Nopah Range Wilderness

Agave pit in the high basin between Nopah Peak and Nopah BM.

Charred wood in a cave downstream from the agave pit.

NOPAH BENCHMARK el 6400 is the high point of the Nopah Range. The SE canyon is the easiest route. Drive to a faint path at the wilderness boundary along side the Tecopa highway at N35 57879, W115 59759 el 2800. Hike the path NW up the valley for a couple miles. Then it makes a hard left to the west a short way and then goes NW again. Pick it up again at  N35 59381, W116 01902. At about 3 and a half air miles from the start, the path goes too far left, so just stay on a trajectory to the head of the valley. Go up the valley then it shrinks to a gully and puts you in a saddle on a ridge at N36 00791, W116 03989 el 5000. Go up the ridge on a heavily used sheep trail until it levels off at 5800. Now you're on the rim of a small basin between the peaks. Nopah Peak is to the right. Nopah BM, the highest in the range, is to the left. It's best to drop a little into the basin then work over to the north ridge which has less scree than the east ridge. The reg is at N36 00383, W116 04839. No doubt you'll be stunned like I was to see an agave pit in the basin at N36 00785, W116 04482. There seems to be no limit to where the Indians could go. I went downstream from the pit for 4/10 air mile and found a tiny cave on the right bank with some charred wood inside. Less than 10 minutes down from that is where the serious falls start. 7 hours, 3700 gain without any side trips. Add an hour and 600 gain for the side trip to Nopah Peak. On the descent, when I got to the saddle el 5000, I stayed on the ridge and went up a little then used  a sheep route skirting little crags on their right. About 600 feet past the saddle I came to a major gully and went down that to the main canyon floor. This is only good as a down route because it's steeper. The coordinates for the valley path are N35 57879, W115 59759 then N35 58087, W116 00665 then N35 58634, W116 01411 then N35 59202, W116 01670 then N35 59381, W116 01902. Missing the path is not a disaster as the valley floor is not too rough. If I were to backpack in, I would only go as far as some bedrock in the main wash at N36 00431, W116 03269 el 4200 and set up dry camp. This route is nearly 14 miles roundtrip, whereas the SW ridge route is about 11, but much steeper. SHORT VERSION - a mile each way can be shaved off by starting near the dry lake but it's steeper and won't save time. Go north on the east side road from the Spanish Trail highway for a mile and a quarter then walk to the left bank of a wash at N35 59527, W116 01123. Walk that until gullies get in the way then climb up toward a small block on the skyline. Part way up there is an obvious shelf that leads at an easy angle to the main saddle on the rim of the SE canyon. I prefer this route because it's not as monotonous. Posted 2022

