSON LAKE below the summit cliffs would be a worthwhile hike.You'll think you're in the Sierras. To drive in from Alturas, get on Mcdowell at the south end of town. Go a dozen miles on pavement then it's graded dirt. Soon you come to a sign for Pepperdine where you go left.The last 8 miles is graded dirt. Pepperdine has great spacious sites.
• A really short hike would be SQUAW PEAK el 8650. Use the Warren Peak trail. Just go to the Squaw Peak Trail jct about 1.6 air miles from the start. Keep right on the Summit Trail for a quarter mile then go left up the ridge to the top or stay on the trail till it enters trees then go up to the top at N41 25127, W120 13135. 3 hours, 1900 gain. The Squaw Peak Trail goes around the peak but you can drop down and return on it. There are several springs on it. A good one is 5 minutes from the Summit Trail at 25691, 13494.
• PAYNE PEAK is just south of 299 and has a road to the top. Follow the Warren Peak directions but turn off FR 31 before Pepperdine cg at N41 31696, W120 16942. Go half a mile then turn right just before a metal gate. It's about another 3/4 mile to the top.The last half mile is 4wd.HAT PEAK el 8700 is a prominent peak at the south end of the range. A jeep road goes nearly to the top, but fallen trees and a maze of logging roads make it a problem.The road is faded in places so I had to reverse engineer it, but didn't walk it all the way back. Go south from Eagleville for 3 or 4 miles to the sign for FR 64. Take that for 9 miles to a gravel road going south at N41 11360, W120 08614 el 7500. Go south for a mile and a quarter to the end of the gravel then turn right on an easy 4wd road. Now you have to figure out how to get to the jeep road where I left it at 08025, 09014 el 8000. Once on the road, it goes shortly into meadows where it fades out. Pick it up at 07743, 09091 where it leaves the meadows and is easy to follow to the summit ridge. Then just go north to the end of the road and it's another half mile to the reg at 08827, 07538. There is a homemade BM 800 feet to the north at the skinny tip of the ridge. A good view of Lost Lake can be had, and it's all you're ever going to get because the road to the lake is a rocky mess. It took me about 3 hours for the whole hike, but rode around several fallen trees. Hunters might come in late in the season and clear the roads. If you can drive the summit ridge, the road is good until a shady grove near the peak. After that it's big time rocky. Posted 2013
• Cedarville is a classic small town with friendly people. It has a good grocery, gas, propane, restaurants and shady lanes. There are historic buildings and you can get info from the forest and BLM offices.
• DRAKE PEAK el 8400 is the high peak at the north end of the range in Oregon. Take highway 140 to mp 8 on the crest. Turn north on the paved Warner Rd (FR 3615) and go to mp 7.5. Turn right on a good road. After about 4 miles the road gets crude then tops out on the crest at a fork. Left goes to the lookout with a restroom. Right is 4wd that goes to Light Peak with the Drake BM. The main BM is dated 1920 but the witness is dated 1971. The road keeps going east along the crest dropping down to a crag at N42 17961, W120 08346 el 7850. From there it's a one hour round trip hike with 700 gain to the reg at 18007, 07426 el 8400.This peak is shown as Drake Peak on maps. Don't drive down to that crag unless you're sure you can get back up. Posted 2013.
• THE SQUAW BUTTE MOSQUITO SANCTUARY is at mp 4.6 on FR 3615. Park at the Walker TH and hike up thru the trees to a clearing at N42 15906, W120 14346 el 7050. Then start angling up to the left to get to the BM at 15502, 14669 el 7300. Short hike. Mosquitoes are protected here so don't swat any. And wear shorts so they can feed properly.
• FR 3615 is paved past mp 15 then it's good dirt to the forest boundary at mp 23. Note that highway 140 was re-aligned north by .6 mile so when you turn on to FR 3615 you're already at mp .6. At mp 21.5 is a left turn going up to the hang glider launch with good views. A road goes down from there to 395 but it may be blocked at a ranch. Good mtn bike rides start at mp 7.5 across from the Drake turnoff. Follow a good dirt road for a mile to a fork at a cattle guard. Left is an easy loop around the big meadow. Right goes up to the rim then loops back to the pavement at mp 8.4.
• TWELVE MILE PEAK el 8100 is the northernmost 8000 footer in the range. It can be hiked from the same parking spot at the NRT used for Crook Peak, or you can get a little closer by taking a right fork just before the NRT. The summit is at N42 19610, W120 09450. No reg or even the obligatory cairn. 1 hour, 500 gain. Those without 4wd can hike a steep road at mp 10.7 to get to the saddle south of the peak.
