White Mountains, Ca, Nv

Champion Mine cabin

Champion Spark Plug Mine

   

         

Falls Canyon

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• The WHITE MOUNTAINS have paved highways running all the way around them. You can start in Bishop and work your way north around to Ca 266. Benton and Dyer have gas, the most groceries are at Dyer. Dyer has an RV park at mp ES 8 on Nv 264. A quarry serves as a poor man's RV park at mp ES 14 about 6 miles north of Dyer. This free ebook from the University of Cal covers the Indian history of the range, among other things. Posted 2013.
•  SILVER CREEK has a steep 4wd road all the way thru to the main road on top of the range. Take US 6 for 3 or 4 miles out of Bishop then turn at the sign. There are no shady camps along the creek.
• PIUTE CREEK has a jeep track running up to 10300. Take US 6 to paved Chalfant road at mp MNO 3.4 then go straight up into the cyn.The road turns to gravel right after a building. Right inside the mouth on the left is the track going up. It has a thin layer of cobblestones most of the way. Don't get tricked by a track right  at the mouth. You can get there using dirt roads from Silver Creek, but a lot slower. 
•  CHAMPION MINE has a lot of well preserved buildings in big pines. Turn off US 6 at mp MNO 10.8 on to the road that goes to Milner Creek. Follow the paved road east along a ranch. When pavement ends, go left along a fence on a 4wd road. Soon it veers east then forks left and goes into a canyon. There is a main fork at N37 37005, W118 20593 el 5800. The right fork goes shortly to the lower TH. The left fork goes to the upper TH, but is very steep though not rough. It's a half hour hike to the mine from the upper TH, but the trail gets as narrow as your boot. The miners built the trail on up to 9000+. Champion mined here until 1945 for spark plug ceramics. Back on the road to Milner Creek, it goes up into the canyon then goes along the right side. Near the end is a left fork blocked by a cable. That fork can be walked a short way on the left side of the canyon to get to a one of a kind intake. Posted 2013.
• FALLS CANYON has 2 high falls near the 7000 level that aren't hard to hike to, it's the roads that are the headache. I turned off US 6 at mp MNO 16.9 where there is sign for the Falls Creek Ranch. A sign there says "Private drive. Right to pass by permission of owner". Several homes on a lake use this road for access. I went .8 mile on that graded road to a fork at N37 42437, W118 24872. I turned left there on easy 4wd and went a quarter mile to an open gate, passing 2 black tanks along the way. At the gate, I took a right fork and soon came to another fork at 42625, 24772. The left fork is overgrowing and goes 3 miles to the mouth of the canyon el 6050. But I took the right fork because it's smoother and then parked in 2 miles at el 5300 (that road goes on another mile to Pellisier Creek but there's nothing to do there). I then walked to a steep ridge at 44066, 22701 el 6000 but it would be easier to keep going north and get on the south rim next to the creek then go up to a little plateau el 6600 with a pinyon forest. Be careful not to disturb Indian rock rings along there. I kept going up the rim to el 7050 then merged left into a gully at 44378, 22210 el 7050 and stayed near that level to 44440, 22247 then on to 44482, 22274 where a stairway drops a little to the creek between the 2 high falls. I found a trashy campsite there, one item being a 30 pound cot. I wanted to go up to the top of the second fall, so I retraced to the gully and had no trouble getting up to a rock ring along the creek at 44540, 22069 el 7600. Just a little to the west on a point overlooking the canyon are more possible rings, but hard to tell. Going any higher would be difficult. I retraced back down and found the biggest ring at 44356, 22210 el 7100 then took a shortcut down the steep ridge at 44180, 22520 el 6550. It was about a 2 hour hike to the campsite between the falls with about 1000 of strenuous gain. Drive slow and quiet on private land and maybe it stays open. Posted May, 2019. 
• MARBLE CREEK is the only one still running unabated to US 6. Turn off US 6 at mp MNO 20.4. There is an easy 4wd road running up to the canyon where it fizzles. Stay on the roads running along the south side of the creek until forced to the north side.
• MONTGOMERY CREEK is right out of Benton. Take Christy Lane east to the transfer station then take a road going left. After 2 and a half miles of rocky 4wd road you come to a 4 way. Go right across the creek then left on a road going up canyon on the right side of the creek. Jeeps should stop at a camp spot at N37 50090, W118 24744. The road soon is blocked by slides. A short way up canyon is a 15 foot fall. A handline has been set up to get over it, but I stopped there. Posted 2013.