• NOPAH BENCHMARK WEST ROUTE - the south ridge to east ridge is the easiest route on the west side but nobody uses it.  Take highway 178 to mp 48.4 then go .6 mile on a graded road to where it bends right. Stay straight on easy 4wd on private land for about a mile to a fork in a clearing reading N36 00410, W116 10510, a fifth mile past a tank. Take the right fork and go a mile toward the peak to a T well inside BLM land. I parked there, but should have gone south from there for over a  mile to get half a mile closer. Walk the flats to the south ridge at N35 59253, W116 05224 el 3500. Go up that to a sheep trail at N35 59971, W116 05034 el 4750 that skirts a canyon then keep going up on the easy ground to the east ridge el 5200. It's obvious how to go on up to the summit at N36 00383, W116 04839. I skipped the peak and stayed on sheep trails at el 5300 then crossed a minor canyon and on up to the left side of a big rock knob reading N36 00572, W116 05284 el 5400. I went down the ridge from there for a  tenth mile to a perch where the abyss of upper Nopah Falls is in view. The roundtrip to the peak and back is a  dozen miles with 4300 gain, taking 8 or 9 hours. It doesn't get steep until the east ridge at el 5200. The SE canyon route is a couple of miles longer, but it doesn't have private land issues or 4wd roads. And you can access Nopah Peak as a side trip. Posted 2017.
• PEAK 1582 (meters) is one of the many minor peaks on the crest between Pahrump Peak and Nopah Peak. Nobody goes in there, but sheep have a decent route up. Take highway 178 to mp 48.4 then go .6 mile on a graded road to where it bends right. Stay straight on private land for about a mile to a fork in a clearing a fifth mile past a tank. Get on the correct road there at N36 00476, W116 10512 and stay on it to a T at dry Twelvemile Spring. Walk the rocky flats to a wash at 01716, 08249 el 2450 and go up that for half an air mile to a fork. Get on a faint trail between the forks marked by cairns. It has to be Indian. It goes to a minor ridge at 02185, 07320 el 2800 and heads towards the mouth of the main canyon ahead but fades in the main wash. Follow the main canyon around a left bend then go straight up the left side at 02888, 06445 el 3300 to get on the west rim. A sheep trail goes up the rim then around the left side of a crag where the rest of the route up the rim comes into view. It levels off at el 4800 then joins the crest where a good sheep trail goes south to peak 1582. For a shortcut back, I dropped down the south side of the peak in a canyon reading 03245, 05808 el 4950 and went down thru a choke point with a few short class 3 drops, the highest being 5 feet. The canyon opens up at el 4400 then I went right to a smooth flat ridge at 03075, 06117 el 4450. I knew I was home free from there because I saw the remaining route from the west rim. I went straight down the other side of the ridge to 03074, 06196 el 4200 and then dropped down to the right in a gully, encountering some steep class 3 bedrock along the way. At el 3800 I went left out of the gully and followed a ridge down to the main canyon that I started in. That took me 8 hours with about 2000 gain from the flats. It's class 2 to the peak, then some class 3 the way I came down but I never thought I had a chance of falling. I saw 3 large cairns on the crest. Posted 2017.
• CHOKESTONE CANYON is what I call the enticing canyon 2 and a half miles south of Pahrump Peak. Take highway 178 to mp 48.4 then go .6 mile on a graded road to where it bends right. Stay straight on private land for about a mile to a fork in a clearing a fifth mile past a tank. Get on the correct road there at N36 00476, W116 10512 and stay on it to a T at dry Twelvemile Spring. Turn left there for a mile and a half then walk to N36 02900, W116 08943 el 2400. Don't drift left or you'll have more rocks. Then go on to 03129, 08624 el 2500 and stay on the high ground to 03796, 07809 el 3050. Drop down there then walk the left bank into the narrows. A 5 foot chokestone stopped me in the narrows. I'll go back with a gator hook and make a loop hike.  The road goes on 2 and a half miles to the highway at mp 53.5. It's easy 4wd but has a million tiny dips. Posted 2o17.
• PAHRUMP PEAK el 5700 is the major peak at the north end of the range. 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.
• 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. The 4wd road could get closed. Posted 2014.
• EMIGRANT BM SOUTH RIDGE - the long south ridge is a good way up then return along the west base. All bumps on the ridge are easily passed on the right. A topo app such as peakbagger is indispensable and GPS won't be needed.  I parked on the Spanish Trail highway at N35 54531, W116 00848 el 2700. I walked to the southern tip where an Indian trail crosses. It connects Pahrump to Tecopa. It was the last sign of humanity I would see except at the summit. I went up then along the right side of peak 1201 to  55322, 01619 where I could walk a sheep trail into the saddle. Then up to 55520, 01892 where I leveled off around peak 1285. Then on to a tiny saddle next to peak 1487 at 56033, 02459. Next, I used a sheep trail next to peak 1668 at 56599, 03104 then at 56894, 03306 there is a trail running low on the left. 800 feet beyond there is the last big bump. I went over the right shoulder and on to the reg at 57644, 03563 el 5874. I retraced back a mile and a half and dropped west at 56460, 03098 el 5350. At el 5000 there are two ridges to choose from. Sheep use the left one. I followed their trail on down to a saddle el 4600 on the divide and stayed on it left of center until I could see and easy down to the main wash. I went down that then at two air miles from the start I moved far left into a major wash. That's easy but it might be even easier to use the west bank of that wash. It all goes downhill back to the start . 7 hours with 3200 gain plus whatever the little bumps add but I didn't calculate that. It never gets very steep. This is one of the better winter hikes around Pahrump. Posted 2021.
• NOPAH FALLS is what I call the series of dry falls that drains the south side of Nopah Peak. It drops over 1000 feet in a third mile. It's an easy hike to the base but rocky enough to use thick sole shoes. Take highway 178 to mp 48.4 then go .6 mile on a graded road to where it bends right. Stay straight on easy 4wd for about a mile to a fork in a clearing reading N36 00410, W116 10510, a fifth mile past a tank. Each fork goes to a T at the wildnerness boundary. The right fork is the one to use if climbing the peak. The left fork is better for the falls hike. Take it to the T then go right for .7 mile and park. Mtn bikes could make it. Walk the flats to 00710, 07789 then keep going to the gorge between the two high peaks. A viewpoint inside the gorge  at 00773, 05834 provides a good view of the lower falls. It takes 90 minutes to get there. I went on and bypassed the first fall on the right to get to the base of the high fall, but there's nothing special there. These roads turn to mud after storms. Land owners could block the roads. Posted 2017.
• NOON BENCHMARK el 4200 is the high peak of the South Nopah Wilderness. The south ridge looks to be the easiest route. Use the graded Furnace Creek Rd on the south side of the peak. To avoid private land, turn off at N35 48984, W116 06746 then go half a mile on easy 4wd to a washout. Bypass on the right then go another third mile to a fork. Bikes make it that far. Go left on bumpy little rocks for half a mile to a wash then hike up a ridge at 49996, 06339. At 50440, 05394 level off to the left into a canyon to get at the main saddle on the south ridge. Go up the ridge to 50840, 05316 then go left on a sheep route to the west ridge for the last bit. Nearly 3 hours, 1500 gain. Posted 2023.
• EMIGRANT CANYON is what I call the one draining north to the highway just west of Emigrant Pass. It's the most enjoyable canyon in the range. A one way hike to the end then down to the west is a good one. I parked at the 620 meter line on the highway reading N35 53073, W116 07101 then rode my Zizzo 3 miles up the highway to the canyon. I strolled up to the saddle at the end then up the ridge to the saddle north of peak 1119. I went left a bit on a sheep route to 51374, 04682 and could see a gully below that might work. I went down it and hit a drop but moved left to a 10 foot class 3 drop. I scooted down on my butt and left cairns. A 15 foot line and hook would help. I hit bottom and could see there might be a route straight off peak 1119, and I'll try it next time. I walked on down a smooth wash and got on the right bank at 52157, 05666 but the left bank soon looked better. I had to cross to it anyway then back to the right bank after a hill then left around the next hill and then good pavement down to the highway. 3 hours, 11 minutes and 200 feet noticeable gain. The bike ride was half an hour in lowest gear. Posted 2023.
• OLD SPANISH PEAK el 3900+ is what hikers call the one north of Emigrant Pass on the Spanish Trail highway. Park at the pass next to a cable fence el 2900 and walk a closed road along the divide to a monument marking the Spanish Trail, but it's likely on an Indian trail. The real trail is the next track south. But go up the ridge from the monument to the reg and survey junk at N35 53871, W116 04082. 2 hours, 1000 gain, rocky. Posted 2021.
• GUZZLER PEAK el 4937 is what I call the one two miles south of Emigrant BM. I made a loop on the main ridges. Park on the Spanish Trail highway and walk 2 miles to a main wash at N35 54986, W116 02895 el 3150. Go up and stay left in it then exit up the right side at 55014, 03306 el 3250 to get on the ridge. Go up to el 4150 then take an easy angle right of center for a tenth mile to 55489, 03774 el 4250 and level off for another tenth mile to merge back with the ridgetop. The ridge drops a little to a saddle then walk to the right and drop a little more with a guzzler in view below. It's obvious how to go on up to the reg at 55979, 03631. Then just follow the SE ridge down which is also the rim of the deep canyon to the east. Walk it down to the flats and out. The Indian trail out of Emigrant Pass crosses at 54255, 02190 el 2850. 5 hours, 2000 noticeable gain. Good pavement walking here. Posted 2021.
• GUNSIGHT MINE is one of the better mine hikes around. Drive out of Tecopa on Spanish Trail Highway to the junction with the paved Furnace Creek Rd that goes to China Ranch, but don't turn on it. Keep going straight for 1.2 miles to BLM road #32. Follow that easy 4wd road as it bends left to the end in nearly 4 miles at old buildings with lots of nails. It's mostly ebikeable. Get on a trail behind a cabin at N35 50644, W116 07367 el 2350. It crosses a wash then goes up the left side of a canyon to a tunnel nearly a fifth mile from the start. The tunnel is cut into bedrock and looked safe. I splits with one passage still having rails. Next, the trail drops into the creekbed and ends and so just walk up the easy creekbed to high ground between forks at 50603, 06773 el 2750. Go up along the right fork to a saddle el 2900 then follow a good trail back toward the start. It runs high on the south slope of the canyon and passes a lot of mines and one had a hand cranked winch. The trail will come to a dangerous tailings slope, so it's better to climb up a few feet to a tunnel with rails then walk out on a trail from there. That took less than 2 hours, easy. Posted 2019.
• RESTING SPRING INDIAN TRAIL - this trail runs south from the spring across the South Nopah Range Wilderness. It crosses countless gullies but is still an easy 2 hour hike one way.  Drive out of Tecopa on Spanish Trail Highway to the junction with the paved Furnace Creek Rd that goes to China Ranch. Turn right and go 4 miles to a gravel pit on the right and leave a car there. Then go back to the junction and drive the Spanish Trail Highway past Resting Spring Ranch for half a mile to a DIPS sign. Park 350 feet west of it and walk to the rim of a major wash at N35 52202, W116 08974. Walk the rim for nearly a fifth mile then drop left into the major wash. Follow the creekbed and exit to a foundation where the trail can be seen at 51488, 09383. It goes down to the left and across washes to 51339, 09464 to 51195, 09456 to 50653, 09455 to 50551, 09419 to 50122, 09281 to 50000, 09203 to 49777, 09106 to 49630, 09037 then it goes to a point and bends right and crosses RR tracks at 49149, 08876 then starts fading. The last quarter mile of trail to the gravel pit is gone. Posted 2019



Nopah Peak and Nopah BM

The pit in 2022

Trilobite Wilderness, Bristol Mtns

The Castle and peak 1023 to the left.

Castle Mine

Iron Hat Peak

Bristol Mtns Indian trail heading toward Amboy Crater. By this time they had walked a dozen dry miles from the Granite Mtns and still had 30 or 40 miles to Joshua Tree.

Mine equipment lined with bricks in the Bristol Mtns.

Amboy has the only gas in the area. It was more than $2 higher than gas near Joshua Tree in 2017. I put a lot of GPS tracks on peakbagger in 2023.

