Toiyabe Range Area Hikes

Toiyabe Dome

          

                                                  Bunker Hill

• BUNKER HILL el 11450 has to be the biggest hill in the world. Drive to the Kingston road at mp LA  2.5 on Nv 376. Go up the Kingston Canyon road past the TCT TH and on to the pass el 8700. 4wd will be needed for the last mile. At the pass,go east up a steep track to a parking area at 9300. Superb traction is needed for this steep track. THIS TRACK IS NOT FOR AMATEURS. From the parking area, head straight up the slope to the 9900 ft level. Then contour right on grassy slopes for a mile to the big saddle at N39 16175, W117 06920 el 10050. Then go up the scree slope to the top at 15174, 07565. 4 hours, 2300 gain. Some light brush. Take a stout stick. Not a tough hike. After all, it's only a hill. How hard can it be? The crude track going west from the pass can be used to get to BIG CREEK PEAK at 18212, 08728 el 10000. A road from the west can be used to get to the pass from US 50. Turn at the sign for Big Creek campground just west of Austin.
• For SHEEPMAN PEAK, go past Kingston Campground and on to Groves Lake. Go past the lake a half mile to the Toiyabe Crest Trail TH. The trail goes across the creek then back to the lake then up steeply to 9000 ft. There it eases up. Go on to the 10400 ft level then saunter over to the peak at N39 11821, W117 10828. 5 hours, 3100 gain. It would save a mile to park at the lake and walk across the inlet.There was a homemade bridge there in 2011. I met a friendly Peruvian sheepherder who spoke very little English. Too bad, because I'm sure we could have gone on for an hour talking about the debt crisis.
• NORTH TOIYABE PEAK el 10793 - the main NE ridge is a pleasant route and 4wds can get to el 8000. A decent road goes up Birch Creek and another one comes in from Austin Summit into Birch Creek. At N39 23731, W117 02906 el 7336 along the Birch Creek road is where a grassy road starts up the ridge. A half mile to the west is another road starting up. They both merge and it's hard to judge which is better. They're steep but not eroded much. Skilled drivers get to el 8000 and maybe the end at el 8200. Then it's a matter of hiking up the ridge to the main ridge and on to the reg at 21571, 04514. The last third mile has minor crags that are easily passed on the left. It's a 4 or 5 hour hike with at nearly 3000 gain, no brush. M&L placed the reg in 1992. The Birch Creek canyon has a good stream and shady camps below el 7000. Posted 2020.
• FRENCH PEAK el 10779 - the north rim of Timblin Creek is one way to do this. Take highway 376 to mp NY 69.6 and turn on easy 4wd. Stay left at forks for 2 and a half miles to a big shade tree. I parked there and went up the ridge at N39 00059, W117 13481 el 6500. At el 7600 I hit a mine road and stayed left at forks to keep me on the high road. At 00547, 14796 el 8550 I left the road and went straight up the ridge to the summit at 00760, 15819. That took 5 hours, 45 minutes with 4500 gain. I wore shorts the whole way. Park Canyon has an OHV trail to 8000 but I couldn't see enough of that route from the valley floor. I could see from the summit that there would be a tedious class 2 traverse for a mile on the crest. Posted 2020.
• The OPHIR PASS ROAD leaves 376 at mp NY 64.3. It is for OHVs and jeeps. It's 2 miles up the canyon to the ghost town. Jeeps can make it that far but will lose some paint. Then the road gets smoother on up to the pass. It has been bladed since my last visit a decade ago. At el 9500 there is a 4-way. Right goes to cabins, left is an OHV trail down into Last Chance Creek. It's a good trail for anyone who can get past a big rock near the start. The road from the west up to the pass is much better. An OHV track starts at the mouth and goes up the north wall then drops back down just below the ghost town. It can be seen from 376. At the pass el 10100, the TCT can be used to climb SOUTH TOIYABE PEAK. Hike the trail a mile and a half south from the pass to the base of the peak. It's about 900 ft to the top. Aim for a game trail at N38 55371, W117 18686 that angles up to the right. Then go for the trail up the summit knob at 55250, 18392. A 2 hour hike. Updated 2020.
• SUMMIT CREEK and WISCONSIN CREEK are just north of Ophir Creek. Each has a brushy but fairly smooth 4wd road that goes to about 8500. Summit Creek has a mine with cable and ore car in place. PARK CANYON is a little further north at mp NY 69.6. Go up the 4wd road to a mega ruin. After that the road gets brushy and ultra steep. I lost traction at 7900.
• The TWIN RIVERS LOOP is one of the best hikes in the state. Use the good South Twin River road at mp NY 59.7 on 376. Go about 3 miles to the first TH with a restroom and sunny camps. This is where you come out. North Twin River is a mile further up the road which is where you start hiking. Go up the trail about 3 air miles to a fork at a crossing at N38 53128, W117 18638. Go left up to a pass at 51690, 19268 el 9250. I passed springs along this section at 53074, 18654 and 52533, 18943 but only the second one had a decent flow in 2020. The trail angles down to the right from the pass into a canyon bottom. The trail goes down the canyon and meets the South Twin River trail. Go left to get back. An intact water wheel is along the trail at 51584, 16240 el 7300. Near the end, the trail goes up over a little ridge then there is a fork. The high trail is high and dry, the low trail has more wading. I waded the creeks dozens of times by the time I got to this fork.  7 hours, 3000+ gain. Nice gorges. This hike gets overlooked because people just want to do peaks. Another good trip is to go about 2.5 air miles up North Twin and set up camp in a big aspen flat. Then go up to the pass and turn left to climb the 10894 ft peak between the rivers. A river in Nevada is a creek in any other state. A trail crew told me that as of 2012 the Twin Rivers loop trail has been cleared as well as the trail up S. Twin to Arc Dome. In 2020, I walked the whole loop in shorts but had a lot of itchy plants. All wades were shin deep except one spot in North Twin where a beaver made it knee deep. Updated 2020.
• For TOIYABE DOME el 11400, use the 4wd Cove Canyon road north of Carvers at mp NY 55.5 on 376. Go a mile and a third and park next to the creek el 6400. Tents would work here. Start up the slope to the right of the creek at N38 49100, W117 12826. At 8300, move right to avoid thick trees. Watch out for little bumps at 9100 and 9500. Keep right of them. Follow the ridge up to where it tops out at 10400. Then contour left around a bump to get to a saddle behind it at 49142, 15240 el 10400. Then just go on up the easy broad ridge to the top at 47936, 15105. 9 hours, one mile of gain. The first 4000 feet of gain occurs in one and 3/4 miles. The first 1500 feet is the most tedious. Brush was not a factor. Surveyor junk on top was the only sign of humanity. I saw a herd of 6 deer and another herd of 13 sheep near the top. This area is a chunk of real wilderness and is the hardest hike on this page. Don't try this at home. UPDATE 2020 - Brad Boester reported that Jett Canyon is passable. I did a traverse that I detailed on a 2020 page.