• BLIND SPRING HILL el 7200 is near Benton. Take highway 120 out of town for 4 miles then go left for 3 and a half miles to a multitude of forks at a cattle guard. Use a fork on the east side of the road, take the one that is most left. It goes 4wd for a couple miles then the Blind BM is a short hike to the east at N37 45881, W118 29006. Back at the cattleguard, there is a road on the south side that goes west for 3 miles to towers.
• MORRIS CREEK has an easy 4wd road to the mouth. Turn off US 6 at mp MI 1.8.
• BOUNDARY PEAK el 13145 has a crude trail to the top. Take US 6 to mp MI 2.5, which is 2 and a half miles east of the state line. Turn on to the 4wd Queen Cyn rd and go nearly a mile and a half to several forks. Stay on the main road curving left and go another 5 miles to the main saddle at N37 52918, W118 18885 el 9800. The last mile gets a little tougher but we made it easily in a Tacoma and never needed the locker. The trail starts next to the register and is easy to follow for a couple miles to Trail Cyn Saddle at el 10800. Now it goes parabolic but the only tricky spot is a fork at 51019, 20828 el 12370 that gets around a crag on the right side. Take the right fork a short way then it switches back left, but ignore that and keep going straight toward the peak along the slope below the crag. In about 300 feet there is a hiker trail going straight up to the ridgetop at 50955, 20839 el 12550. Now you're past the crag, so just go up the center of the ridge a short way then you'll see the main trail going off to the right side of the ridge then on to the summit at 50766, 21074. 7 hours, 3600 gain.
• SUGARLOAF PEAK el 9000+ has an easy 4wd most of the way up. There is an abandoned resort east of Montgomery Pass. Use the road at the east edge of town in front of a row of cabins. Stay on the main road then take an obvious fork that goes up the north slope. The BM and reg are near N37 56052, W118 18382.
• TRAIL CANYON RD is a few feet south of the jct of Nv 264 and 773. It goes for 15 miles to the TH. I saw a 2wd minivan at the lower TH for Boundary Peak at road's end el 8800. The Chiatovich Rd can be used to return on for a loop. It is a more major road but washboard was worse and it is not as scenic as the Trail Canyon Rd.
• CHIATOVICH CREEK RD is at mp ES 20 on Nv 264. Signs point the way on graded roads to the forest boundary at a fence. Jog right along the fence a short way then go left on rocky 4wd which was still easy for jeeps in 2018. In nearly a mile is a shady creekside camp then the road smooths out for a couple miles to a creek crossing. It looked like a mud hole but was solid. Jeeps can go another half mile then the road shrinks to an ATV track. I was stopped at a fallen tree  at  N37 48230, W118 16938 el 8600. This is one way to climb Dubois. Settlers Way is a graded road that connects north to Middle Creek road. That road is rougher than Chiatovich due to floods. 
• MOUNT DUBOIS via Davis Creek north rim - this is the unsteepest route up to the peak. Use the Chiatovich Creek road. Go about a mile inside the forest boundary then go left on the road up Davis Creek for a mile to the end at a campsite el 7900. Follow a trail on the bank of the creek to the where the rim starts up at N37 47289, W118 15418 el 8400. Go up the rim to 47110, 16445 el 9600 then move to the right edge to get around mahogany. Go a fifth mile then come back to center where the mahogany set up one final Maginot Line to try and stop me. I went low around the left side then soon came back up to center and on up the ridge to a flat at 46481, 18305 el 11950. Then it's easy to go up to the crest and on to 46681, 20101 el 13400 where the rest is in view to the reg at 47000, 20611 el 13500+. A gushing spring is on the crest about a mile before the peak. For the return I wanted to detour into upper Davis Creek, so I retraced back to the rim and went down in the vicinity of 46475, 18015 el 11500, but that is so steep that I should gone down the head of the canyon or the south side. I hit bottom at falls then walked the north bank to 47079, 17010 el 9950 near the Maginot Line where it's easy to merge back onto the rim then retrace back to the start. The ascent took 5 and a half hours, the return took 4 and a half hours but might take only 3 and a half if I didn't take the detour. But the detour is worth it. The first 3/4 mile has some light brush then more is at el 10000, then it's clear above 10000. If I'm a backpacker with only a car, I can drive all but the last 2 miles. Then I walk the road to the end and on nearly a mile to el 8400 and set up near the creek. There are places to camp on the rim, the last is at 47154, 15899 el 8900 but no water. The hardcore can go up the rim to the Maginot Line. The reading there is 47170, 16655 el 9750. Then it's easy to merge into upper Davis. The last good camp I saw there is a grove at 46528, 17612 el 10400 with a creek. It looked easy to climb out of the canyon to the south rim. The spring near Dubois is at 46362, 20003 el 13100. I saw no sign of humanity in upper Davis, but there are some ancient cow chips. The falls are at el 10550 with a spring on the south bank. Posted September, 2018.