• CASTLE BENCHMARK el 3842 is the high point of the Marble Mountains. Go south from I-40 on Kelbaker Rd for 1 mile and go east on a gas road. In about 4 miles on this easy 4wd road, park and hike up the easy north ridge to the reg at N34 40686, W115 37038 . 2 hours,1100 gain. Short but dull. ONE WAY VERSION - descending down the SW canyon turns this into a top notch hike. It's the best canyon for 100 mile radius. Walk NW down the main ridge to the lowest saddle next to point 1022 meters. Trails drop down the west end of the saddle. I used the one that goes down along the right side of the drainage and goes down a ridge to bright rock at the bottom. It stays on top of the rock all the way thru to darker ground and hits the creekbed. Soon there is a huge pothole and a small cave on the right bank. A trail goes by the cave then it's easy to stay high until a narrows, saving a quarter mile of boulder hopping. Next comes the interesting narrows with 3 or 4 easy class 3 drops, up to 8 feet high. There is one more tricky drop at a right bend at the 730 meter line. The low right bank shortcuts all that then bend right at the mouth and cut thru a gap at 39763, 39134 then to a road at the wilderness boundary reading 39800, 39929. An ebike there can be used to shuttle back. That took 3 and a half hours. I had no shuttle except for the highway part but had a pleasant 75 minute stroll in washes along the gas road to retrieve my cycle. It would only be a 5 hour hike to do it all from the highway and only needing a shuttle on the highway. Posted 2023.
• CASTLE BENCHMARK SOUTH LOOP - the colorful south canyons can be used to make the best hike on this page. Take Kelbaker Rd south from I-40 for 4.2 miles to road #122 at N34 39545, W115 40540 el 2050. Drive or pedal the crude road for 2/3 mile to the legal end el 2100 then walk the low ground to a canyon at 39843, 38099 el 2250. A pointy peak gets in the way a half mile before the canyon, so stay left around it. Go east up the canyon for .13 mile to 3 forks. Stay far right and go on up to the main saddle el 2350 then on to another saddle at 39786, 37511 el 2500. A good sheep trail starts there and goes to the next canyon where sheep were staring at me. Maybe they expect to be paid for using the trail. Go up canyon and get on the left bank at 39840, 37138 el 2400 then stay on it thru the main saddle el 2650 then shortly to a trail at 40004, 36931 el 2650. Walk that into the main south canyon el 2600 and go up that and get on high ground between forks at 40409, 36601 el 2850. Then just stroll up to the SE ridge of the peak at 40570, 36647 el 3000 and head up. At el 3650 it becomes practical to angle to the right and hit the NE ridge at el 3750 then it's an easy fifth mile to the BM, but no reg that I could find. The descent into the canyon to the west is obvious. Walk NW down the main ridge to the lowest saddle next to point 1022 meters. Trails drop down the west end of the saddle. I used the one that goes down along the right side of the drainage and goes down a ridge to bright rock at the bottom. It stays on top of the rock all the way thru to darker ground and hits the creekbed. Soon there is a huge pothole and a small cave on the right bank. A trail goes by the cave then it's easy to stay high until a narrows, saving a quarter mile of boulder hopping. Next comes the interesting narrows with 3 or 4 easy class 3 drops, up to 8 feet high. There is one more tricky drop at a right bend at the 730 meter line. The low right bank shortcuts all that. Then it's a smooth wash and warp factor 8 down to the pointy peak and then retrace from there. That took 5 hours with only about 1000 feet of strenuous gain. SHORT VERSION - I made a shorter loop by skipping the peak and cutting thru a saddle to the south. When I got to the south canyon, I went up to a left fork and got on the right bank at 40312, 36658 el 2750. I walked up that fork and soon I could easily merge into the creekbed. I went on up using the right bank intermittently and thru the main saddle then on a trail to another saddle at 40537, 37263 el 3200. I went down the creekbed there and came to the end of bright rock where it turns tedious. To avoid that, I went over a bright saddle on the right rim to a scree gully at 40664, 37336 el 3100 and walked down that canyon to the main canyon where I merged with the route above. That loop took 4 hours with a lot less gain. It's the best way to tour these bright rock canyons. Posted 2021.  A shorter hike starts at the same TH. Walk to the end of road #122 to a cave in the bright rock. A sheep trail goes up around the right side. I just followed the unsteepest route up until I hit dark ground and then went left on a trail to the next canyon and followed it back. Major potholes are on the way back at 40648, 39108 el 2350. That took 2 hours, easy hike. Posted 2018.
• THE CASTLE is a bright colored formation east of the Castle Mine. It's the most interesting area in the range. Take the Kelbaker Rd to 4wd road #138 at N34 34437, W115 38640. Follow that to a tricky fork at 37536, 36821 then go left a fifth mile to another fork and go right. The road fizzles just over 5 miles in at a cabin at the Castle Mine. I went up the obvious canyon to the Castle and used a steep gully to get on top. A sheep trail runs to the north end then goes along the ridge. On the east side of the ridge at 39078, 35503 el 2900 is where peak 1023 (meters) comes into view. Sheep trails go up to the summit el 3356. I retraced from the summit back to the Castle and dropped to a bulldozer track el 2650.that took me down to the flats. That took me 3 and a half hours with 1300 gain. It takes an hour to drive a 4wd in there. The road is tedious with rocks and deep sand but has no major obstacles. I tried going out to the west but soon gave up. Posted 2017.
• PEAK 1023 NORTH LOOP - a better hike than the one above is to come in from the gas road to the north. I went 4 and a half miles in on that from the Kelbaker Rd and parked at some dirt piles about a fifth mile east of the closed road running south from 846T. I walked south and merged with the road and just followed the low ground over saddles to get in the canyon that drains down to the Castle Mine. Over the first saddle is a trail on the right bank where the creekbed starts getting rough. The trail bends around to a faint road that goes over the next saddle into the canyon that goes to the mine. I turned up a fork at 39227, 36044 that has an old road. It fades but I picked up a trail at 39079, 35504 that leads to a drainage with bright bedrock. A sheep trail goes up along the right bank and bends into a fork that leads to the main ridge, just left of bright cliffs. The ridge goes but an old coot route is less steep. It's a sheep trail running right of center to 39078, 35503 el 2900 where peak 1023 (meters) comes into view. A trail runs along a cliff base then up to the main ridge. The last bit to the summit goes parabolic but can be zigzagged. Then I went down the north ridge to the saddle before peak 1001 and levelled off on a trail right of center. I left ducks along that and walked it to 39484, 35444 and stayed level on it then soon it drops a little to the saddle. I went thru and down to the left for smoother ground then thru the saddle at point 859T reading 40206, 35160. Then I went down to the flats in easy washes and walked 2 miles back to the start. An ebike stashed there would have saved me some walking. That took 5 hours, 20 minutes and the only gain of any consequence is the 1000 up from the canyon floor to the summit. Posted 2023.
• IRON HAT PEAK el 2589 (789 meters) is what I call the peak NE of the Iron Hat Mine. It's the most dramatic one in the range. Take Route 66 to N34 33707, W115 33677 and turn on road #325. Go 2 and a half miles on easy 4wd and park el 1200 where the road is washed out. Keep walking up the main canyon past the mine and just before peak 643 go up a little ridge at some white rock reading 36831, 32709. In a tenth mile more there is an obvious gully on the right that goes up to the high rim. Then walk a trail that goes along the west side of pointy peak 783. It fades at a saddle but resumes higher at 36530, 32396 and goes into the north saddle el 2350. Then a trail goes up left of center and circles to the summit. 400 feet before the summit a sheep trail goes right of center and around behind the summit then it's easy to walk up to the summit cairn at 36378, 32523. Then retrace to the saddle el 2350 and drop west down the canyon back to the start. 3 or 4 hours with 800 noticeable gain, rarely steep. CAP DOME PEAK el 2986 is over a mile to the NW of Iron Hat Peak. It can be included for a longer loop. From the summit of Iron Hat, a mine track can be seen going up to the east saddle of it. Just retrace back to the main canyon and walk the track to the saddle. From there, a rough sheep route starts up the ridge left of center to avoid big rocks. The reg, placed by G McCleod in 1982, is at 37088, 33453 and mostly signed by sheep counters. That peak name must be in it. I can't remember. Then drop NW down to the major saddle el 2450 and then left into the canyon and go bank to bank to get back. On the flats there is pavement at 36119, 33665 el 1350 for the last bit. That loop took me 5 hours with about 2000 noticeable gain and not very steep but plenty rocky. I'm only doing Iron Hat from now on because it's not so rocky. Another option for the long loop is to go up the fork south of peak 607 to get to the north saddle then up to Iron Hat. Then go on to Cap Dome as above on the sheep trail west of peak 783 and drop down to the main canyon at 36857, 32550. I put a track on peakbagger to make this clearer. Posted 2017, 2023.