• MIDDLE TOIYABE PEAK el 11085 is climbed from the west. Go to mp LA 35 on 722 and go south on the Ione road for nearly 20 miles and turn at the sign for Washington Creek. Drive to just inside the forest boundary and go left on 116. It's 4 more miles to the TH at N39 09304, W117 13921 el 7650. A crossing about 2 miles before the TH might stop 2wds. Hike the old road along the creek crossing an occasional bog. At a big bog,the trail goes up and around at 09237, 11555. Then comes a fork where you keep left and continue up the creek. At around 9000 the trail switches left out of the creek. At 9400 a game trail goes to the right up a grassy gully and up to the crest. The correct trail goes left and fades in a gully but resumes on the other side and goes to the crest at 10045, 10716 el 9850. Once on the crest, go right up the ridge to the peak at 09185, 10433. I came directly down an obvious ridge and got in a brush free gully at 09395, 11150 then dropped to the trail. 6 hours, 3500 gain. Long pants recommended. I barely avoided wading a couple of crossings.
• TOIYABE RANGE PEAK el 10960 has routes from San Juan Creek. Go to mp LA 35 on highway 722 and go south on the Ione road for nearly 20 miles and turn at the sign for San Juan Creek.  Drive to just inside the forest boundary and stay right on the main road up canyon to a main fork at el 7300. Go left there on FR110 then in a third mile there is another fork. Left is for OHVs and mtn bikes only. It goes high on the left bank then back down to the creek. 4wds might take the right fork a short way then walk over to the left bank and hit the OHV trail. It goes smooth to el 8400 then the party's over. I parked there and walked up canyon and took the first road forking right reading N39 06140, W117 13957 el 8600. The road switches up to the crest trail. I stepped up onto the crest trail at 05902, 13894 el 9100 and followed it to a drainage where it faded in brush. I picked it up again a few feet away at 06176, 13330 el 9100+ then it was easy to follow to the saddle el 9494 on the SW ridge of the peak. I went up the bald ridge and drifted left into a saddle el 10100 where I could see the rest. It saves effort in the last tenth mile to aim for 06890, 12458 and level off to skirt left of a talus pile. No reg on the summit. I retraced back down the ridge to el 9600 and took a direct route back down. That took 4 and a half hours with 2600 gain and rarely steep. It's prudent to have long pants as far as the saddle el 9494. With a 4wd, I would walk up the same way then down the north rim of the canyon. The topo is accurate on roads and trails except for the detour on the OHV trail at el 7400. I saw a mtn bike parked at el 8400, but I wouldn't ride one any further than a crossing at el 8200. This canyon has a mostly smooth road and great campsites. I could have drove a car to the first water crossing. Posted 2020.
• MAHOGANY MOUNTAIN is south of Arc Dome. Turn west off Nv 376 at mp NY 34. Follow the graded road for 9 miles to the Peavine campground, staying right at main forks. The graded road ends there then it's 6 miles of decent road to the end in Toms Canyon el 6900, but creek crossings might stop 2wds. Hike up Toms Canyon for an air mile and a half, then the trail goes up a left fork. I filled up at the last spring in this fork at N38 43484, W117 20083 el 7900. The trail climbs to the divide at 44939, 20335 el 9300. Now go right up along a fence. The fence tops out and the ridge climbs to the left. Go on up the ridge and soon you hit a trail that goes along the right side of bumps to a minor saddle then zigzags up the ridge. I lost the trail once at 45448, 19659 el 10200. Here it goes right around a talus pile. The trail keeps going to the 10500 level where it fades but it's easy open ridge from there to the top at 45521, 18856 el 10970. 7 hours, 4000 gain. This is the most pleasant of all the high peaks in the range. A barrel full of sport drinks was stashed near the summit, so maybe there's trail work going on.There is an 11000 footer to the east with one 500 foot deep saddle to cross to get at it.
• ARC DOME el 11700 is the highest peak in the Toiyabe Range. The good news is there is a trail all the way. The bad news? There is a 700 foot deep saddle right in the way. Take Nv 844 from Gabbs to Ione then keep going over the pass on a wide graded road. Keep left at a main fork then you'll come to a paved road in a village. Go left 100 feet then go right on Aatakii Rd. Go nearly a mile to Columbine Rd at N38 59188, W117 27551. Take Columbine, which is also FR 119, for 8 miles to the Columbine camp. There is one little creek crossing but most 2wds could make it in 2012. There are 21 miles of dirt road on this approach. The trail starts near the crapper. Hike a quarter mile to a fork.Keep right then stay left at forks thereafter until you top out on the crest at a T at 11000+. Go right to the deep saddle then on to the summit. 7 hours, 4500 gain. This was an easy hike until God reached down and scooped out that deep saddle.
• MOUNT CALLAGHAN el 10180 has a 4wd road to the top from the west. Drive to Silver Creek Rd at mp LA 47 on Nv 305. Go east on graded road for 4 and a half miles to a major road forking to the left. Take that for 3 and a half miles to a main fork reading N39 43890, W117 03170. The left road goes to a locked gate, so go right to N39 45134, W116 58072 el 7500 where a 4wd road goes right. Take the 4wd road up to a major saddle el 9000. It's easy 4wd to here, but steep in places. Now go left on a narrower road with some rocky sections up to the summit and BM at N39 42564, W116 57050. The BM spells the name without the G. Nice cycle ride, no major obstacles. SKULL PEAK el 9396 is what I call the pointy peak that can be seen to the north from Callaghan. A jeep road runs along the crest toward it. Drive the same as Callaghan as far as the fork at el 7500. Keep going straight less than a mile to another fork at N39 45392, W116 57376. Go right to another fork at N39 44891, W116 56836 near a corral. Go right again on a less traveled road that goes up on the crest. As of 2014, jeeps could easily get as far as N39 45221, W116 55055 el 8300. I made it another third mile on a 125 to the base of a steep hill el 8500. Start hiking on a trail at N39 45418, W116 54808 that goes left around the steep hill and drops slightly to a saddle el 8400 behind the hill. Then you can use road segments to get to the top of the next hill which is 800 feet high. Once on top of that, get on a trail at N39 46172, W116 54329 el 9130 that goes along the west side of the crest and drops 300 feet to a saddle. That's the only deep saddle on the route. After that the trail gets fainter but goes on up to a minor saddle just south of the summit. Surveyor junk is on the summit at N39 47204, W116 53624. I lost track of time but it took an hour and a half to return. One small creekside camp spot I saw on the way in is at N39 45094, W116 58699 el 7000. There are aspen trees there. A pipe spring is along the road not far past the Callaghan turnoff. Posted 2014.
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                                                Wildcat Peak                                                                                                               