• DAVIS MOUNTAIN el 9400+ is a moderate hike. Use the Chiatovich Creek road. Go about a mile inside the forest boundary then go left on the road up Davis Creek. After .6 mile the road turns rocky el 7700. I parked there and walked the remaining half mile to the end el 7900 where there is a good camp. I kept going on a foot trail for 350 feet where I could cross the creek then went up a shady slope at N37 47733, W118 14928 el 8000. I just kept going up to what seemed to be the high point at 46916, 14238 but couldn't find the Indian benchmark. Then I walked SW down the rim to a game trail at 46721, 15389 el 9000 that got me to the last saddle. I dropped down there to the site of the Von  Schmidts marker, but that had gone missing too. It was easy to walk back on the east bank of Davis Creek. I saw obsidian flakes along there. 4 hours with nearly 2000 gain. Some light brush. Posted 2018.
• MOUNT HOGUE  and MOUNT DUBOIS have easiest access via Indian Creek. Turn off Nv 264 at mp ES 18.1. at the sign for Indian Creek Rd. Northbound trucks can take a shortcut at mp ES 16.7. The road had been bladed in 2014 for 5 miles to the mouth then it goes 4wd. At just over 7 miles is the main fork. Go right for another 4 miles, and a over a mile of that is rubbly. Jeeps can get to a turnaround at  the first switchback reading  N37 44723, W118 16081 el 9300. Hike up the shrinking road to brushy road on the left at 44436, 16548 el 10000. There is a path thru the brush. Also, another road forking left about 300 feet sooner might merge with the same path. It's a spotty hiker trail that goes on the old road then ascends a tree lined ridge at 44162, 16539 el 10400. The trail goes parabolic up the ridge then eases up and goes left to get on the high plateau. The trail fades and you follow the easy plateau to a rock shelter at 43887, 17114 el 11750. Now you have to go down a little to cross a saddle for the final push to the summit of Hogue at 44013, 18280 el 12700. The only running spring I found along the route in September was at 43999, 17872 el 12300. I didn't go to Dubois but it's an easy but long walk along the crest to get at it. The main left fork of Indian Creek has mine relics and a trail to CHIATOVICH FLAT. Drive up the left fork for nearly 2 miles to a gate which was open in 2013. The road as far as the gate is better than the right fork road. Jeeps can go another half mile on worsening road to a large flat in the canyon bottom at el 8400. Now the road shrinks to a rubbly ATV track. Hike up the track to where the trail forks  to the right at 44503, 13851 el 8750. It goes up the left side of a wide canyon for a tenth mile then starts climbing the left slope. It's easy to follow until el 9800 where it gets faint at a clearing. It goes up the clearing and on to a large fallen tree trunk at 43931, 13799. It soon tops out at el 10400.  I went back and rode the ATV track to the end  at el 9500. From there I hiked a brushy ridge to Chiatovich Flat. I'll never do it that way again. The trail is the best way. There are nice meadows at the flat el 10000+ and no horses or cattle. A good looking forest is on the south side of Cabin Creek.  It would make a good base camp for Hogue and Headley. If that trail is the only way to get cattle up there, then grazing is over. Posted 2014.  2020 update - the road in the main canyon was repaired but it's hard on paint and has a lot more bumpy little rocks. The left fork is driveable until a trench at 45598, 13394 el 7550. There is a turnaround. Large OHVs are getting around the left side but not sure about jeeps. There are no more big obstacles until the gate near the state line. The road is a goner beyond there. Both sides of the road have been posted at the gate but there was no sign or lock on the gate. I infer it's OK to cross to get to the trail. I walked up the trail and over to the rim of Cabin Creek. There is no trail down into it as the topo shows. That took me a bit over 4 hours. The trail wasn't affected by the deluge. The only water I saw on the plateau in late September was a trace at 43404, 14231 el 10200.