• PEAK 3182 is right next to peak 963 meters. A grand loop can be done using a mine road that cuts thru the range up canyon from the Iron Hat Mine. Take Route 66 to N34 33707, W115 33677 and turn on road #325. Go 2 and a half miles on easy 4wd and park el 1200 where the road is washed out. Keep walking up the main canyon past the mine and look for the road on the left bank at 36896, 32854. It goes over a saddle and down the east side of the range and fades. I walked on to the main wash on the north side of peak 646 but it's not as smooth as it looks on the sat image. It's bound to work better to walk the wash south of the peak then cut thru a saddle north of VFBO on the topo. Then go up on the south bank of a drainage which is on the south side of peak 811. Keep going up to peak 963 then it's easy to walk the base of that to get at peak 3182. No sign of humanity there. I walked sheep trails running south along the crest then started dropping on one at 37656, 34466 el 2850. Then on down to a trail at 37586, 34331 el 2650 that leads 300 feet to a saddle where the descent canyon is in view. I went down and to the left along a cliff base to get better terrain then down canyon. The right bank works for a while then I cut over to the left bank at 37371, 34252 and soon dropped to the lower bank. Just before a gorge I got on the left bank and bypassed the whole thing. The wash smooths out and on the flats there is pavement at 36119, 33665 el 1350 for the last bit.6 hours with about 1500 noticeable gain. Rocks are a minor nuisance. I'll do it again. Posted 2023.
• MARBLE BENCHMARK el 2467 is at the south end. At Chambless, get on road #320 at N34 33712, W115 32991. Go north a half mile then turn right and go SE for 2/3 mile then turn left and go a mile to a main fork. Left goes to the trilobite sites, but stay right for a mile and a half to the end el 1200 in a canyon south of the peak. The canyon goes, but the east rim is smoother. Go up the canyon and exit at 35382, 30300 el 1350 then angle up under talus to a saddle el 1600 on the rim. Go on to a sheep trail at 35575, 30483 el 1700. It goes left of center to a saddle el 1750 then stays left and gets fuzzy. Sheep then go to 35508, 30767 el 1950 to skirt around the right side of a bump. Then just keep going up to the reg at 35657, 31058. The last fifth mile is class 2 rock. The survey pole was still standing and the BM is dated 1935. 3 hours, 1300 gain. All roads are easy 4wd. Posted 2017.  PEAK 588 METERS is another easy peak nearby. From the parking area, walk up the main wash to a spotty sheep trail on the left bank at 35302, 29987 el 1300. Follow it up as it bends to the right to a saddle el 1450 then keep going up the rim to the survey junk at 35016, 29471 el 1929. Then just drop back in the canyon and walk it back. Nice canyon. 2 hours, 700 gain.  Posted 2018   
• MARBLE BM CIRCUMNAVIGATION - it's a long but easy loop around the BM. I walked thru the easy canyon south of the peak into Cut Wash then north and back thru the canyon with the Iron Hat Mine. Go east from Chambless for a mile to road #327 at point 248T on the topo. Follow easy 4wd to a fork at point 268T. Parking beyond there would mean a lot of rocks at the end of the hike. I followed the right fork into the south canyon and up a sheep trail at N34 35307, W115 29984 to get around the south side of peak 484 and into Cut Wash. I stayed near the left bank and got on it at 36688, 30893. It's rocky but easy to weave or step over. I went on to 37072, 31117 then to the wash west of point 586 reading 37553, 32028. I went up that to the saddle south of peak 643. I dropped down a sheep trail left of a gully then onto the right bank that leads down a skinny point to the main wash then down that past the mine. At the mouth, I went left on a road that is now a wash and stayed on the high road to 35877, 32943 then cut over to another road at a point. That road goes to 286T and then I left the road at 34498, 31764 for the last third mile.  Ebikes work on these roads. That took 4 hours, 45 minutes and 11.4 miles with hardly any noticeable gain. Posted 2023.                     
• BRISTOL MOUNTAINS INDIAN TRAIL - a trail cuts thru the range near Amboy. It's an easy hike with an easy 11 or 12 mile shuttle. Drive to Amboy and get on a road on the west side of the gas station. It's a good road for half a mile along a dike then another half mile to a gas road. Leave a vehicle there then drive east on Route 66 for 6 miles to Kelbaker Rd. Go north 4.8 miles then go left on a dirt road for .6 mile then walk to the trail near peak 602 at N34 37308, W115 41808.  Go on to 36926, 41964 el 1900 where the trail goes over a hump into the main creekbed. It goes .14 mile up the creekbed then exits up the right bank and on thru a main saddle then down the creekbed to 36659, 42442 el 1850 where it exits up the right bank. It drops back to the creekbed at 36407, 42749 el 1600 then exits on the right bank again at 35679, 43325 el 1250. It fades in another mile then just get on pavement at 35020, 44169 and on down to a curious mine in a quarter mile then out. The hiking part took me nearly 3 hours with hardly any noticeable gain covering about 6 miles. Poor people with only 2wd might have an extra mile or two. If you want a tougher hike, walk from the Mojave Preserve to Joshua Tree like the Indians did and try to figure out where they got water along the way, if they got water. Posted 2018, 2024.    
• ORANGE BLOSSOM PEAKS el 973 meters is what I call two colorful peaks just west of the Orange Blossom Mine in the Bristol Mountains. I made a loop which turned out to be one of the best hikes around Amboy. Go south 1.3 miles on Kelbaker Rd from I-40 and turn west on a good, firm gas road. Go nearly 11 miles to a wash at N34 40482, W115 50334 el 2050. I weaved a cycle a half mile up the wash and it wouldn't help to go any further on this loop. I walked on up the wash to a canyon at 40775, 49684 el 2250 then on to a main fork at 41034, 48923 el 2600. I took the right fork and it took me along the south side of the south peak. I stayed low in the creekbed to the end at a low saddle where the north peak was in view. That peak was too easy to pass up so I went up the south ridge to the summit at 41644, 48456 el 3250. Four sheep were grazing on the ridge. For the return, I went down the canyon between the peaks. At falls, I got on the left rim then dropped back in at 41470, 48575 el 2750. The next fall I went around the right side and down a drainage. It was easy creekbed from there on out to the flats then half a mile back to the start. 3 hours and the only strenuous part was 200 feet or so up the peak, and that could be skipped. ORANGE BENCHMARK el 3450+ would be a half mile detour on this hike. To do it as a separate hike, drive only 4 miles in from Kelbaker Rd and turn on road #990. Go nearly 3 miles to a gate at the Orange Blossom Mine then go left on a jeep road for a third mile to a wash. The wash goes along the south side of the BM. I rode a half mile up the wash then walked on up to get on the easy SW ridge. The reg is at 41126, 47835. Placed in 1983, only Vitz came along later. I didn't try the road to the Lady Lu Mine. Posted 2018.
• LAVA HILLS HIGH POINT el 2300+ is NW of Amboy in a pristine area. Go south 1.3 miles on Kelbaker Rd from I-40 and turn west on a good, firm gas road. Go nearly 13 miles to a sign for Siberia Rd branching north. Turn south there on a faint road and drive half a mile on the high ground then walk the flats to a saddle at N34 40037, W115 52715 el 2050. Go thru then down the left side of a wash on a faint trail and on to 39435, 53368 el 2000. Drop down a wash there then on to a main wash and go right up that one a short way then climb out and walk to the base of the peak. The reg is at 39058, 53505 next to a small dig. For a loop back, walk NW into a main wash then take a right fork at 39293, 53957 el 1950 and go up and over the divide el 2100 then down the wash to a mega wash at 39554, 54490 el 1900. Go north up that to a main fork at 39931, 54251 el 1950. Go left and in .45 air mile there is a 6 foot fall that is tricky for a solo hiker to climb, but the right rim would work to get around it, just get on it ahead of time. The wash is easy again after that then ends. Aim for high ground at 40488, 53752 el 2200 then it's an easy stroll back to the start. 3 and a half hours and the only strenuous part is the 300 feet up the peak. Numerous minor gullies have to be crossed on the way to the peak, but the return leg has none. The Siberia Rd goes 4 and a half miles thru colorful country to a cell tower over I-40. BLM rd #1 runs along the east side of the Lava Hills but has deep sand and a lot of minor dips.Posted 2018. 
• SIBERIA WASH has a pretty section along the east side of Black Ridge BM. The 4wd gas road along the north side of the peak is the simplest way at it. I made an easy loop around the peak. It took 4 hours, 20 minutes. Another idea would be to go over the peak then down the south ridge and back in the wash. Posted 2024.   
• BRISTOL MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS is bordered on the south by I-40. A gate in the south side fence is the best access. Go east from Ludlow for a dozen miles to the gate at N34 43342, W115 57770. It can be seen on the sat image where county road 20410 comes up from Klondike. Go thru the gate then east on the frontage road for a third mile and park. A bike trailer with camping gear was stashed there. Walk under the freeway and pick a route. I was doing the high point el 3622, so I walked to the west canyon at 44292, 57421 el 2450 and walked the bank to a mine. I should have dropped to the wash there and entered a nice little gorge, but stayed high and dropped in later into the gorge. It ends at an easy little fall, but a catclaw needs to be cut out of the way. I kept going in that easy canyon until a 50+ foot fall got in the way. Sheep go up along the right of it. Then they go up a ridge at 45458, 56882 which leads to the summit with a huge cairn on it. A reg is on top of the cairn. I backed off the summit a little then down a slope to the NE that I could see all the way down to the east canyon. I strolled that to the mouth where a road leads back to the start. That took 4 hours with 700 noticeable gain. The west canyon is the main attraction. I'll be back for that and skip the peak. Road 20410 to Klondike is only good for the first mile to the gas road. The gas road is maintained but steep hills need 4wd. It makes for easy access to Black Ridge. Posted 2021.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