• WHITE ROCK MOUNTAIN el 10150 and MASKET PEAK el 10500 are in the northern part of the Toquima Range. Both have roads most of the way and make for a good jeep tour. Use the main graded road on the east side to get to the Ikes Canyon road at N39 04160,W116 40811. Go up the canyon on 4wd to the divide at 9400. A steep track goes south from the divide to a saddle on Sawlog Ridge at 10200. Masket Peak is a short hike to the east. From the divide, go west down into Stoneberger Basin to 02929, 48745. Turn right and go thru a gate then take the left fork up a steep ridge. The road levels out at 9700. Keep right at forks to get to 03776, 48470 where you go left around a rise then get on the ridgetop and go around to the east side of White Rock Mtn and park at 10000+. It's a short hike to the top at 04053, 47661. No reg in 2012. Go back down to the basin and go west in the canyon. The first left goes to Mill Canyon and the Wildcat Peak hike. Staying in the canyon, the road soon goes onto the crest then north to a fork at 07913, 51181. The right fork is the main road and it goes out via Corral Canyon. I took the left fork and stayed on the crest then it finally dropped to the graded road in Petes Canyon. The whole affair took half a day on a 125. I'd camp out if in a jeep. White Rock Mtn has table to camp on with gorgeous vistas. The road up Ikes Canyon then north to Corral Canyon is shown on the Delorme atlas. Ranchers still drive this route in trucks, but not the side trips to the peaks. Jeeps with lockers are advised for the side trips. Both peaks would be easy hikes from the divide at the head of Ikes Canyon. Any 4wd could make it there in 2012 but only rigs with lockers should go any further. The roads aren't very rough, just steep as hell. The smooth Corral Canyon road would make a good mtn bike ride.
• WILDCAT PEAK el 10500+ is the highest peak in the north Toquima Range and has a classic look. Use the east side graded road to get to the Mill Canyon Road at N38 59617,W116 42053. Go up this crude road to a main fork in the canyon. Drive up the right fork to where it ends at N39 01962, W116 49289 el 9600+. Angle down 200 feet to a saddle on the crest then go up to N39 01531, W116 49657 where you contour right around a bump. Aim for a faint trail at N39 01451,W116 49799 that takes you to the final saddle el 9850. Now the party's over. The least steep route for the final push is to go left of the first crags into a chute that goes up to a notch. Don't go up from the notch, but go thru then down a little then walk the west base of the crags up to the reg. 3 hours, 1300 gain. All roads easy 4wd, sometimes narrow, not steep. Mtn bikes could go a long way. A fork just before the parking area goes steep down into Stoneberger Basin but every road out of there is steep. Masket Peak can be climbed from the apex of the Mill Canyon Road.
• MOUNT JEFFERSON el 11941 is the highest peak for over a hundred mile radius. Go north from Belmont for 5 miles from the end of pavement to N38 37816, W116 48763. Turn west into Meadow Canyon on a road that starts out good but becomes easy 4wd. Keep going west until the road tops out on the crest. Turn north and follow parallel roads until they fizzle out at 9400. The right side road is the better one. Hike the trail up the crest. Soon the crest goes parabolic and the trail fades to the left then switches back at 44027, 55722. After that the trail stays close to center. At the top,the trail goes around the right side of the summit then starts going down. At that point head for a short trail at 45097, 55534 that leads to the reg. Under 4 hours, 2500 gain. Meadow Canyon would be a good mtn bike ride. This peak would be swarming with tourist hikers but they can't get their cars up there. Belmont has no gas or groceries but a free shady campground south of town makes a good base camp for peaks. There is a Verizon signal and plenty of smooth roads to ride on.
• SHOSHONE MOUNTAIN el 10900 and SPANISH PEAK el 10700 are twin peaks south of Mt Jefferson. Drive the same route as Jefferson but turn south in Meadow Canyon on FR 440 at N38 40474, W116 53851. It's easy but brushy 4wd to where it tops out at 9200. Then go right on FR 440c and park where it fades at 9700. Hike north across a draw then go up to the main saddle el 10200 between the peaks. Shoshone is north at 40198, 57793. 3 hours, 1700 gain for both peaks. Not steep.
• LITTLE TABLE MOUNTAIN el 9700 is SE of Mt Jefferson. Drive the same route as Jefferson but turn north in Meadow Canyon at N38 41398, W116 55161. Go up a canyon on easy 4wd then turn right at 42580, 53771 and drive to the end el 8650. Pick a slope to go up to the reg at 42281, 52353. Only one party had signed in since its placement 25 years earlier. Under 2 hours, 1000 gain. 100 barrels welded together were on the summit and must have been flown in. These can be seen on google earth. If you can break one loose, you can roll back down in it and save a lot of time. Maybe that's what they're for.
• TRAIL CREEK DOME is at the eastern foot of Jefferson. Go north of Belmont and turn at N38 40034, W116 46920. Drive up into Corcoran Canyon on easy 4wd. At a main fork, go right then drive to the end el 8200. The last part is brushy. Hike up the canyon to a gully on the right at 43089, 51684. Go up the gully or its left side to a saddle at the top. Go down the other side on a game trail to another trail at 43332, 51273. Go left on this to get to a ridge at 43627, 51081 el 8600. Now follow this ridge down to a saddle at 43729, 50581 el 8400. Go across then turn left to follow the ridge to the summit at 43935, 49645 el 9400. 3 hours, 1600 gain. I could see from the peak that the north ridge from the mouth of Trail Canyon would work, but over 2000 feet gain and steep all the way.
• BALD MOUNTAIN is the southernmost 9000 footer in the Toquima Range. Turn west off Nv 82 at N38 31226, W116 55878. The graded road goes a mile and a half the to the foot of the mountain then makes a hard left to the south. After going 500 feet to the south the road dips into Bald Mountain Wash. Go right up the wash. Now it's easy but narrow 4wd. It would make a nice smooth mtn bike ride. Head up the canyon toward the mountain and park at the last spot at N38 35334, W117 01542 el 7900. Hike up the canyon on a faint trail for half a mile to a spring. I took a gamble and filled up here. Go on past the spring to where the canyon turns left and steepens. Cross to the right and go up the north ridge to the Toquima BM and reg at N38 34632, W117 02728 el 9270. The Bald Brother is the next peak to the east across a 300 foot deep saddle. The Bald Sister is the third peak across a similar saddle. Then it's an easy ridge down to the spring and out. Under 3 hours, 2000 gain. Some light brush in the canyon. Good looking peaks. This whole family is bald. Bald is beautiful.
• HAT PEAK is south of Belmont. Turn east off Nv 82 onto a graded road at N38 29640, W116 56834. Go 1.8 miles then go right on easy 4wd. In a quarter mile is the first fork on this road. Stay right for 4 and a quarter miles then go right for a third mile to a short spur road on the right. Park here and get on the low ridge at 26149, 53479 el 7350. There is a faint track here that can be followed toward the saddle south of the peak. When the track goes left, get off and go up to the saddle then go right up to the reg el 8650. It needs a jar. 2 hours, 1400 gain. Another peak in the area has a road up it. Go back to that first fork a quarter mile in from the graded road. Go right into Big White Sage Canyon.Follow that 4wd road for miles to a fork near a cabin at 23057, 51384 el 8400. Go straight and take the next right to get on the mountain top el 9000. Going left at the fork near the cabin takes you to meadows in upper Hunts Canyon. I'm told there is a way out to the south. Lower Hunts Canyon has a road. Get back on the graded road and go east to ranch houses. Go another mile then turn right. The road goes 4 miles to a guard station then fades in a swamp. These roads are shown in the Delorme atlas. The roads in the canyons would make good mtn bike rides.