• LEIDY CREEK TRAIL - this trail goes to springs el 10500 near Perry Aiken Flat. The road leaves Nv 264 at mp ES  12.5.  The road is  bumpy for about 4 miles to the mouth of the canyon, then it's a jeep road up canyon for another 4 miles or so, then it shrinks to an ATV track then ends shortly at N37 41844, W118 13784 el 8300. The trail departs to the left at 42053, 13358 el 8000 and goes up a creekbed for a third of an air mile then switches up the left bank to a tiny spring in a meadow el 8550. It goes on up a creekbed from there then switches left at 41721, 13407 el 8650 and up to a ridge. It goes up the ridge and levels off at el 9600 and fades. It resumes again at 41456, 13146 el 9700 then on to 41286, 13208 el 9850 and takes a minor dip at 40706, 13404 el 10600 for the remaining 700 feet to the springs. A good shady campsite el 10450 is in a stand of trees a quarter mile before the springs. The flow was small. A funnel would help. A trough told me this trail was for cattle, but I saw no sign cattle were ever there. A good viewpoint is less than a fifth mile to the south. A roaring creek can be seen and heard flowing out of a high basin in one of the north forks of Perry Aiken Creek. I spent 4 hours with 2600 gain. Brush was very light. The topo is generally correct but the trail switches more than the topo shows. If I were to backpack here, I would drive at least to the mouth el 6000. That is always passable because there's an intake to service. I would have water up canyon to the Cabin Creek fork at 42268, 12681 el 7650. It has the perennial stream. If the Leidy Creek fork is dry there, which it was that day, that would mean no more water until the springs at the end of the trail. The tiny spring at el 8550 had enough water that day, but can't be counted on. I believe I could get from the mouth to the the campsite el 10450 near the springs in 6 or 7 hours. It's hard to find a better backpacking area in the Great Basin. Posted September, 2018.
• CREST BACKPACK ALTERNATE - a popular route to run the crest is to go over White Mtn Peak then keep going north and drop down at Middle Creek, but that's a killer shuttle. Another option is to use the Leidy trail to get on the crest just north of White Mtn Peak. Then just take a side trip up the peak and come back then walk on to Middle Creek or even Davis Creek for the descent. Posted 2018.
• PURPLE SAGE RD is at mp ES 9. It goes to the mouth of Perry Aiken Cyn. 4wd.
• McAFEE CREEK has a substantial flow. Turn off Nv 264 at mp ES 5.4 which is right at a cattleguard. Go west .4 mile to a fork which is right after a power line. The left fork goes to Iron Creek and Toler Creek, both dry at the mouth where roads end. The right fork goes to McAfee Creek in about 2.2 miles then keeps going along the creek for 3/4 mile to a washout. You can walk another 700 feet to a peculiar concrete structure then it gets too brushy. There are some shady tent sites along the creek. These roads are easy 4wd on smooth, slightly soft sand. The last 3/4 mile of road along McAfee Creek is a bit rocky. Toler Creek has rock house ruins at the mouth. Posted 2014.
• FURNACE CREEK has a road up it but is closed to motor vehicles at the mouth to protect the riparian habitat. The smoothest road to the mouth is off Nv 264 at mp ES 2. The locked gate is at N37 33670, W118 01050 el 5600. I hiked 2 miles up the canyon along a small stream. The road is easy to follow when it's up on the bank, but gets tricky when it runs along the creekbed. Numerous bogs make it hard to stay dry. I stopped at 33034, 02981, el 6500 because wading shoes would be needed for ankle deep bogs. For a shorter hike, aim for a big creekside cottonwood tree at 33077, 02255 el 6100. It would take less than an hour to get there. Take a ground cloth and have a picnic. Right there at that cottonwood is where the road drops into the creekbed then goes up a short distance then climbs out on the left. Posted 2014.
• INDIAN GARDEN CREEK had a road up it, but has overgrown. Use an easy 4wd road at mp MNO 6.8 on Ca 266. Go about 1.2 miles to the new wilderness boundary. I made a loop up canyon then down the rim of Cottonwood Creek.  I walked to a fork at the mouth and stayed right into the canyon. At about 2.2 air miles from the start, I stayed right at a main fork el 5850. At el 6300 I crossed a small stream to get on the left bank where I could see a trail. That was the last water. At N37 30872, W118 01838 el 6850 is where I climbed up a ridge on my left. I saw more than half a dozen rock rings on the ridge as I went up to the plateau el 8000+. I saw 2 oddball rings in a streambed at 30167, 02425 el 8050. Rings are scattered on top, a good one is at 30047, 02484 el 8100. I went on to a saddle at 29826, 02337 then another on the rim of Cottonwood Creek at 29387, 02059 el 8250 with a bad ring. A good ring is up the rim at 29378, 01892. Then I went down the rim to a ring at 29119, 01728 el 8100 then one at 28789. 