  

  The nest is the lowest dark patch on the left side. I couldn't tell what species of bird they are, but they get a whopping good cell signal!

  
  

  

  Sheep hanging around on the Orange Blossom Peaks

  
  

  

  Orange Blossom Peaks

    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Tecopa & Amargosa Canyon Indian Trails

Approaching Ibex Spring

A second trail departing Resting Spring.

The trail on the way to the pass then on to Resting Spring.

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  Slot canyon that attracts all the tourists around China Ranch

  
  

  

  Weird spires in the east canyon of Dolores BM

  
  

  

  The Indian trail on the SE ridge of Dolores BM. This is where it drops off the rim to the river.

  
  

  

  A view of the RR grade and the washouts

  
  

  

  Colors in Dolores Canyon

  

  Map at the China Ranch TH

  
  

  

  Indian trail heading from Dolores BM toward China Ranch

  
  

  

  The Amargosa Canyon trail on the RR grade

  
  

  

  Strange formations in the east canyon from Dolores BM

  

  The Sperry trail has outstanding views.

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  The only spiral I've ever seen.

• Any hikers interested in a guided tour of these trails can find me on Facebook as Nevada Bob. Tecopa has RV campgrounds and a tiny store. The poor peoples' RV park is along the graded Furnace Creek Rd on the south side of the Dublin Hills. I picked up a good VZ cell signal there. I check that road before taking an RV in. Shoshone is the nearest gas. Ibex Pass has a VZ signal.
• RESTING SPRING LOOP - Indian trails can be used to make a loop around the spring with a 2 mile paved shuttle. It's a complex route strictly for Indians and other advanced hikers. Drive east from Tecopa and leave a bike or car near the exit point at N35 51976, W116 10044. Then keep going east 2 more miles and park along the highway. Walk the flats for a mile to N35 53612, W116 08481 el 1850 and drop into a wide wash. Then walk thru a minor saddle into another wash and exit at 54007, 08793 el 1850 then on to the trail at 54837, 09822 el 1950. It goes up a gully then turns left to the pass el 2100. It goes down along the right slope and soon has slid away, but stay on that trajectory. Don't go down. It soon becomes obvious at 55238, 10230 as it skirts gullies then finally drops to the flats. Get off the trail at 55468, 10498 el 1900 and walk down a smooth ridge to the flats and on to high ground at 54829, 11056 el 1600. Go on to a rim at 54445, 11216. Walk a quarter mile down that then drop left to the flats and on to a saddle at 53818, 11344. Go thru to a major wash then up that to a saddle at 53617, 11096. Now there's a trail. Walk it up a ridge then on to high ground at 53153, 10731. Now walk south for 450 feet to a wash and turn left up that and on to a saddle at  53037, 10608. Then go SE for a third mile to a major wash at 52811, 10403. The trail goes east up the wash for a quarter mile and exits up the right bank. Stay on it nearly a fifth mile then bend right to power lines. Follow those thru a gap between big hills then veer left to 52210, 10049 and walk thru a gap in mesquite and on to the exit point. That took me 4 hours, 20 minutes with easy grades. The BLM map shows this all to be on public land. At 53163, 08280 is where I crossed cairns marking an Indian trail coming from the east to the spring. Then at 54280, 09178 I crossed one heading north to Pahrump. Posted 2018.
• RESTING SPRING TO PAHRUMP - 4 miles of that trail is still walkable around Emigrant Pass. Park a vehicle 3 and a half miles east of the pass where a big ridge meets the road. Then ebike back to the pass where there is parking spot with a cable fence. The trail is in view at the far side of the pass. The high ground can be walked to it, but I prefer to go another third mile on the highway to a yellow 40 MPH sign. The trail can be picked up there on the far side of a wash. Go over the pass on it and cross a wash at N35 53499, W116 03212 then skirt close to a point to 53856, 02786 then 54089, 02455 then 54303, 02119 and last is 54493, 01617 before it skirts the big ridge. 2 hours, easy. Gullies have to be crossed but nothing serious. Posted 2022.
• SPERRY HILLS TRAIL - this one goes from Tecopa to Ibex Spring. Walking from Ibex Pass to Tecopa is a good hike of about 9 or 10 miles. Leave a car near the river bridge next to the Tecopa post office then drive to the pass. Get on the trail at N35 47628, W116 20040 el 2100. Follow it along the divide to 47627, 19190 el 2400 then to 47645, 19006 el 2400 then to where it tops out at 47700, 1819 el 2500 next to the high peak on the divide. I call that Sperry Peak el 2600+ and the reg on it says it's the high point of the Sperry Hills, but a case could be made that Tecopa Peak is in the Sperry Hills. It's worth a short side trip for the view anyway. The trail goes on along the divide for a third mile and gets faint. It drops down to the right and crosses a drainage then gets easy to follow again at 47870, 17650 el 2500 where it runs along the north side of the divide. The trail drops off the divide into a valley at 47865, 16786 el 2200 and disappears. Go on down the wash and exit up a gully on the left at 47995, 16028 el 2000. Walk a short way up that until it opens up then bend right to pavement. Walk near the right edge of the pavement into a wash where trail fragments begin to appear on the right side. Be on the trail at 48353, 15469 el 1900 and walk that level. The trail fades in and out with good views. Aim for 49083, 14211 el 1750 where it goes down a narrow ridge and ends at a point above the river with rock circles. There's no good way down, so veer left before that and go down a ridge at 49904, 13811 el 1550 into the wash. Go downstream a few feet then turn left up Tecopa Wash. Go NW half a mile up that then exit to the right on a trail. Then go to a modern trail at 50504, 13943 el 1400 that was built to get around private land and brush along the river. It goes into a wash then take a shortcut by leaving it and go straight up the other side of the wash then down the next gully to the river. A road there goes shortly to the river bridge. That took me 5 hours with minimal gain. An airplane damaged part of this route. Miscreants like that prevent me from publishing a lot of goodies. ALTERNATE ROUTE - a shorter but not quite as good route goes from the divide to Tecopa. Leave the divide  trail and drop into a drainage at 47958, 17090 el 23000 that leads to a major wash. Go left up that to a saddle el 2250 on the right. A trail doesn't go thru the saddle but it's an easy route to go on thru and down the wash to a trail on the left bank at 49151, 16182 el 1900. It goes on to 49409, 15594 el 1800 then 49692, 15238 el 1750 on the far right edge of pavement. The next mile and a quarter is easy to follow then it crosses a mine road then it's a short walk to join the route above at the modern trail. 3 hours, 40 minutes.  Posted 2017. 
• IBEX PASS / SPRING TRAIL - this leg of the trail is an easy 5 miles but needs a 4wd shuttle. Drive south from the pass for a couple miles and turn at a microwave tower. Go nearly 3 miles down a wash to a fork. Go right for a third mile to a sharp dip and that was washed out in Dec 2023. It's the hardest obstacle on the road and there was another trench not far beyond. I might leave a 4wd there then drive back to the pass. Walk west from the pass on the high ground for a mile to the rim where 3 or 4 routes go down. For the shortest, walk to N35 47707, W116 21504 el 2150 where the descent ridge forks. Walk down the left ridge to the trail at the bottom reading 47546, 21876 el 1800. It soon goes into a wash then 200 feet down that and exits on the right. Go on to 47329, 22253 then cross a mine road then to 47087, 22988 then 47043, 23065. Next, you come to a mine road but this time walk on it for 200 feet then the trails forks left. Go on to 46797, 23615 then 46705, 23751 then 46672, 23822. Soon the palms at the spring come into view. It's 5 miles from the pass to the spring. That's the shortest hike possible. If you parked one 4wd at the sharp dip, then it's 2 miles of road walking making it a 7 mile hike but still easy with hardly any gain. Posted 2017. NO SHUTTLE VERSION - I made a loop from the Ibex road. I went in a mile and a half from the park boundary then walked the flats north and stumbled on a rock ring at 46501, 21945 on the low ground. Don't let that get disturbed. Cairns and rock lines are on the bank to the north.  I went on to high ground at 47176, 22024 and followed that for a  third mile to the trail where it hits the flats from the pass. I walked it to the spring and only needed GPS twice due to all the cairns now. I walked the road back. 3 and a half hours, 8 miles. I didn't spend any time at the spring. This is a more convenient way to see the best part of the trail.  Posted 2023.