• CROOK PEAK el 7800 is the northernmost peak in the range and has a national recreation trail (NRT) running along the south slope. Drive the same as Drake Peak but stay on FR 3615 to mp 12.4 then turn on FR 199. It's easy 4wd for nearly 2 miles to the crest. Just before the crest is the NRT at N42 20415, W120 09823 el 7500. Hike the trail north, hopping over several fallen trees. The trail skirts McDowell Peak on the left then comes to a logging road where it gets spotty. Cairns and ribbons help mark the way. Aim for it at 21555, 09490 where it's visible again. In another 230 feet it switches right then goes thru a gate el 7300. 400 feet past the gate just start up the slope to the summit at 21733, 09074. 3 hours, 1400 gain. To use the logging road, take FR 3615 to mp 13.4. Go right on graded FR 3720 for 2.7 miles to the logging road el 6200. It's easy 4wd for nearly 2 and a half miles to where the NRT crosses at 21485, 09617 el 7100. It's a one hour hike with 700 gain from there. Mtn bikes would work on the logging road and might be the only thing to use if trees are down. There is potential for shuttle hikes here. Start on the NRT at mp 10.7 on FR 3615. Follow it on past Crook Peak then down to the Swale TH where another car or mtn bikes are waiting. The Swale TH is at mp 5.7 on FR 3720. Another option is to start at the Drake Lookout and come down the crest.
 

The PLUM CREEK CG is about 3 and a half miles out of Davis Creek. There's not much to do there unless you have a mtn bike. Ride south out of camp for 6 miles to the Franklin Canyon road # 44N62 at N41 39177, W120 19241 el 6000. It's easy to miss. Coast down to a T then make a right to go back to Davis Creek. At least 2 miles is on 395 and there's no shoulder. Another option is to keep going south past 44N62 for a mile and a half to FR 30 then follow directions for Bald Mtn hike. It's 15 miles one way, or a 2wd truck can make the road. There are also graded roads all the way to Sugar Hill Lookout.

• BUCK MOUNTAIN el 7900 has a short jeep road to the top. Use graded FR 30 running along the east side and turn at N41 42603, W120 16133 el 7600. Not worth it unless you're going that way.
• FANDANGO PEAK el 7800 is the loneliest of the named peaks in the Warners. Turn off 395 at mp MOD 55.9 and go 4.4 miles on FR 9 to a fire station. The pavement ends right after the station. Turn left there on a narrow paved road that turns to good dirt and goes for miles around to the north side. When the good road ends, keep going on a jeep road that gets steep, but not rough. At the next fork reading N41 52799, W120 13583 el 7400, go right to where the road shrinks to a cow trail. Hike the trail to a meadow at 52736, 14544 el 7300. Now just turn left thru the forest and start hopping logs. Aim for 52384, 14680 near the rim where walking gets easier, just stay in the trees near the rim. The BM is on an odd talus pile at 51757, 14239. 2 hours, 500 gain from the meadow, take long pants for sure. SUGAR HILL el 7200 can be done on the drive out. Just past the fire station is a graded road going south. Follow signs to the lookout. It's graded all the way and a restroom is on top. MILL CREEK is the canyon north of Fandango Peak and a road goes down it to Fort Bidwell. There is a sign for the Highgrade Trail where the Fandango Peak road makes its turn to the east. Right next to the sign is an easy 4wd road that goes down for 2 miles and connects with a better road that goes all the way down along Mill Creek with some good campsites.
• MOUNT VIDA el 8220 has an OHV track to the 7900 level. At the south end of New Pine Creek, get on FR 2 and go to mp 5.4 at a sign for Consolidated Mines. It's steep and bumpy. Turn right and it's easy 4wd all the way to the NRT at N41 57011,W120 13519 el 7700. Now the road goes parabolic down then up, so hike it or try the overgrown NRT which rejoins the road closer to the peak. It's a short hike off the road to the peak at 56096, 13528. I rode as far as 56755, 13688 el 7600 then lost traction. YELLOW MOUNTAIN el 8040 can be done on the drive out. Turn east at a fork reading 57621, 13385 el 7300. Keep going on easy 4wd to another fork at 57774, 12204 el 7700+. The left fork is a narrow track going a third mile to the summit. Going straight at the fork takes you back down to FR 2 at the 4 way where you can go up to Mt Bidwell. It's easy to do all 3 peaks in a day with a jeep or OHV.
• MOUNT BIDWELL el 8200 has a jeep road over the top. At the south end of New Pine Creek, get on FR 2 and go nearly 8 miles to a 4 way at the crest el 7500. It's steep and bumpy. Turn north on FR 48N21 for a third mile to the Moonlight Mine buildings. Now turn right on a jeep road that gets rocky and steep. On the summit plateau the road gets smoother. The high point is at N41 57940, W120 09999. The BM is 2 miles to the east along with a memorial to George Maxwell Smithe-Rowe, a 15 year old who perished in the summer of 2012 from ?. The road drops north off the summit plateau and loops back to FR 48N21. It's mostly smooth but brushy, a good cycle ride. Some 2wds can make it to the Moonlight Mine el 7500. Posted 2013.