Mount Moriah area hikes

Mt. Moriah

• For MORIAH PEAK el 12050, drive north from 50 on the graded Spring Valley Rd. This road meets 50 at mp 80.8 and runs along the east side of the valley. After 12 miles go right on a bumpy easy 4wd road at a fence at N39 19286, W114 21695. When you top out swing south for 4 and a half miles to a jct at 18087, 13338. Go right for a mile up to the Bear Canyon TH at 18071, 12678 el 9900. The trail drops over 100 ft to the creekbed then climbs to the table at 11000. Walk the table a short distance then angle up to a mine trail at 16790, 11268 that goes along left side of the summit ridge to where you climb up at 16404, 11719 and go left to the peak. The north ridge makes for an easy descent. 5 hrs, 2300 gain. The tables edges have good views if time permits. The mine trail goes on a short way to some diggings. There are 3 more 11000+ peaks on the south rim of Hendrys Creek. They can be done in a long day with preparation. I started from the Bear Canyon TH and took 12 hours to hike over all the peaks and down to the Hendrys TH where I spent the night, then walked the Hendrys trail on the second day back to Bear Canyon TH to retrieve my cycle. But 12 hours is too long, so I think it's better to go up the Bear Canyon trail and camp on the table the first night. On the second day, leave camp in place and go up to Moriah or around the left side on the mine trail. Keep going on the main ridge above timberline. When the ridge rises a couple hundred feet, contour around on the left thru a saddle then go down to the first big saddle at 14907, 12704 el 10800. Now go over Silver Creek Peak el 11490 then down to a flat at 13982, 12412. Go left around a hill to the second big saddle el 10150 then up to Hendrys Peak el 11450. Keep left along the summit ridge until just past the reg then come back to it at 13111, 11687. Now go down to the last big saddle at 12454, 10264 el 9900. Go up to Old Man Mountain el 11060 then come down north to a viewpoint on a bedrock outcrop at 13047, 09314. Here you can see down a steep drainage to Hendrys Creek. Drop off the outcrop to the right to get in the drainage. Some light brush is near the bottom then you hit the trail.This is the only time long pants are needed. Walk the trail down to the TH where you spend the night at a second camp that you set up on the first day. On the third day,hike up the beautiful Hendrys Creek trail over the table and back to the start. I filled my bottle at a spring on the trail at 13939, 09470 and again at the last spring at 15859, 10975 el 9900. It takes 10 hours and 4000+ gain to do the peaks. There is 8000 ft of loss. It takes 7 hours and 5000+ gain to hike the trail back to the Bear Canyon TH. The off trail part of the hike is either above timberline or in a lovely forest that is very easy to walk thru except for a short section right before hitting the creek. Make sure you have a topo map and there is lingering snow so you don't have to carry a ton of water. Coming down the east ridge would save 2 miles if it isn't brushy. The best chunk of real wilderness I've seen in the Great Basin.
• For 11000 ft OLD MAN MTN, take the good road at mp 94.8 on 50. Go north a couple miles to a ranch on silver creek then go another 3 miles to a rd at a tire. Go left on this crude road for 1.8 miles to a pond. Go right for 4+ miles to a mega spring N39 11337, W114 08562 el 7800. Angle up downstream to 11286,0 8414 then go straight up to a break 11404, 08329. Go thru then up to a saddle aiming for a path 11781, 08217 thru the mtn mohogany. Get on the right side of the ridge then go up to 12178, 08515 to get on top of a nice wooded table. Try circling right to get at the peak 12423, 09472 using the north ridge. 5 hrs, 3200 gain. Shorts are iffy but I lucked out. The first 500 ft are very steep.
• For WINDY PEAK, take the graded Osceola Road at mp 87 on 50. Drive several miles to where the road tops out at a cattleguard at N39 06028, W114 22275 el 7600. Go left on 4wd and just keep going up and you'll be on an open slope with switchbacks. Avoid steep shortcuts. At 05312, 21725 el 8700 is a fork. Left goes parabolic and soon fizzles in rocks. Go right to a mine which makes a good camp spot. Hike up the ridge from the mine. At 9100 ft get on game trails on the right side of the ridge. Get on a good one at 04966, 21897 and follow it into a saddle. Then just go up the rocky ridge to the top at 03701, 22108 el 10100. 3 hours, 1300 gain. The SHARKS TOOTH makes a good short hike. Turn off the Osceola Rd at 07046, 21986 onto a 4wd road. Go west and keep left at a fork. Park near the end of the road then contour north to a ridge then go left to the Osceola BM at 08456, 23389 el 8300+. One hour, 500 gain. Good views on the cheap.
• O'NEAL PEAK el 10097 is the northernmost 10,000 footer in the Snake Range. Use the graded Spring Valley Rd. This road meets US 50 at mp 80.8 and runs along the east side of the valley. Go north to the Eightmile road just before a ranch. The reading here is N39 22503, W114 21356. That easy 4wd road goes to the crest and was in good shape, but there was a rocky mile. Follow the first road going north on the crest until it fizzles in about 6 miles at el 9600. A shady camp is about 2 miles along. The peak is a mile away from the end of the road but 2 minor bumps are in the way. Hike to a table at 26225, 17151 el 9800 and walk that level along the right side of bumps to the BM at 26744, 17269. The hike took an hour and a half with 500 gain and was in a nice forest the whole way. A road runs south along the east side of the crest from the Eightmile road to the Fourmile road. It's easy to follow until a tricky fork at 20463, 14505. Both forks go, but since right is shorter I took that one but it turned out to be rocky. So try left and it too will go to the rim at 19304, 16497 el 9000. Now it's a steep descent down Fourmile Canyon to the main graded road. The roads on the crest were mostly packed dirt and frequently rutted, but no problem for 4wds. Posted 2015.
• RYE GRASS PEAK el 9331 is what I call the peak above the north fork of Rye Grass Canyon in the north Mt Moriah Wilderness. It's a long drive in there on decent roads.Go west from Gandy on a graded road to a fork at N39 27296, W114 01137. Go left on easy 4wd to the mouth of Marble Wash. The road forks there. Both go, left is the safer bet. Go up canyon on a smoother road and stay left at main forks until a fork in the Coyote Canyon arm at 25377, 13645 el 7900. Left is a steep shortcut, but you can stay right to the next fork in a mile and go left on an easier road. Keep going to a fork at 23291, 12390 el 8200 and don't get tricked by a fork just before it. Now you're heading straight at the peak. One last fork is near the peak. I went left to get a little higher, but that backfired because I had to cross a brushy gully to get on the south ridge. Go right at that fork and park at a curve in a tenth mile then walk over to the south ridge and up. At el 8600 you can see a wide shelf left of center that makes it easy to pass crags and on to the top at 23195, 09401. No sign of humanity. 2 hours, 1300 gain. The roads here are rarely rough. No horses or cattle. It's not a bad road on up Coyote Canyon to the crest to hike O'neal Peak. Posted 2015.
• SMITH CREEK PEAK el 9372 is what I call the massive peak on the north side of Smith Creek. The north slope has forested routes with hardly any brush. Take the main graded east side road to the turnoff for Smith Creek at N39 18538, W114 00380. Go 2 and a half miles to a main fork. Go right and stay left at main forks to a faint road at 22609, 04091. Turn west to the wilderness boundary el 6400. These roads aren't rocky but have some sharp dips. Hike west on the old road and it soon fizzles but it's easy to walk on top of the low ridge to the right. Stay on that until it turns toward the mountain then cross a dip to get on the easiest ridge at 22669, 06994 el 7200. I made a loop by going up this ridge and over to the saddle west of peak 9049 then came down the canyon east of the ridge, but that involved some contouring into the saddle but it was easy to walk the south side of peak 9049. If you just want to go up the canyon, then only go up the ridge to the 7500 level then contour into the canyon at or above a chokestone reading 22398, 06922 el 7400. Stroll up on smooth gravel to a left fork at 22116, 07108 el 7700 and take that. At el 7900 a minor fall is in the way. I went around the steep east side of it, but I didn't check to see if it was climbable as I was descending. Keep going south in the correct drainage at 21714, 07112 then into the high saddle at 21575, 07197 el 8950. It's a stroll from there to the high point at 21154, 06564. It had nothing on it. The loop took me 6 hours with about 3000 gain. It was easy walking in a thin forest. I could have done this in shorts, but peak 9049 had some light brush that would require a lot of weaving. The ascent ridge had mine claims dated 1986 at the 8000 level. A top notch hike in a real wilderness. If you're looking for a wuss wilderness with well manicured trails and lots of yuppies, then skip this. Posted 2015.
• HORSE CANYON has a road washed out at el 6400. Turn off the main east side graded road at N39 17742, W114 05306. It's a decent road to the mouth then there's a bad section then it gets better to the washout. No creek. Posted 2015.
• HAMPTON CREEK has a road that got washed out big time. Turn off the east side graded road at N39 13606, W114 00096. It's a decent road to the mouth then there is no road at el 6300. There is a creek here. Posted 2015.
• GOVERNMENT PEAK, TIN SPRINGS MOUNTAIN and KERN MOUNTAINS HIGH POINT can all be done in a day. Turn off the main graded road at Gandy onto a good road reading N39 27511, W114 00000 and go NW. For Tin Springs Mtn el 7473, turn off the main road at 32588, 06958 and drive down into a main wash el 6100 and park. Pick a ridge to the top reading 33357, 05128. I used the one as seen left of the summit. 2 hours, 1300 gain. For Govt Peak el 7872, keep going on the main road to a cattleguard reading 33773, 09186. Go south on easy 4wd to a low pass el 6800 which is NW of the peak. Turn toward the peak on a road that soon ends at the Government Peak Wilderness boundary. You could park sooner and walk the north ridge. The summit is at 31352, 09180. No sign of humanity. That's a 2 hour hike with 1000 gain. For Kern Mtns high point el 9600+, return to the cattleguard and  go north on easy 4wd for 2 and a quarter miles to a tricky fork. Both go, I went right and stayed on main roads to a fork at 39046, 09641 el 7600. I went right to a road forking left up a drainage reading 38609, 08027 el 7800. It's hard to say how far a jeep can go up this road. It's not washed out, just narrow. I rode all the way up to the 8800 level then took a left fork that went right to the base of the peak at el 8900. It's a short but steep hike to the reg at 39833, 07567. The roads here are mostly packed sand and dirt until the 8000 level in the Kern Mtns where some rocks occur. Posted 2015.