• DOLORES BENCHMARK INDIAN TRAIL - the trail thru Ibex Pass has one branch that goes right by the BM in the Kingston Range Wilderness and on to China Ranch. But for one stretch it's better to drop off and walk washes south of the trail. A 10 mile one way hike is a good way to do it. Drive east from Tecopa and follow signs to China Ranch. Leave a car at the new BLM TH. It has a restroom. Then drive 15 miles to Ibex Pass.  Get on the trail at N35 47628, W116 20040 el 2100. Follow it along the divide to 47627, 19190 el 2400 then to 47645, 19006 el 2400 then to where it tops out at 47700, 1819 el 2500 next to the high peak on the divide. I call that Sperry Peak el 2600+ and the reg on it says it's the high point of the Sperry Hills, but a case could be made that Tecopa Peak is in the Sperry Hills. It's worth a short side trip for the view anyway. The trail goes on along the divide for a third mile and gets faint. It drops down to the right and crosses a drainage then gets easy to follow again at 47870, 17650 el 2500 where it runs along the north side of the divide.  Drop off the trail and down a ridge at  47924, 17412 el 2400 and walk a major wash to a saddle at 47289, 16178 el 1950. Go thru to another saddle at 47025, 15285 el 1950 then thru to a faint trail at 47278, 14872 el 1850. Go up toward the BM and the trail gets more visible. The BM is at 47158, 14462 el 2105. Did I find a reg way, way out there? I'm not telling. There are several ways to get to the canyon running east toward the ranch. I followed a trail south from the BM and dropped in at 47095, 14269 el 1900 but maybe should have walked the rim down. It's a rocky canyon but gets smoother with some weird rock formations. It cuts thru spectacular badlands to a short slot at 47267, 12711 el 1250. Just past that is another with a fall, but it's easy to pass on the right. Then tracks from hundreds of tourists show up in the wash. It's a short way to cross the river on stones then turn right on a trail. It will soon fork. Both go but the high one looks shorter. It's less than a mile on to the TH at the ranch. That took me 5 hours with not much gain. Posted 2018.
• SARATOGA SPRING TRAIL - this one branches off the Ibex Spring trail near Sperry Hill and goes to Saratoga Spring but a lot is missing now. I made a good one way hike by starting at Ibex Pass and walking the trail to Sperry Hill (as shown on peakbagger) then down the canyon to the west of it and to the trail and on to the highway at mp 39.2. I went ahead and climbed the peak but that can be skipped and just walk down the canyon west of it using the left bank. I got on the right bank at N35 47379, W116 18270 and then down and around a corner to the trail at 47188, 18399. It runs level to a major wash then I went down that and got on the right bank at 46780, 18416. In another fifth mile the trail appears on the bank and I went on to 46168, 19094 then 46138, 19159 and then the last leg to the highway at 46091, 19236. 2 hours, 46 minutes, 5 miles. The app had the gain at 733 but 150 of that is the peak side trip and that can be skipped. I put a track on peakbagger under Sperry Hill.  Mp 39.2 has camp spots with good Verizon. WESTERN LEG - the next day I started from camp at mp 39.2 and got on the trail at 45963, 19487 and on to 45881, 19640 then it fades for a mile and reappears at 45205, 20596 and goes a fifth mile to the saddle north of Ibex BM. It soon fades on the other side and so I went down a rocky gully to the main wash then down to a sandy slope where I took an easy angle to the saddle NE of peak 472 reading 44923, 21971. I went down the other side on sand for a fifth mile then went over the right rim to a good flower display. I went on down to the flats then to a rock ring at  46501, 21945. Cairns and rock lines are on the bank north of it. I kept going to high ground at  47176, 22024 then in a third mile the Ibex Spring trail crosses. It goes into a main wash then up a ridge and on to the pass where I parked my cycle the day before. 4 hours, 500 feet of noticeable gain, 8 miles.  I didn't have to fool with a shuttle by doing the two hikes on consecutive days. Posted 2023.
• SOUTHERN SARATOGA SPRING TRAIL - this one starts the same as above and over Sperry Hill then runs more south of the trail above. I started at Ibex Pass and took the trail to Sperry Hill then down the east ridge into the main east canyon. I could have skirted the peak on the trail and dropped into the canyon. I went down canyon to a trail on a ridge running left of center at N35 45893, W116 17140. It goes to a wash then fades then I went on to a short segment at 45546, 17970 then another at 45513, 18238 and finally on to a camp area on the highway near mp 38. 3 and a half hours, about 800 gain. Posted 2024.
• IBEX PASS TO SARATOGA SPRING TRAIL - this one starts at the pass and goes to the spring then south to the Saratoga trail and back to the highway. I was camped on the highway at mp 39.2 and I rode my cycle to the pass then walked the trail to the spring then turned south on the main road to a faint old road at N35 46034, W116 24437. I walked that south for nearly a mile to a flower hotspot then went left to a major canyon at 44351, 22440. No sign of the trail until the head of the canyon where it is on the left bank at 45070, 20808.  It goes across the divide then bends left and fades. I walked with the flow and then on to 45809, 19772 where it appears again and goes shortly to camp. 5 and a half hours, 12 miles, easy grades. Good flowers in April, 2024.
• DOLORES BENCHMARK LOOP - a loop can be done from China Ranch by going up the east canyon then back down an Indian trail on the SE ridge.  Drive east from Tecopa and follow signs to China Ranch and park at the new BLM TH. It has a restroom. Follow the map posted at the TH to get to the slot canyon. It can be seen on the topo a half mile west of Acme. It is blocked by minor falls, but easy to bypass on the left. Soon there is another short slot then keep going up the main canyon for about an air mile to a main fork at weird spires. Take the left fork for a few feet then climb up the right rim at N35 47242, W116 13697 el 1550. Keep going up for .57 air mile to an obvious Indian trail el 1950. Go right on that to the BM at 47158, 14462 el 2105. Then retrace back to where you hit the  trail and keep going on it to a saddle. It climbs out of that to the left then on to 46845, 13807 el 1900 then 46719, 13492 el 1950. Next is a rock ring that the Indians must have built then the trail fades. Start down a canyon at 46600, 12949 el 1800 that goes back to the slots. To see how the Indians got down to the river, step over to the rim at 46576, 12793 el 1700. That's the hard way down with a wall of tamarisk at the bottom. It's easier to walk the rim a fifth mile to a major saddle then drop left back to the canyon and stroll on down to the slots. That took me 5 hours with about 500 noticeable gain. That's the best hike you're going to find around the ranch and tourists turn back at the slot canyon. Posted 2018.
• DOLORES CANYON is what I call the colorful canyon draining SW from Dolores BM. It gets rocky but it's easy to step between rocks. A loop can be done going up canyon then back on the Indian trail on the SW ridge of the BM. Drive in on the Dumont Dunes road and follow signs up the river on a sandy road to Sperry Wash. The river flows there but has little brush. Walk up to Dolores Canyon at N35 45242, W116 13327 el 900 and go up that to a fork at 46106, 14058 el 1250. Go left then stay right at main forks and top out on the Indian trail at 46955, 14013 el 1800. The BM is NW  at 47158, 14462 el 2105 but I skipped it. I went SE on the trail to  46845, 13807 el 1900  then 46719, 13492 el 1950.  The trail drops off the rim at 46576, 12793 el 1700 but a tricky knife edge is just before that. It's safer to drop left down a drainage to get at the trail. It goes 350 feet into a gully and seems to end. I went down the gully then stepped onto the right rim at 46556, 12665 el 1500. That goes down steep and trail segments can be seen. At the bottom the trail is obvious running high on the bank of the river down to where the RR grade crosses. Dirt bikers made it that far up from Sperry Wash but I couldn't even see a way for hikers to get thru the brush to go up river. They fought nasty washouts on the RR grade for nothing trying to ride to Tecopa. That loop took me 4 and a half hours with maybe 200 noticeable gain. This hike is almost entirely in the Kingston Range Wildeness. Posted 2018.
• AMARGOSA RIVER CANYON TRAIL - a maintained trail runs along the river. A one way hike can be done from  China Ranch to Tecopa. Take the road behind the Tecopa post office and then stay left around barn ruins and on to the TH at N35 50491, W116 13446. Leave a car  there then drive east from Tecopa and follow signs to China Ranch and park at the new BLM TH. It has a restroom. Follow the map posted at the TH to get to the turnoff for the slot canyon, but stay on the trail along the river to get to Tecopa. It's a 5 or 6 mile hike that's so easy a dead man could do it. A side trip to the slot would add less than an hour. Bikes aren't allowed on the trail. But to use one for a shuttle, I would walk this the reverse way from Tecopa to the ranch then up the road to where it tops out on the divide and the pavement starts. Then coast back on a bike stashed there or use an ebike to ride the whole way. It's easier to hike it in this direction and there's an Indian trail shortcut at 49217, 13010 that cuts across a gooseneck. MIDDLE ENTRY - a canyon can be used to get to the trail between the two Trailheads. There is a Pavement Ends sign where the road to China Ranch tops out. From the sign, walk perpendicular away from the road down a wash or walk the left bank of it. It will lead to the trail then go left or right depending where your other vehicle is.  Posted 2018.
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Resting Spring Range Wilderness