• CRANE MOUNTAIN el 8400 has a 4wd road most of the way. Take highway 140 to mp 8 then turn south on a paved road for several miles to Rogger Meadow TH. From there follow signs for another 8 miles on graded dirt to Willow Creek Cg. Right before camp is a sign for the Crane Mtn trail. Take that road to the end of gravel el 6900 where it becomes easy, bumpy 4wd. Hike or drive the 4wd road almost to the lookout on the crest where the NRT goes left at el 8200. Go south on the NRT for 2/3 mile then veer right thru the trees to the reg and BM at N42 03770, W120 14447. The NRT, which is an ATV trail, goes on south along the crest for miles. It gets smoother as it goes. At about 2 air miles from the start near the lookout, it merges with a logging road. Soon the road forks. Left goes down to Deep Creek Cg. The right fork goes on down the crest. At a small meadow a jeep road comes in on the left, but the NRT goes across the meadow and continues down the crest eventually merging with another logging road. Stay on the main road to a one lane gravel road at N41 58541, W120 11132 el 7600. The Moonlight Mine is here. Go north on the road until the end of gravel then it's another mile to the state line and the road becomes FR 3915. Keep going north for a half dozen miles to the graded road that goes back to Deep Creek Cg. Then either follow the graded road back to Willow Creek Cg or go up Deep Creek and take the road up the right fork that goes over the ridge then on to Willow Creek. ANOTHER RIDE of interest requires a dual sport bike. Go south on the graded road from Willow Creek CG and stay right on FR 3915 at N42 03061, W120 07208. Follow that crude road south for nearly 6 miles to the state line. Soon after the line there is a fork. Keep right and soon it's gravel then keep going south to the first graded road coming up from the west which is FR 2. Take that on down to 395 then go north to Lakeview. Take Center Street up Bullard Canyon and stay on the main road to Rogger Meadow then follow signs to Willow Creek. It's about a 70 mile loop, with half a dozen miles being crude dirt. A 2wd truck could make it. Posted 2013.


• LAKEVIEW has a Safeway and everything else you'll need. A good cycle ride starts there. Take Center St east into Bullard Canyon and go 2 miles on graded dirt to a fork at the shooting range. If you go straight for a third mile there is a graded road on the left that goes to the towers. For a loop, turn right at the shooting range and go a mile to another fork reading N42 11013, W120 17931 el 5600. Go right here on a crude road. It's packed dirt which turns to mud in winter/spring. The road climbs for 3 miles and tops out at 6600. Then it's mostly downhill for 7 miles thru Crane Creek Canyon back to 395 about 5 miles south of Lakeview. Mtn bikes would work here but I would shuttle up Bullard Canyon. Cars might get to the fork at el 5600. The shooting range has a public restroom to park at. 395 has a shoulder to ride on. The loop totals about 20 miles. There is another fork of interest at 08383, 16038 el 6200. It's an ATV track going left that goes over the divide to FR 3915.
• WARNER PEAK EL 8000 is not in the Warner Mtns, it's the high point of the Hart NWR just to the east. At the north end of the town of Plush, get on the Hart Mtn RD. Go about 14 miles to the end of pavement then stay on the graded road another 10 miles to the refuge headquarters. Then turn south on a graded road and go about 2 miles to a main fork. Right goes to the Hot Springs Cg, but go left for nearly 13 miles on the good Blue Sky Rd to a fork in a pine grove reading N42 25780, W119 43397 el 6050.The road beyond here doesn't open until June 15. Turn left for nearly half a mile to the next fork at soldier graves. Go left for half a mile to the TH on the right at a gate reading 25453, 43905 el 6100. Hike the road all the way to the summit at 27582, 44482. 4 hours, 2000 gain. There is a fork going left at el 7100 that goes south on the plateau. When dry, 2wds can get to the 6000 ft level within a mile of the TH. Many game animals were standing around staring at me as if wondering what happened to my other 2 legs. ALTERNATE: the 4WD Barnhardy Rd goes south from Hot Springs Cg and gets within a mile of the summit el 6800+. It's steep and brushy from there. The road is closed until Aug 1 so I didn't get to check it. ANOTHER HIKE of interest starts a mile up from Hot Springs camp. Take the Barnhardi Rd and turn west at 29287, 42502. In half a mile park at a gate el 6900. Hike the road to the top el 7500. I stayed on the main road to the west rim where a bright colored rock outcrop stood out. Nice views. DEGARMO CANYON FALLS makes a nice short hike. About 10 miles out of Plush is a sign for the canyon. Turn and keep right at the first fork then left at the second. It's half a mile of easy 4wd to the TH. Then it's a steep semi brushy trail for 2/3 mile to the 30 foot fall.