Hikes around Ely and Eureka,Nevada

   

Schell Creek Range

• For HEUSSER MTN, take Aultman St in Ely to Ogden St. Head north on Ogden for about 9 miles to a crude dirt rd at N39 21843, W114 54923 mp 1.5. Go right thru the fence then left along the fence. Take the first right then go up to the mouth of a canyon and take a right fork into the creekbed. Park at the end of the road reading 24293, 53799 el 7600. Follow the closed rd up a steep slope. After it fades head for a saddle at 24373, 53351 el 8300 overlooking a little valley of aspen. Go left to 24605, 52872 where it steepens. Here is where thick mosquitos hit me in mid July. Go up and angle right to the summit ridge  at 24526, 52601 then go right 600 ft to the EGAN BM with old USGS junk. 3 hrs, 1800 gain if you can make it to roads end.
• For NORTH SCHELL PEAK, from Mcgill, go north about 5 miles on 93 to the paved Duck Creek Road. Take that for 8 and a half miles and turn left at the sign for Timber Creek Campground. Go 4 miles on bumpy 2wd thru the campground then to roads end on 4wd in about half a mile after the campground. A couple of good camps are here at 9000 ft. Hike up the trail in the left fork. Above timberline, forget the trail and get on the ridge to the left and then go on to the top at N39 24812, W114 36010 el 11800. 4 hrs, 2800 gain.
• SOUTH SCHELL PEAK is a short hike. Drive the same as North Schell but don't turn off the Duck Creek Road. Stay on it going south for nearly 2 miles to the end of pavement. Turn left for 5 miles on the graded Berry Creek Road to a campground. Now it's easy 4wd to the end at 9400 feet. Mtn bikes would work but strenuous. I filled up at a gushing spring at N39 19018, W114 37102. Then I went up to the right on a game trail. When that fizzled I came back left into the trees to another trail at 19011, 36907 and kept going north to a saddle at 19541, 36359 el 11100. From there it's an easy stroll north for 3/4 mile to the summit el 11700+. 3 hours, 2400 gain.
    