Trump BM as viewed from the head of State Line Canyon
Pahrump has a Walmart and everything else. Shoshone has gas but it's nearly two dollars higher than Pahrump. Tecopa and Death Valley Junction have no gas. Posted 2017.

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  STEWART BENCHMARK el 5200 is the high point of the Resting Spring Range. Drive to mp 58.5 on highway 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 ridge to the BM at 09975, 12482. 5 hours, 2600 gain.
• RESTING SPRING PEAK el 5000+ is what I call the next high peak north of Stewart BM. I went up the north ridge in 2014 and then the NE ridge in 2017. The latter is easier. A canyon, which I call Stewart Canyon, draining to the NE into Stewart Valley makes a good but long approach. Stewart Lake must be bone dry for this. Take highway 127 into Nevada for half a mile and turn at the sign for Ash Meadows Rd. I have been driving across the lake bed, but it's rough and soft. It's better to stay on Ash Meadows Rd to N36 16061, W116 10398 and use a road there to get on the edge of the lake. Then drive to 15188, 11695 to get on the west side road and follow that south for a mile and a half to near the wilderness boundary running along the state line. Hike to the mouth of the canyon  at 13725, 12045. Hike up canyon to where it makes a hard left then start up the right rim at 13682, 12437 in order to bypass a fall. The rim levels off after gaining 200+ feet and you'll be standing on bright colored soil. I went down a steep gully but there's a sheep trail at the west wall that works a lot better. It will be obvious when you get there. You'll hit bottom up from the fall. It's 15 feet high and slanting. Go up canyon and stay left at a tricky fork then get on a low ridge at 12623, 12820 el 3150. Follow that up and it's obvious how to skirt minor bumps. Go up thru 11603, 13419 el 3850 where it steepens and the ridge tops out at el 4800. Then use south side sheep trails to a break at 11084, 13642 el 4800 and a trail goes on thru that to the last saddle el 4850. Then stay right on trails and hug a cliff base for firm footing up to the summit area. The reg at 11020, 13903 was in a crumbling jar. I retraced back to el 3600 and dropped down a ridge at 11951, 13203 to get back to the main canyon and out. 6 hours, 2600 gain. A 30 foot hand line would work to get back down the fall and avoid going up 100 feet or more to pass it. Boulders to tie off of are near the top. I used a 15 foot rope and ibis hook. It's quite a nice narrows above the fall. The scenic canyon makes this the best hike in the range. Posted 2017.
• BAXTER PEAK el 4400+ is what I call the highest peak south of the Baxter Mine. It's an easy hike from the mine. Take highway 178 to either mp 52.1 and get on the old highway or go to mp 56 and get on it. Follow the old highway to BLM road #341 reading N36 04882, W116 11657. There are 8 signs there. Go about 3 miles on that then turn left on road #3413 for a tenth mile and park near the mine el 3050. Walk south up the valley and start up a ridge at 05677, 13862 el 3350. Go up until crags get in the way then veer right to 05475, 13885 el 3600. Go up from there on smooth ground and curve right to the main saddle el 3900. Go thru then down a little on a sheep route to get around a crag then onto the main ridge. Stay near the center of the ridge and it's a cakewalk the rest of the way to the summit at 04653, 13962. A reg there was placed by John Vitz. Getting to the summit takes 80 minutes with 1500 gain, mostly not steep. Hikers who like wild places might consider looping back on the broad ridge to the east. Keep going north on the crest. It will level off at el 4000 and become gently rolling. Walk to a viewpoint at 03790, 14526 el 3900 where the descent ridge is in view a tenth mile to the west. Go down it and move to the right edge at 04539, 15064 el 3650 and follow the edge down to 05421, 15447 el 2850 where you can drop to the wash el 2400. Go up the wash a tenth mile then turn north up a wide valley and stay on the low ground to a wash at 06353, 14614 el 2550. Go up that a fifth mile to where it bends right then take a left fork back to the start. Returning by this route took me 3 hours, 42 minutes and is about 6 miles with 1300 gain, but all the gain is easy rises.  There is an easier variation of this route. Go south on the crest from the summit and follow an obvious ridge down to the right that goes into the main canyon. That canyon has a group of minor falls that are easy to get around then it's easy walking down to the 2450 level where the other route comes down off the rim. Then just follow that route north up the wide valley. It took me 3 hours to return by that route. There's good color in that canyon. All roads easy 4wd. The topo shows the 4wd road going on across the range, but it shrinks to a foot trail at 06233, 13829 el 3000 and goes a fifth mile into a main saddle and turns into a road again. But from the saddle a foot trail keeps going up to mines on a peak with good views. That's a short hike of a mile round trip. Posted 2018. 
• PILLBOX PEAK el 4193 is what I call a minor peak on the crest north of the Baxter Mine. Park along highway 178 near mp 57 el 2850 then it's obvious how to walk a mile across the  flats then up the peak. The summit is at N36 07590, W116 12184. 3 hours, 1000 gain from the flats. Posted 2017.
• STEWART CANYON is what I call a canyon on  the east side. A loop can be done up the canyon and over a peak I call Stewart Canyon Peak el 4400+. Stewart Lake must be bone dry for this. Take highway 127 into Nevada for half a mile and turn at the sign for Ash Meadows Rd. Follow that graded road for 4 miles to a 4-way. A left turn here takes you to the lake bed, but it's wavy and mainly good for cycles. It's smoother to stay on Ash Meadows Rd for another 1.7 miles to a road at N36 13953, W116 09154 then turn left for half a mile to the lake. Go west on the lake for half a mile then bend left to 13024, 11229 to get close to the west shore. Even dry the lake is too soft to risk a 2wd. The west part of the lake is inside the wilderness but that's just silly. Nobody observes that. Just stay off the vegetation. Hike to the mouth of the canyon  at 13725, 12045. Hike up canyon to where it makes a hard left then start up the right rim at 13682, 12437 in order to bypass a fall. The rim levels off after gaining 200+ feet and you'll be standing on bright colored soil. I went down a steep gully but there's a sheep trail at the west wall that works a lot better. It will be obvious when you get there. You'll hit bottom up from the fall. It's 15 feet high and slanting. Go up canyon and stay left at a tricky fork then get into the correct fork at 12538, 12681 el 3200. Go up that then get on  the left rim at 11493, 12770 el 3600 where the peak is in view. Go up the obvious canyon from there to the SW saddle el 3900 then up the ridge to the summit at 11529, 12243. Then walk NE off the summit to 11816, 11884 el 3500 and keep going down that ridge to the lake. It ramps down nicely then it's a mile back to the start. That took me 5 hours, 10 minutes with 2000 gain. Only the last 300 is steep. For a shorter hike by skipping the peak, stay left at the fork reading 12538, 12681 el 3200 then go up to a minor fork on the left at 12436, 12443 el 3300. Go up that into a saddle el 3400 then walk level to the left for a tenth mile to get on the descent ridge. Follow that down and stay left when it splits for the easiest ridge down to the lake. That's a 3 hour hike with no steep gain.  Posted 2017.