01343 el 8050. I kept going to 2 rings at 28745, 01066 el 7900 then dropped down an easy ridge there and landed on a square ring at 28757, 00882 el 7650 in a gorgeous canyon. Downstream .13 mile is a ring on the far right bank then there are more good rings along the streambed. I goofed and stayed in the canyon to far, but should have gone up to a saddle on the east rim at 28403, 00040 el 7550 then skirted west along peak 7667 then on down the rim to N37 27651, W117 58656 el 6650 where an easy ridge goes down to Cottonwood Creek el 5800. I had a cycle there but a mtn bike would work too. This is an 8 hour hike with nearly 2000 noticeable gain. Indian Garden Creek has some light brush and short thickets that are easy to get around. With long pants it's not a factor. At the last spring on the map el 6450 it clears up and shorts work the rest of the way. The pinyon forest here is the main attraction. That's what attracted the Indians. Posted 2020.
• COTTONWOOD CREEK is lined with shady campsites. Turn off Ca 168 at mp INY 54.6 which is right at the county line. A graded road goes half a mile to  the creek then a crude road goes 4 miles up the creek. Cars might get to the first of 3 fords about a mile up the crude road. Mtn bikes would work on this road because it's packed sand. Overlooks of the creek are west on 168. Go west on 168 from the county line for 1.8 miles to a 4wd road forking to the right. Go 3/4 mile on that to a fork. Right goes a mile to an overlook. Staying straight at the fork goes past mines to an upper overlook in nearly 3 miles. These roads are smooth packed sand. Posted 2014. A good ride leaves camp going south to Eureka Valley for 13 miles. Then go left all the way to 266. Go left for a mile then left into Sylvania Canyon. After leaving the mouth a road goes straight across the valley to the Eureka rd. About 40 miles.
• CHOCOLATE MOUNTAIN (Piper BM) el 7700 has a trail all the way and as of 2020 it's obvious enough that a GPS isn't needed. Drive to Gilbert Summit on Ca 168 at mp INY 51 (using the south side mileposts). Go south nearly half a mile on an easy 4wd road to a closed road on the right at a sign for Piper Mountain Wilderness. Some 2wds can make it to the TH. Hike the closed road a short way to a fork. Both forks go around a hill, but the left one is shorter. When the left fork fades, you can see the right fork a fifth mile ahead. Get on it then it goes into a canyon and thru an old gate. Now it gets faint, but it goes up a right fork reading N37 24694, W117 56480 el 6800. The road tops out on the crest and turns toward the peak. At 24700, 55774 is a foot trail that goes up to the Piper BM. On the way down is a trail forking to the right, but it doesn't go all the way down. I went directly back to the start down a ridge at 24874, 55912 el 7300.  3 hours, 1500 gain. This trail may have been built by the college kids. The easy 4wd road goes on south for 15 miles to the paved road in Eureka Valley. Some rocky sections. Posted 2014, 2020.
• WYMAN CREEK ROAD leaves Ca 168 at mp INY 47.3. It's 16 miles to the main graded road on the crest of the White Mtns. The first couple of miles to the ruins of White Mountain City are easy. There are some nasty spots in the middle section that I wouldn't attempt in a 4wd without a locker. I made it easily on a heavy dirt bike. Posted 2014.
• MOUNT NUNN el 7830 is south of Deep Springs College. Turn off Ca 168 at mp INY 43.8. Go east for a mile on a crude road running along the south side of a  fence and you'll come to a T. Turn right on this better road and go 3.7 miles to a closed road on the left. Hike from there less than half a mile to the mouth of a major canyon reading N37 18417, W118 00040 el 5100. Go up the creekbed, easily negotiating boulders. Then at N37 18329, W117 59758 el 5600 get on the right bank to pass some huge boulders. About 400 feet after getting on the right bank, you have to go up the steep right slope to the rim. Aim for N37 18257, W117 59632 el 6100. The slope is easier than it looks because you can zigzag. Once on the rim, go up keeping right of center to avoid boulders. You'll top out on a rim at N37 18214, W117 59564 el 6300. The prettiest part of the hike begins here. Now drop down from the rim a little into a sandy main wash and go east up that in a lovely basin. A boulder jam is encountered at N37 18075, W117 59259. Bypass it on the left in a gully and soon you're back to open sandy wash hiking. Follow the main wash until it becomes a steeper canyon at N37 17736, W117 59408 el 6700. Now go on up the canyon staying right of the creekbed. It tops out at N37 17438, W117 59382 el 7400. Now you can see the peak a half mile away reading N37 17040, W117 59587. Hike at that level to cross the last saddle. 6 hours, 2900 gain. If I were going to hike one of the steep ridges to the peak, I would choose one that tops out on the crest just south of  the peak. The reg had a metal kodak can with an entry by Doug Powell 1950.