• CLEVE CREEK BALDY has a trail most of the way. Drive to Cave Creek State Park but don't turn in at the entrance. Instead,keep going north to Success Summit. Then go another third mile down the other side to a sharp left turn. Now go right for a mile on a 4wd road to a camp spot at the end el 9500. Hike up the canyon on a rocky trail to timberline then go up the easy slope to the reg at N39 15621, W114 38776 el 10940. I prefer to leave the trail a half mile before the peak and walk the rim of the canyon for good views and no brush. 2 hours, 1500 gain. Cleve Creek BM is 700 feet south of the summit with more good views. Nice easy hike. If you really want to wuss out,you can drive to the top of CAVE MOUNTAIN el 10700. Drive thru the state park. I never pay to drive thru. Go on up canyon and turn left after 3 miles and go up on an easy 4wd road. This is the highest in the state that the average SUV can make it.
• For CHERRY CREEK RANGE HIGH PEAK,  drive to Cherry Creek town. Then go west nearly 3 miles toward the pass. An easy 4wd road to the right has power lines going up it. Take this to it's end at 8500 ft. Hike north on a faint track then aim for a game trail at N39 55906, W114 54985. Go west on this a short way to a saddle. Go thru then contour west till you're on the ridgetop. Go up along a fire break to a game trail 56472, 55087 which angles up left to a saddle. Keep going up then contour left at 56779, 54960 to pass a bump. The ridge drops a little then goes up to a peak. Here, go left to a game trail 57671, 54677 el 10100. Use this to contour left around the peak. It drops a little. Don't get back on the ridgetop till 57763, 54552. From there,go down a wide knife edge to a saddle then up another peak. At 58015, 54258 el 10240 either go on over the top or contour to the right for 15 mins (I contoured)to the last saddle 58087, 54010 el 10111. Now it's an easy slope to the top 57969, 53750 el 10500. 7 hrs, about 3000 gain. Had some skeeters. Take a stick for lots of contouring. This area was logged long ago. If you don't want to fool with all these waypoints, just go over all the bumps on the ridge.
• WARD MOUNTAIN is the high point of the Egan Range. An ATV track goes to the top at nearly 11000 ft. Go south from Ely on 50 to the charcoal ovens turnoff at mp 44. It's about 5 miles south on this graded road to the turn at N39 04769, W114 49596 where a sign says Ward mining district. Go up and look at the metal buildings then come back and take the first left that goes up a steep ridge. Go right on a spur road at 04964, 53572 el 9400 that goes to the top of Ward Mtn. Jeeps might get close enough to make it an easy hike.
• For CURRANT MOUNTAIN el 11500, go south from Ely on 6 for about 30 miles to the good White River Road at mp 8.6. Go west for nearly 11 miles and then left on the road to Currant Creek. This road is about a mile past the main campground. Go 1.7 miles south and over a little divide to a 4wd track on the right. 2wds park here. 4wds can go a mile up the road to a fork at N38 55257, W115 23744 el 8100. The road up the canyon is washed out,so hike up it on the left side of the creekbed. When it fizzles get on the left bench and walk parallel to the creekbed and aim for a game trail at 54863, 24191. This trail shortly puts you in the main canyon. (If you come up the creekbed you could get in the wrong canyon.) Go up canyon to about 9200 ft. Then go right into a steep gully at 54469, 24603. Follow this up and it takes you to the ridgetop at 54357, 25049 el 10600 just left of a crag. Now go up the ridge keeping close to center till you're at a notch at 54295, 25169 el 11000. Cut across a gully to get to the main ridge. Walk the ridge going left around the first bump then right around the next one to get to the last saddle. The final slope is next but it's not as vertical as it looks. Go up into a bowl left of center to 54511, 25436. At this point move to the right side of the bowl and go on up to the reg and BM. On the way down in the lower part of the steep gully, I got on the left side in the trees and cut the corner to get back in the main canyon. 5 hours, 3700 gain. For 2wd, 6 hrs 4200 gain. 2wds will have to negotiate one creek crossing on the Currant Creek road. I filled my bottles at a spring on the 4wd track before the parking area.
•  Cleve Creek has a couple of fun trails. Nv 893 goes north from US 50 to a sign for Cleve Creek then a good dirt road goes 2 miles to the campground. Go on up the canyon on the easy Cleve Creek 4wd road and park at the TH for the north fork at N39 15449, W114 36396 el 7400. The north fork trail can be followed into the upper part of the fork where aspens are thick. A big spring is at 17978, 35482 el 8850. This could be used as a base camp for the peaks. For ROCKY TOP,  park at the KOLCHECK TH on the Cleve Creek Rd at N39 14202, W114 35557 el 6900. This is 3 and a third miles up from the campground. The trail goes left of a closed road. It tops on the crest after 3000 ft gain. Go left a short way to Rocky Top 12905, 37467 el 10150. 5 hrs, 3200 gain. Hardcore hikers can make a loop back via the Kolcheck Mine. Hike west on the crest, use the left side at first. Aim for a saddle at 13274, 38169 el 9900. A game trail can be used to continue along the left side of the crest.Another trail is further along at 13662, 38657. Don't drop off the crest until 14092, 38567 el 10400. Go down here on a steep ridge and aim for the mine road at 14590, 37742 el 8600. A cliff is just before the road. I went left around it, or you could try going right around the cliff and you'll hit the road no matter what. Going left on the road leads shortly to the mine,going right is the way back. The mine still has rails. Structures were built with logs instead of milled wood. The mine road goes down a canyon and connects with the Cleve Creek Rd about a mile up from the start. 7 hours, 3800 gain. Mtn bikes would work on the 4wd portion.