• STATE LINE CANYON is what I call a rugged canyon draining into the north end of Stewart Lake. A loop can be done by going up the easy canyon to the north. Use the graded Ash Springs Rd running thru Stewart Valley to get to an easy 4wd road at N36 16060, W116 10396. Follow that onto the lake and drive to 15187, 11698 to get on the west shore road. Go south a  third mile to a faint road on the right. It soon fades then walk to a canyon at 14980, 12844 el 2900. Go up that for a mile to a lonely basin el 3700 where there is a lot of good looking desert pavement. It's an easy walk to the high peak in the area at 14354, 14261 el 4100. Survey junk is on top. Then walk to the head of State Line Canyon at 14345, 13313 el 3700. Go down the creekbed to some falls and pass those on the right. Return to the creekbed by going down a rubbly gully at 14368, 12942 el 3400. It's obvious how to pass the remaining falls with a few short class 3 drops then it's a smooth wash past the state line and back to the start. It was obvious how to come down the canyon. 4 hours, 1700 gain, not steep. This is better than I thought it would be. Sheep have moved into the area. They must be reading this blog. Be on the lookout for sheep with smartphones. Posted 2017, 2018.  
• SHADOW MTN el 5069 has a miner trail part way up the north ridge. 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. Stay on it as it passes bumps and comes to the last and biggest bump at el 3700. It goes around the right side and ends at a saddle el 3900. Keep going up the ridge to a viewpoint 16061, 15434 el 4800 where the remaining third mile is in view.  I set up some ducks on the trail. 5 hours, 2600 gain and only 300 of that near the top is steep. Rocky terrain requires thick soles. The State Line rd leaves Pahrump as Bell Vista Rd.  The miners must have walked to the trail because it's too rocky to drive to it.  Posted 2017 
• SHOSHONE BENCHMARK el 3500 and RING BENCHMARK el 3250 are east of Shoshone near the pass. Take highway 190 to the pass then walk to canyon at N36 00000, W116 13010. Go up canyon on a trail on the left bank to a mine. The trail gets steeper and fainter at the mine but pick it up again at 00148, 12983. The trail tops out in a saddle el 2700 and then it goes down the next canyon, making for an optional return route. But at the saddle, go up the ridge to a shelf at 00344, 12899 el 3050 that leads to the main ridge. Go up the main ridge and just before it tops out move right of center to pass some minor bumps. The reg is at 00796, 12831. 3 hours, 1400 gain. For RING BM, drive thru the pass to  mp 47.4 and turn down south off the pavement and park. Hike the old mine road to a gully at el 2600 and go up that on bedrock to the main saddle. There is an easy shelf left of center to walk along the crest to the BM at N35 58878, W116 12862. I made a loop by going south to a plateau area then down a ridge at 58650, 11988 el 2950. 2 or 3 hours, 1200 gain. Posted 2017.
• RED WING PEAK el 4200+ is what I call the massive peak near the south end of the Resting Spring Range. A rough trail goes to the Red Wing Mine then it's an easy ridge from there. Drive north from Shoshone to mp 18.5 and turn down a sandy wash for 2/3 mile to the Amargosa River. Then walk up a wash at N36 01478, W116 16855 el 1700 to get over a low ridge then walk the flats to the trail at 02154, 15437 el 2050. The trail ends at the mine el 3000 then it's a short way to the ridgetop el 3050. Go up the ridge to el 3900 then angle to the right under some rough stuff and top out at 02840, 14147 el 4100. Then it's quarter mile to the survey junk on the summit. For a loop back, there are two options. One is to retrace and go down the ridge at 02418, 14199 el 3450. It drops into the south canyon with a ruin on the left side. The other is to walk straight off the summit down the easy south ridge. A 1916 marker is at 02648, 13863 el 3650. I went on down from there to 02517, 13715 el 3200 to get into the south canyon. Soon there is a narrows infested with coyote melons with one fall blocking it. It's easy to go left around it all. Then walk out to the flats at 01430, 15379 el 1950 then stay on the high ground to 01262, 16093 el 1800 and that leads to the river then it's half a mile back to the start. 5 and a half hours with 2200 gain from the flats. Not steep. The road to the Gerstley Mine is gated and all other roads in the area are too far gone. Posted 2017. THIRD DESCENT OPTION - in 2020 I walked north from the summit to the first major saddle then dropped down to the right and followed a red canyon down. I came to a major fall but it was obvious how to pass it on the right. A large cairn there told me that I would make it thru. I strolled on down to a bike I stashed at mp 50.5 on highway 178. That one way hike took 4 and a half hours. That's the best canyon in the range. Posted 2020. 
• GERSTLEY PEAK el 2822 is what I call the peak south of the Gerstley Mine. A loop can be done using a mine trail on the south ridge. Turn off highway 178 at mp 45.6 and go a fifth mile to a fork at the south tip of the mountain where the trail goes up. The left fork ends at boring diggings. The right fork goes along the east base and gets close to the summit, but it's more appealing to park at the fork and walk the road and start up in the vicinity of N36 00492, W116 14220 el 2500 and go up to the summit at 00480, 14497. Then walk south on the main ridge for half a mile where the trail starts at a mine and runs on down the ridge to the south tip at the fork. 2 hours with 500 feet of noticeable gain. Rocky terrain. Posted 2019.
• PEAK 1195 METERS is 4 miles east of Eagle Mountain. It's marked on the 1:100000 series maps. I started on highway 127 near mp INY 30 and walked to the north point at N36 13314, W116 17540 el 2600 then on around to the east side to a ridge at 12805, 16188 el 2900. I went up to el 3800 where it levels off and could see the east saddle el 3800. It was obvious how to walk right of center to the saddle then up to the summit at 12115, 16474 el 3921. Then I returned to the saddle then went south down the canyon to a fall at el 3200 where I could easily move left into the next drainage and on down to the bottom then out. 5 and a half hours with 1000 feet of noticeable gain. The highway is the wilderness boundary so don't try to drive closer and make a big eyesore. Posted 2019.
           
• EAGLE MOUNTAIN el 3800 - this is near Death Valley Junction on the NW edge of the wilderness. Turn off highway 127 at mp 33.8 and go half a mile to the river bank. Head for a draw at N36 13178, W116 21917. This is the second draw from the left. Go up it then bend right to a faint trail at 13174, 21809 that goes to the main ridge and head for a shoulder on the right at 12961, 21645 then drop down 70 feet and pick up the main hiker trail going back up to the ridge. Follow it to a notch 12688, 21432 then go right up class 3 to the summit. 4 hours, 2000 gain. Not too steep. MYSTERY TRAIL - a peculiar trail nearby at 12073, 22711 goes shortly into a wash. It's a pleasant hike up the wash but I found nothing else. Maybe the Indians detoured in there to spend the night out of the wind. Posted 2023