Silver Peak Range, Nevada

  Hot springs with Icehouse Peak on the right.

 Collapsed Indian dwelling

                 

Mud Springs narrows

                                   

Peculiar treeless high benches.

                                                                             

DYER has groceries, a shady RV park, and 24 hour gas.

• HOT SPRINGS ROAD leaves Nv 264 at mp ES 19.7. It's 7 miles to the springs and restroom. A weeks worth of hikes can be done using the hot springs as base camp. The road goes on across the range to the town of Silverpeak. Many forks are encountered after the hot springs, but just stay on the widest, most used road. It jogs north a short way then crosses lake beds then takes an eastward path thru the range. In 2013, there were signs for Mineral Ridge that could be followed. The only shade is at the pass. Just over 9 miles past the hot springs is a road on the left going up a wash, right at the foot of Rhyolite Ridge. That would be a good camp area.
• ICEHOUSE PEAK el 8550 towers 4000 feet above the hot springs. Turn south off the hot springs road at N37 49809, W117 54408 and go up a sandy wash on a mine road. In a half mile the road crosses to the right over a low ridge and into Mud Spring Wash. Jeeps can't drive up the wash, but cycles can make the mile up the wash to 48106, 53793 el 5750 then climb up the right slope into a low saddle. Now you're on the long NE ridge that goes to the summit. At el 7000 some minor rock outcrops are in the way but are easily passed on the right. At el 7300 are 2 big crags. Go around the right side of those on a sheep trail and the last saddle comes into view. It's easy to go along the right side and up into the saddle at 46928, 54778 el 7850. There are no more crags so just go straight up. At el 8050 it eases up and is just an easy stroll thru a pristine pj forest to the high point at 46281, 55444. No sign of humanity. To make a loop, use a sheep route on the east ridge to drop back into Mud Spring Wash. Walk down the east ridge to a cliff at el 7600. Go left a few feet to 46468, 54620 el 7550 to a sheep trail that goes along the base of the cliff and back to the center of the ridge. Then go down and take a ridge branching left to a viewpoint at 46512, 54364 where the rest of the ridge down to the wash is in view.  Once back down, you walk the easy wash back. One side trip to consider in the wash is the narrows in the main fork at 46034, 53775. It is visible from the summit. The loop took me 4 and a half  hours with nearly 3000 gain but I rode a cycle up the wash to el 5750. Jeeps have to add over a mile each way of walking in the wash. 2wds will have over 2 miles road/wash walking each way.Add nearly an hour for the narrows side trip. Posted 2013, 2017. 
• ARGENTITE PEAK el 8350 is what I call the one on the west rim of Argentite Canyon. I made a loop up the jeep road on the canyon floor then back on the rim. I saw nearly 2 dozen rock rings. The jeep road leaves the hot springs road at N37 48518, W117 51055. I parked on it at 46861, 51237 el 6700 then walked on up the road to a side canyon at 45463, 49737 el 7600. I followed that to a saddle el 7800 on the rim but took a short detour to a mine road at 45272, 49640 el 7700 that leads to a deep shaft with wooden ladder. I went up the slope from there to a road that goes to the saddle and ends then I just went up the easy ridge. Rock rings started showing up, the  first good one at 45312, 50132 then one at 45338, 50178. The summit is just beyond with some survey junk at 45394, 50335. I went down the other side a few feet to a small plateau where it started raining rings. I saw 3, the best at 45402, 50470 then I went down to a saddle at 45559, 50438 el 8100 where there are 3 or 4 rings. I stayed on the rim to another good one at 45630, 50423 then another at 45751, 50597. I kept going north along the left side of peak 8246 to a good ring at 45951, 50693 then an average one at 46014, 50758. Just past that is a double ring then I went on up along the left side of peak 8266 and saw a good ring at 46148, 51553. There are bound to be more around there. I kept going down the north ridge to 46287, 51575 el 8100 where I skirted left of boulders. I could see a minor bump ahead, I went over it and stayed on the center of the north ridge down to a ring at 46669, 51545 el 7400 then dropped down a drainage on the right to get back to the start. That took 5 hours with less than a 1000 noticeable gain, but I wandered a lot. It's a good forest with rocky patches. Jeeps can go on thru the canyon and keep going south to the McAfee Canyon road then out on that. South of the Mohawk Mine, the remaining roads had been bladed in recent times. Posted 2020.
• ICEHOUSE CANYON has a jeep track up it for 2 miles. Drive east from the hot springs for a mile and a half and go right at a fork. Go south to another fork at N37 50707, W117 58501. The left fork is the one, but if it looks rough, stay straight for 2 miles then cut left and go SE across a lake bed and hit the left fork. Follow that to the next fork and go left to the mouth.The road had been graded to the mouth sometime after the 2013 floods. Jeeps can go up canyon as far as a rock barrier at 45575, 57083. If that doesn't stop you, there's a boulder jam in another fifth mile that will. There are cottonwoods about half way that make a good camp spot on hot days. The best way to see this area is to hike a loop using the west rim.  Park at a side canyon at N37 45719, W117 57492 el 5600 then it's a 20 minute walk up canyon to the boulder that blocks vehicle travel. Keep going up the main canyon staying left at tricky forks to a fork at 44024, 56182 el 6650. Go right up that arm for .42 air mile to another fork then go right for .25 air mile to another tricky fork. Stay left to the last fork at 43410, 56281 el 7100. Go right at that one to a saddle el 7300 on the rim in less than a fifth mile where you turn back. It's obvious how to skirt left of a bump to a rock ring at 43493, 56708 el 7500. Then go up the rim staying just right of center to skirt the next bump then comes a smaller bump. Stay left along that one then comes peak 7813, the highest on the route. Peak addicts can go over it but I skirted along the right side to the saddle el 7450 behind it then peak 7599 is in the way but it can be skirted on the right as well. Keep going down the rim to 44452, 57292 el 6900 where you could likely drop down into the canyon on the right but staying on the rim leads into it anyway. Then its a smooth streambed back to the start with one problem fall 20 feet or so high. A sheep trail goes along the right side of it then sheep go down a class 3 gully and some go a litte more then down a slope. It's easy. That took 4 hours, 50 minutes with less than 1000 noticeable gain, none steep. Posted 2020.