• MOUNT HAMILTON has an OHV track up the east side to 10300. Not rough,but steep and narrow. Turn off US 50 near mp WP 22 at a sign for the Belmont Mill. Go 9 miles on a good road to the mill el 7500, staying left at a main fork along the way. Keep going up the canyon for a couple miles on easy 4wd to a fork at N39 15045, W115 31346 el 8300. Mtn bikes are no good beyond here. Go right at the fork then left at the next one and go up a steep canyon, ignoring any fading tracks that fork to the left. The road swings left out of the canyon into the trees and zigzags up the slope. At 14584, 32101 el 9800+ are some small parking spots. I made it to the 10000 ft level on a 125 then lost traction. The road goes past a cabin then left to a ridge then soon fizzles. Use the ridge to climb up near the crest then angle left for half a mile to the reg at 13941, 32477 el 10700. I had a one hour hike with 700 gain. But it's a nice hike even from the mill. Hardcore jeeps could still go a long way up as of 2012.
• DIAMOND PEAK is a short hike. Coming from the east, take NV 892 north from US 50 for 8 miles then go left on a good road for 4 and a half miles to Newark Pass at N39 31432, W115 50305 el 7400. Or from Eureka, take Reno Ave at the west end of town. Go a mile and a quarter toward the dump then turn right on a paved road at a landfill sign. Soon the road forks 3 ways. Keep straight on the middle fork and follow the main wide road past a ranch. The road shrinks at the ranch but is still good for cars to the pass. It's nearly 7 and a half miles from the 3 forks to the pass. At the pass,go north on 4wd and stay left at forks. The road tops out at a saddle on the crest el 8800 with room to camp. The last bit of road shouldn't be attempted without a locking differential. If you have to ask what that is, then it's the same as not having one. At the saddle, get on a horse trail at N39 33250, W115 50188 that goes around to the right of the first bump. Now stay on trails close to the ridge center or to the left when in doubt. There is a minor bump at 9300 and one more at 10400. Stay left around these and any brush along the way. You'll rub up against the vegetation but if you ever really need long pants then you screwed up. The reg is at 35097, 49120 el 10600. 3 and a half hours, 2000 gain. NEWARK MOUNTAIN el 8800 is a good diversion. From the pass, go north and keep right at forks. A steep but not rough jeep road goes up to 8700 then just hike a tenth mile to the reg. It needs a better book and jar. There is a left fork on the way to the peak that goes down to meager springs and viewpoints.
• TOLLHOUSE CAVE is shown on maps but I only found a short slot canyon. Use the eastern drive route for Diamond Peak. A couple miles after leaving Nv 892 is a pullout at N39 29755, W115 49746. I went down the canyon on the north side of the road for 4 minutes to the only fall. I tossed a 200 foot rope down but only needed half of it. I went down the single line then walked a short way to a trail on the right that climbs back to the road. I went back for the rope. The whole affair took 40 minutes. Good rappel practice.
• The BAY STATE MINE is off Nv 892. Turn at mp WP 11 and go a short way to a canyon.Walk up the canyon for 15 minutes to metal buildings and a shaft with rails. A little further on is a homemade ore car. I followed water pipe up canyon for 20 minutes but found nothing.
• BUCK MOUNTAIN el 9100+ is east of Diamond Peak. Turn north off US 50 at mp WP 15. Go in a straight line a dozen miles or so to where the road jogs left at a spring. Turn right here and proceed to a fork at N39 36200, W115 36650. Go left on a crude road then stay right at the next fork. The road goes into a main canyon. Go on up to 40084, 35526 then make a left. Go about a mile to the end el 7800. If you smash into a cliff you went a bit too far. Hike up the easy ridge to the BM and reg at 39642, 37604. 2 hours, 1300 gain. Vegetation is so sparse you'll think you're at 11000 ft. I went over to the north summit which is allegedly lower. An alternate route up is the canyon north of the ridge. Use a horse trail at 39978, 36499 to get in it. Backpackers could go up this way to get on the huge summit table. I saw only 2 trees up there,no water in July. All roads are easy 4wd
• TELEGRAPH PEAK el 9900+ is north of McGill. An easy 4wd road goes to the 9400 level. Take US 93 to Monte Neva Rd at mp WP 82.7. The reading there is N39 39264, W114 45385. Follow that graded road to the Log Canyon road at 40725, 48899. Go up canyon on that and stay left at main forks until you reach the NW ridge at 41728, 53971 el 9400. Hike up into the trees on the right and go up on game trails. NORTH TELEGRAPH PEAK el 10154 is what hikers call the peak to the north. Follow the main road going north from Telegraph Peak for about 2 and a half air miles and turn right at a main fork. Drive up to a trough at the 8600 level then walk left thru aspen for 600 feet to a man made trail at 43416, 52776. An X rated figure is on a tree to the right. Follow the trail thru a major saddle to where it crosses a draw at 43944, 52716 and fades. Just cross the draw and go up the bald ridge to the top. For the last fifth mile stay low left of center to the reg at 44638, 52348. 3 hrs,1600 gain. Only the last 300 ft is steep.The road keeps going over a pass into Log Cyn. Posted 2015.
 