• ICEHOUSE PEAK WEST ROUTE - a loop can be done up Icehouse Canyon then back on the rim. It's the best hike on this page. Drive into the canyon as far as possible. I could have drove a jeep to el 5800. I walked up the main canyon from there until a thicket got in the way. I went up the right bank to a minor saddle at N37 43922, W117 55904 el 6850 then dropped back down past the thicket but then another one in a few feet caused me to get on the left bank. The canyon bends left there so I followed it to 43582, 55254 el 7200 where I climbed up a ridge on the left. It levels off at el 7550 then I took an easy angle to a spotty trail at 43623, 54920 el 7650. That led me to an unexpected rock ring at 43612, 54808 then I kept going to a saddle on the rim at 43708, 54682 el 8000. I then walked at about that level along the east side of peaks to a saddle on the rim with a huge ring at 44755, 55268 el 8050. Then I walked the top of the rim to a bald, wide saddle el 8100 and then stayed right of center to the last saddle at 45876, 55345 el 8100. That's the descent point. The peak is another half mile north at 46282, 55445 el 8550. At the saddle, sheep go down the center until it narrows then move left to 45838, 55460 where they enter the narrow part. Then it's just a few feet down where they exit on the right and go down to 45902, 55585 el 7400 where they get on an easy ridge down. At el 7000 there is a minor cliff with easy ways down, but it's better to swing wide left on a slope to get on a ridge with white bedrock that leads to point 6437 where there are two options. I went directly down the canyon at 45706, 56561 el 6300 but then had a tricky class 3 chute near the mouth. I think staying in a gully against the left wall would be class 2. It's only a quarter mile more walking to use the next canyon south. That took 7 hours, 20 minutes with about 2000 noticeable gain, no brush. It's a good forest. I saw no water in late September but sheep are gettting it somewhere. Posted 2020       
• BLIND SPRING, JEFF DAVIS SPRING - I hiked to those two springs in September 2017. I was day tripping but it makes for an outstanding backpacking trip with an opportunity to go up Piper Peak. I went in the same way as for Icehouse Peak and started hiking miles downstream from Mud Spring and went thru the narrows to Marijuana Spring where a small stream was flowing in a thicket at N37 45849, W117 53451 el 6750. A marijuana farm here appeared to have recently been discovered, likely from the air. A mountain of trash was left behind. I went along the right side of the thicket for a fifth mile and reached the 4wd road shown on the topo. Then I went on to Mud Spring and found no water, but one next to it had a trace. I kept going up canyon and came to two small dry falls, 10 or 15 feet high, at 44470, 52941 el 7350. They can be bypassed, but the first was easy and the second one had good holds on the left but exposed. Next, I came to Blind Spring at 43782, 52771 el 7700. It had a small stream out of a pipe. I cut over to Jeff Davis Spring at 43753, 53373 el 7700. It had a small stream out of the ground and another small stream 150 feet on down. I walked that canyon back north and came to a fall el 6800 in a narrows at the mouth. It was easy to drop down the right side of the fall on class 2 and walk out thru the narrows then back to the start. There are springs just to the SW of the narrows, but it's a long thicket and I couldn't hear any water. This hike was all smooth washes and easy pj forest except for the fifth mile along the thicket where I was using crummy sheep trails. Horse and burro impact is light. A helicopter I saw might have been taking some out. The springs monitor rode an ATV in on the Mud Spring road, but hardly anyone else comes in. That road took a beating in the 2013 floods. Posted 2017.
• SILVER PEAK el 9300 has a jeep road to el 9100. Use the rough Argentite Cyn jeep road that leaves the hot springs road at N37 48518, W117 51055. It goes up and joins the main north/south road high in the range, but it becomes a hardcore jeep road nearly 5 miles after leaving the hot springs road. The rough stuff starts at 45612, 49942 el 7500. If you get thru, follow the main road south and turn east at N37 43639, W117 49468 el 7800. Follow that past good mine ruins and go left at 43531, 48731 el 8200. The remaining road is tougher but jeeps should have no trouble. The road tops out at a tower. The peak is half a mile north. A sheep trail goes around to the north side then it's an easy stroll the rest of the way. The main north/south road can be used to get down to the hot springs road at 47645, 47760 but was badly eroded by 2013 floods. The best way into the high country is the route described in the Piper Peak hike.  The main north/south road had been bladed in 2020 going south to north but not far past the Silver Peak turnoff. The Argentite road had been improved and posed no problem for jeeps. Posted 2014, 2020.
• RHYOLITE RIDGE el 8550 is a bizarre natural sculpture. You'll think you're in Utah. Turn north off the hot springs road at N37 47633, W117 47691 and go a mile on 4wd to a 4-way. Either go left up a ridge for a bit over a mile to North Spring or stay straight for about a mile and then go left to the spring. The road ends a third mile past the spring at a knoll el 7450. Walk around the right side of the knoll and go on up the ridge to a cliff band. A break in the cliffs is a gully at 49414, 48317. I moved left to get right under it then zigzagged up bedrock to it. Once thru the gully just go left a short way to the top.The reg is at 49299, 48580. I took a direct route down on steep dirt at 49468, 48267 but I wouldn't want to go up that way. 2 hours, 1100 gain.  The spring had a tiny stream from a pipe in May. Posted 2014, 2018.