• EGAN BENCHMARK el 10120 is the southernmost 10,000 footer in the Egan Range. A jeep road goes to el 9600 on the east side. Take US 6 to mp WP 54.9 and go SW about 8 miles on a good road to a T. Go left a mile and a quarter to a 4wd road reading N38 56287, W114 48647. Take that to a fork at 55259, 50961 el 7500. Right is an OHV track that goes to White Rock Spr which had a good flow. But go left all the way to the high pass el 9200. Go left there thru a shady camp and on to the end at 56557, 53281. The summit dome is in sight less than a mile away at 55915, 53619. There is a lovely forest to walk thru. The cycle ride is half the fun. The 4wd road is mostly packed dirt. I could see the 4wd tracks from a Vegas party 10 days before. Posted 2015. 

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• TONER PEAK el 9541 is what I call the highest peak in the Bristlecone Wilderness 16 miles north of Ely. It has an outstanding forest all the way up. Take Ogden Street out of Ely for 10 miles to the end of pavement. Keep going on good dirt for 6 and a half miles to a 4wd road at N39 28175, W114 58930 el 7100. Follow that north along the base for over 2 miles to the wilderness boundary el 8050 NE of Toner Spring. The road is rutted but not bad enough to stop serious 4 wheelers. Hike to the obvious NW ridge and go up to the crest. Peak 9423 at 29430, 57423 is the first summit along the crest. The crest looks craggy from there, but is easy class 2 over to Toner at 28716, 57427. Survey junk is along the way at 29129, 57496 el 9450. For the return, I came back along the crest for a third mile then dropped directly back to the start on soft dirt. Under 4 hours, 1800  gain. Loggers worked all the way up to Peak 9423 decades ago. Posted July, 2017.

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Canyon Range, Utah

Fool Creek Peak

• FOOL CREEK PEAK is the high peak in the Canyon Range east of Delta. From Oak City, go east on Center St to the Oak Creek Campground. Go another mile and 3/4 to a 4wd road on the left.  Drive thru a camp area and get on the correct road at N39 21603, W112 14151.  Drive another 3/4 mile to a creek and park. Walk an ATV track along the creek for over half a mile till it shrinks to a single track trail. Follow it up to a ridge then it goes right to the top at 9700 ft. 4 hours, 2700 gain if you have an ATV or dirt bike. 5 hours if you have 4wd. Mtn bikes would help here. Real Fools can hike from the graded road and kill the whole day.
•  For the HEAD OF LYMAN LOOP, drive to the 4wd Fool Creek Peak turnoff described above but go straight for half a mile on the graded road to BOWEN CAMP in the pines. It has a restroom. Drive about 8/10 of a mile past the restroom and go right on a crude road. Shortly you come to a creek crossing. Cycles and ATVs can go a little further. Follow the ATV track along the right side of the creek then it shrinks to a single track. DON'T take any trails on the left side of the creek. The steep trail goes past a spring at 8200 then on up to a saddle over 9000. This is the Head of Lyman. Now go right to a peak for a view. Turn back here if you just want an easy hike. Experienced hikers can go north down the ridge which towers over the trail you just came up. Keep to the right side of the ridge and soon you enter trees where some have been cut down. Get back on the ridge top at N39 19690, W112 12774  and walk west down the open ridge to a saddle then on to a rocky outcrop. There are two options here. Either go over the outcrop or contour right around it. I went around it on steep ground in the trees then on to Bowen Saddle at 19710, 13333 el 8400 where a good trail goes down to Bowen pine camp. I could have aimed for the trail below the saddle at 19785, 13284. The gain is 2400, 4 hours from the start to Bowen camp,then another half hour walking the road back. Brush not a major factor, but biting flies were out. Nice creeks.
•  For WILLIAMS PEAK el 9200, get off I-15 at exit 184 south of Scipio. Get on the east frontage road and go south a mile and a half to an underpass. Head west under the freeway for 2 miles and don't take any left forks. At 2 miles from the freeway is a main fork. Go left here on FR 93 and it takes you into the east fork of Eight Mile Creek.Park at the end of the road el 6900. Hike on up the creek on a trail. In just a couple of minutes I was able to fill up at a spring on the trail. Follow the trail to a main saddle at 8500. Then veer right and angle up onto the ridge over the creek you just came up. Aim for N39 17981, W112 12301  which is the right shoulder of a bump you need to contour around. From the shoulder, work your way back to the main ridge. You have to go down and up a little. Once on the main ridge it's a stroll to the reg at the top at 17686, 11841. Head straight back down on a ridge at 17739, 12006 and aim for a bald rise. Go over the rise and head down at 17556, 12596 to get back to the creek. 4 or 5 hours, 2400 gain. The last couple of miles of the road in may need 4wd. Take long pants for light brush and skeeters. For experienced off trail hikers only. The 7 year old reg on top was blank.  

Ivie Creek