• EMIGRANT PEAK el 6780 is in the northern Silver Peak Range. A jeep track is the easiest way up. Take 95 to the ghost town of Coaldale. Get on a road at the eastern edge of the property, just left of the propane tank foundation. Follow this easy 4wd road for about 4 miles to a road on the right at N37 58937, W117 51787. Go right for a mile and a half to a rock outcrop on the right. The correct road goes left into the main wash. Go up the wash, past a decoy road, to 58655, 53004 where the correct road curves right and starts up the switchback. A turnaround is ahead at the upper end of the switchback el 5800. Then you can turn out the lights 'cause the party's over. The road now goes parabolic for 3 or 4 hundred feet to the ridgetop. Rigs with lockers and superb traction can make it. It levels off and you're home free for a couple of miles to the end at el 6400. Then it's a 20 minute hike one way and 400 gain to the reg at 57615, 53929. Figure 3 or 4 hours if hiking from the turnaround. The reg needs a glass jar and better book. I was just looking to kill a cold day in May but this turned out to be pretty good. Great views. Posted 2013.
• RED MOUNTAIN el 8950 is south of the pass where the hot springs road crosses the range. Take the hot springs road to the pass. A spur road goes a short way south from the pass to el 7400 where the standard route starts. There is a jeep road that gets closer. Drive back west to N37 47192, W117 45652 and go south on the jeep road for nearly 2 miles. Then the road goes left up a wash for a mile to the ridgetop el 7600. This road is easy for OHVs and cycles, but jeeps will lose a lot of paint. It's a short hike to the reg at 45593, 45623 but the last 400 feet goes parabolic on scree. 2 hours, 1400 gain. Posted 2013. The jeep road is too far gone, but I didn't check another road to the west that merges with it. It's best to use the pass road. Posted 2018.
• CRYSTAL PEAK el 7050 is an interesting bright colored peak which stands out looking east from the hot springs. Take the hot springs road to a narrow jeep road at N37 49270, W117 52197. Take that for nearly half a mile over a low ridge to a wash where there is a fork. Keep left for a quarter mile and park. Hike up to a saddle between the peak and it's dark neighbor to the right. Then the route is obvious. 2 hours, 1200 gain. Add an hour if using 2wd. Posted 2013.
• VOLCANIC BM el 7400 is the high peak in the Volcanic Hills north of Dyer. Take US 6 to mp ES 10.9 then turn south on an old paved road that soon turns into easy 4wd. Follow it for 3 miles to the end in a canyon el 5500. Hike up the easy wash for a mile to a fork at N37 59088, W118 04983 el 6000. Go up the right fork and soon you see a guzzler up on the left. But keep going up the main canyon to a fall. Go left around the fall on a sheep trail and you enter a large basin. Now it's easy to go right and get on the NE ridge. Follow that to a reg at 58699, 06332. Another reg is south at the BM with a better view. I retraced my steps a third mile then dropped back into the canyon and soon came to a little fall. I stepped down the right side and stayed on trails on the right side all the way to the guzzler. Then it's about a mile down canyon back to the start. 3 or 4 hours, 2000 gain, not steep. I saw sheep on the way up and again coming down. The north slopes are easily accessible from US 6 but you'll be on rocks for nearly the whole hike. Nice colors. Posted 2013, 2017.
• PIPER PEAK el 9440 is the highest in the range. Turn off Nv 264 on to Eagle Rd at mp ES 4.8. Go east to a T which is McAfee Rd. Turn left and stay on the good main road up into McAfee Cyn. At the head of the canyon is a 4wd going left to the lower spring. But stay on the main road a little more to another 4wd road in a wash at N37 40151, W117 54492 el 7300. 2wds can make it this far. Go up the 4wd road nearly half a mile to a turnaround in the canyon and park. The road narrows after that. Hike a short distance to the upper spring and thicket at the end of the road. It had a fast drip in October. Go left around the thicket then come back to the right at a gap in the brush. Shortly after that is a sheep trail on the right side of the creekbed at 40720, 54735. That trail goes a long way on the right side just above the creekbed until the creekbed comes up to meet it. Then go on up the creekbed to a fork at 41143, 54621. Go up the right fork to a saddle then go left up the slope to the BM at 42257, 54531. No reg. 4 hours, 2000 gain. The west ridge of the canyon also works but there are a lot of rock piles to weave around. The McAfee Rd turns into easy 4wd and goes over the divide and down a scenic canyon for 5 or 6 miles to a T which is the main north/south road high in the range. It can be used to get to the Silver Peak hike.
• WHITE WOLF CYN RD departs the highway just south of the state line. It goes for 15 miles to join the McAfee Rd at the divide. It's an easy road but 4wd because of sand traps.
 



Rock ring on the rim of Icehouse Canyon






Icehouse Canyon